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Rafe Witheat joins the ranks
Bedford Blues are pleased to continue their squad assembling for 25/26 Champ Rugby with the permanent acquisition of highly thought of speedster, Rafe Witheat from Northampton Saints.
The 18-year-old made a big impression having been drafted in back in April for the friendly against The British Army, scoring twice at Goldington Road, and will now spend the campaign as a full-time member of the Blues environment.
He follows in the footsteps of his father, Giles who featured for the club in the mid-1990s and was part of the squad which won the Courage League Three title in dramatic circumstances on home soil.
On joining up permanently, Witheat said: “Really excited to be getting involved – always had great connections to the club through my dad and also coming to watch the team. It’s a place I’ve frequented a lot.
“Playing against The British Army last year was great, Friday Night Lights at Bedford is always a great occasion. Hopefully having had that first taste of it will make it easier to become a full-time member of the squad.
“The way the team plays is mental – it’s quick and it’s perfect for a winger like myself, who wants to get ball in hand and play the game in the right way.”
A Bedford Modern School Alumnus, Witheat joined Northampton’s Academy set-up at the age of just 14 having spent time through the age groups at Ampthill.
Spells on loan at Leicester Lions and Hinckley eased his transition into senior rugby having been part of the Northampton U18s side which reached back-to-back Premiership Finals.
Making his senior Saints debut back in November, Witheat was handed a top flight debut in the season run in – featuring at Sandy Park against Exeter Chiefs.
