For just the fifth time in the club’s history, St George’s Day rugby will return to Goldington Road as Bedford Blues begin their Championship Cup exploits with a tie over two legs against Nottingham in Round One.
Now the Championship league campaign is done and dusted, Blues turn their attentions to the end-of-the-season competition which brings all the Championship clubs together in a knockout format. During this, Bedford Blues will search for the club’s first senior trophy since 2005.
In Round One, Blues face Nottingham over two legs and travel to Lady Bay on Friday April 8, before returning home for the return fixture on April 23. The team who wins the battle on aggregate score will progress further in the competition and onto the quarter finals, which will bring about another home game.
At present, the Nottingham game on St George’s Day is the only guaranteed Bedford Blues home fixture left in the diary this season so fans shouldn’t miss another chance to visit the home of Bedford’s premier sporting club.
Tickets are already on sale, with huge discounts available if purchased online and in advance of match day. In addition, for those who want to make a day of it, hospitality is also available across Goldington Road starting from just £24. With a variety of options on offer, from sit down three-course meals to more street food style dining there is plenty of choice and availability.
Bedford have a proud tradition in cup competitions and have tasted success twice before, albeit under a different tournament structure, winning at Twickenham in 1975 and 2005.
In what was arguably the club’s greatest hour, record appearance holder Budge Rogers and his troops saw off Rosslyn Park 28-12 at Rugby HQ nearly 50 years ago in what was then known as the RFU Club Competition – a competition which featured every club in the country.
Since then, cup competitions have largely kept the Premiership and Championship apart but that doesn’t take any of the shine off the trophy secured in 2005, when a late Leigh Hinton penalty saw off Plymouth Albion in the Powergen Shield.
Success would mark a first trophy for Director of Rugby, Mike Rayer in the senior men’s game. He recently celebrated his 500th game in charge of the club and will be desperate to mark his 17th campaign with silverware.
Follow the cup journey right the way through the competition; tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from www.bedfordrugby.co.uk/tickets
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For hospitality information and bookings contact louis@bedfordrugby.co.uk
