Mike Rayer hopes the latest generation of Bedford Blues youngsters can make an impact next season when they get the opportunity to compete for places vacated by those leaving Goldington Road.
Blues Academy product Josh Bassett, Ricky Reeves and James Stephenson are all stepping up to the Aviva Premiership next season with London Wasps and Worcester Warriors respectively, leaving spaces in the side up for grabs.
Winger Aaron Morris, who at 17 set the record as Bedford’s youngest player in the professional era after appearing as a replacement in December’s British Irish Cup win over Neath, is amongst those who will get the chance in pre-season.
“We’ll have a core of Academy players who will be invited to join in pre-season training and it will be up to them to come in and work hard,†said director of rugby Rayer.Hopefully one or two of them will earn development contracts.
“Aaron Morris will get a chance and it could be a big year for him with Josh Bassett leaving, but there are a few others coming through in the back three who can provide competition.
“We’ve signed Neville Edwards from Rosslyn Park and hopefully he can carry on our track record of bringing in wingers from the lower levels, like Luke Fielden and James Stephenson, who have gone on to play in the Premiership.
“It shows there is an avenue here for these guys.â€
Edwards is one of four new signings the Blues have made, with hooker Charlie Clare joining from Leicester Tigers, ex-Bedford Academy centre/wing Corey Hircock returning from Munster and goal-kicking back Michael Le Bourgeois signing from Jersey.
Rayer hopes to add a versatile front row player to the squad before the players return to training, while the Blues will once again be able to call upon the services of several dual-registered Saracens players.
Bedford’s exploits in reaching the Championship final mean the start of pre-season training has been put back to the opening weeks of July and Rayer finds it ridiculous the season lasts for so long.
However, he is in no doubt the Blues players can be proud of their achievements in the 2012/13 season, which ended with them finishing runners-up to Newcastle Falcons in the league.
“We got a tough draw in the British Irish Cup, so we were disappointed to go out in the semi-finals because we thought we could win that,†said Rayer.
“But the only way you can be in with a chance of winning the league is to get to the final, and we finished runners-up.
“I’m massively proud of the lads. Newcastle got on top in the tight areas of the game and over the two legs deserved it, but the disappointing thing for us is that we didn’t manage to score a try.â€
Article source: http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Cheltenham-teenager-determined-push-make-England/story-19120987-detail/story.html
Rugby Union: Mike Rayer to blood the latest generation of Bedford Blues ...
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