TEAM NEWS | Blues name squad for Pirates trip

Posted: 10th October 2024
 

Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues look to continue early season momentum when contesting one of the trickiest away fixtures of the campaign down at Cornish Pirates tomorrow (KO 2:30pm).

Tickets for the longest trip of the season can be purchased direct from our hosts here. Alternatively, Pirates will also be live streaming the match – click here for that option. 

Director of Rugby, Rayer has faced Pirates more than any other club since taking the helm at Goldington Road, contesting 48 matches meaning both sides will know plenty about the other ahead of Saturday’s fixture.

Always an entertaining fixture, and normally close on the scoreboard too, Blues and Pirates average just under 53 points per encounter when looking at recent seasons and will look to put on another spectacle despite some testing conditions predicted on the Cornish coast.

Ahead of the game, Rayer makes four changes to the Starting XV which took to the field last time out.

There is an entirely new second row as Rory Ward returns from the shoulder injury sustained in pre-season, while Ed Prowse is back in a new jersey for his first Blues appearance since February.

Fred Tuilagi is named at Number 8 following a HIA return to play protocol to complete the trio of forwards alterations.

In the backs division, Dean Adamson makes a welcome return in his familiar 11 jersey.

Among the replacements, Blues will be able to call up George Makepeace-Cubitt who could make his club and Championship debut down at Mennaye Field.

Bedford Blues Starting XV:

15. Louis James, 14. Alfie Garside, 13. Lucas Titherington, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey; 1. Jamie Jack, 2. James Fish, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Ed Prowse, 5. Rory Ward, 6. Fyn Brown, 7. Jac Arthur, 8. Fred Tuilagi

Bedford Blues Replacements:

16. Tommy Herman, 17. Joey Conway, 18. Beltus Nonleh, 19. George Smith, 20. Joe Howard, 21. James Lennon, 22. Matt Worley, 23. George Makepeace-Cubitt

Unavailable for selection this week:

Alex Woolford, Luke Frost, Shay Kerry, Cameron King, Jamie Elliott, Joel Matavesi, Pat Tapley