Mike Rayer will be hoping to make his testimonial year a special one and take his Bedford Blues team one step further after last year’s Championship final heartbreak against Newcastle.
The Blues Director of Rugby – who is celebrating a decade at Goldington Road – will be looking to build on the successes of last season but this time avoid a fall at the final hurdle. Bedford were understandably overpowered by the Falcons, who eventually ran out 49-33 aggregate winners and sealed their return to the Aviva Premiership.
In the absence of a heavyweight side such as Newcastle – who only lost a single game last term – the Blues could once again be genuine contenders for the division, which is now under the new and not so catchy name; the Greene King IPA Championship.
Relegated London Welsh will certainly have a say about that, as will usual suspects Nottingham, Bristol and Leeds.
However, Bedford are just as experienced as any when it comes to reaching the play-offs, having done so in each of the four seasons since the concept was introduced.
Blues fans will hope the squad can reproduce the consistency of years gone by, despite significant changes in personnel, while of course, preserving the entertaining brand of rugby that has become synonymous with the Goldington Road club.
Bedford’s passionate home support have witnessed plenty of free-flowing, attacking displays over the last few seasons, and no shortage of tries. However, the Blues certainly won’t get everything their own way in what is an ever-improving league.
The division’s standard is rising year on year, as professionalism creeps it way down through the hierarchy of English rugby. The Championship – and Goldington Road in particular – has, in fact, become a breeding ground for Lions, with five of the league’s former players turning out for Britain and Ireland this summer.
What was once a gulf in quality between the country’s top two divisions has certainly narrowed, as teams like Exeter have proved by establishing themselves in the Premiership following promotion.
Bristol appear to have exactly that ambition and will be one of the Blues’ main rivals this season. The west-country outfit – with former England and Scotland coach Andy Robinson at the helm – have bought well, signing the likes of Nicky Robinson and Mark Sorenson. They seem desperate to get back to where they feel they belong and will be tough to stop.
However, Bristol aren’t the only club to bring in a few fresh faces, as Bedford have spruced things up with some new arrivals of their own. The partnership with Saracens continues to flourish and young talent has been brought in from elsewhere.
Perhaps the marquee signing of the off-season has been that of Jersey fly-half Michael Le Bourgeois. The 22-year-old, who can also play at full-back was reportedly wanted by numerous other clubs, including several in France.
Rayer described him as an ‘outstanding talent who has truly taken to the Championship like a duck to water’.
He has an expansive passing game and a keen eye for a gap, two attributes that’ll undoubtedly make him a popular character at Goldington Road. The Jersey Academy graduate should fit in perfectly with Bedford’s running style and attacking ethos.
The Blues’ link with Saracens has been extremely fruitful and the two clubs have once again struck up a healthy deal. Bedford will have lively centre Sam Stanley, mobile lock Tom Jubb and powerful young prop Nic Auterac at their disposal, the latter two on dual-registration agreements.
Ben Ransom and James Short thrived last season after a similar arrangement and the trio will be eager to make an impact of their own. Expect all three to stamp their mark at Goldington Road, just like those that have gone before them.
New wingers, Neville Edwards and Corey Hircock, are charged with the unenviable task of replacing crowd favourites, Josh Bassett and James Stephenson, who have moved on to the Premiership with Wasps and Worcester respectively. Blues fans will pray that their ruthless finishing and out-and-out pace will not be missed.
Time will tell whether the explosive Edwards is ready for the step up a league, having turned out for National One outfit Rosslyn Park. His try-scoring record last season would definitely argue that he is.
Hircock – who just as often lines up at centre – returns to Bedford having left for Munster three seasons ago.
He struggled to break into the first team during his spell in Ireland and will surely be chomping at the bit to show everyone at Goldington Road that his game has progressed. The 22-year-old is another who is certain to complement the Blues’ champagne rugby style. There are also new additions in the front row that may have a tough time taking over from their predecessors. Charlie Clare, a young hooker from Leicester, will have aspirations of matching Neil Cochrane’s contributions prior to his Wasps’ departure. Meanwhile, Nico Steenkamp comes in from Coventry to fill the sizeable shirt left by Ricky Reeves.
How these new guys cope with replacing last year’s top performers will be a telling factor in shaping the Blues’ progress this season. Are they up to the task? Again, only time will tell.
One man that has nothing to prove at Goldington Road is Sacha Harding.
The dynamic flanker and Bedford talisman has been at the club for 13 seasons, but missed the majority of the last one after suffering a horrific injury against Leeds that left his ankle facing the wrong way.
However, Blues fans rejoice. He is back! Having completed a full pre-season the former captain has rejoined the squad for the start of the campaign. If he can reproduce even a fraction of his best form after his time out, he will be vital to Bedford’s chance of success this year. His breakdown work and presence on the field often lay the foundations for Blues victories.
Harding and Bedford will be looking to chalk up that first win of the league season at Saracens’ new ground, Allianz Park. There, they face newly-relegated London Welsh, in the Championship’s first double-header on September 14.
Rayer will hope that his celebratory year at the club will rub off on the players, and come the end of the season they too will have something to cheer about.
• Blues take on Saracens in a friendly at Allianz Park on Saturday.
Rugby Union: Bedford Blues season preview
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