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TEAM NEWS | Squad named for league curtain raiser
Mike Rayer has named his squad as Bedford Blues prepare to kickstart their 2025/26 Champ Rugby campaign by welcoming champions, Ealing Trailfinders to Goldington Road tomorrow (KO 4pm).
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In a battle of last season’s first and second place, the game kicks-off at the slightly later time of 4pm owing to its selection as one of the two showcase fixtures picked on opening weekend for additional coverage on Clubber TV. Click here for the full live streaming announcement.
Always an entertaining game, Bedford and Ealing have shared an average of 60 points in recent years, in a fixture that stretches a lot further back than many people might think, following a first ever meeting in 1891.
Both sides traded away victories last season and will be looking to start the new campaign on the strongest possible footing. It is the second time in three seasons that the pair have started the league season against each other at Goldington Road.
Ahead of the game, Rayer has made seven changes to the side which took to the field for the club’s fourth pre-season outings two weeks ago.
There are three forwards alterations and four in the backs division as the usual rotation continues into the league calendar. The headline news is a celebratory one as Michael Le Bourgeois will lead the team out on the occasion of his 200th club appearance.
For the first time since February 2023, Joey Conway misses out on the matchday squad through the minor injury sustained last time out against Ampthill.
Bedford Blues Starting XV:
15. Louis James, 14. Ryan Hutler, 13. Lucas Titherington, 12. Michael Le Bourgeois, 11. Dean Adamson, 10. Will Maisey, 9. Alex Day (C); 1. Jamie Jack, 2. James Fish, 3. Oisin Heffernan, 4. Rory Ward, 5. Alex Woolford, 6. Archie Benson, 7. Nicholas Finch, 8. Fred Tuilagi
Bedford Blues Replacements:
16. Tommy Herman, 17. Ollie Scola, 18. Sonny Tonga’uiha, 19. Kayde Sylvester, 20. Tui Uru, 21. James Lennon, 22. Tom Price, 23. George Worth
Unavailable for selection this week:
Joey Conway
