Bedford Blues have announced that, as he prepares to head into a tenth campaign at Goldington Road, club stalwart Pat Tapley has been granted a testimonial season for 2023/24.
The 32-year-old is the longest serving current player and is synonymous with everything Bedford Blues is about and stands for – both on and off the field. Making 140 appearances and scoring 63 tries to date, it looks set to be an exciting campaign for the winger and the team.
Speaking ahead of his testimonial season, Pat said:
“If you’d have said to me all those years ago when I first came to Goldington Road that I’d still be playing here over ten years later, I definitely wouldn’t have believed you. This club and this town mean an awful lot to me and I’m honoured to be granted a testimonial.
“We’re still in the very early stages, putting the pieces together to start organising stuff. We’ll obviously have the big game at the end of the season, which will be great, but we’ll also be trying to do more with minis rugby as well, because of my background in teaching and that’s an important part of the wider rugby community in Bedford.
“There’s to be lots of fun to be had along the way.”
Pat Tapley’s highlights:
November 22, 2013: Try scoring debut at Plymouth Albion
November 2014: 25th club appearance vs Cornish Pirates
April 2015: Top try scorer for 2014/15 campaign (16 tries)
January 2016: 50th game at home vs London Scottish
April 2016: Named in the Championship Dream Team for 2015/16
October 2016: Hat-trick vs Richmond at Goldington Road
November 2018: 75th game vs Hartpury University
March 2021: Runs the team out at Coventry for his 100th appearance
May 2021: Joint top try scorer for truncated campaign (four tries)
September 2022: 125th game away at Coventry
February 2023: Captains the team for the first time vs London Scottish
September 2023: Commits for a tenth season and granted a testimonial
The club would also like to thank the FECCers for their continued player sponsorship of Pat Tapley.
To find out more about Bedford Blues and Pat Tapley’s testimonial season as details are announced, visit www.bedfordrugby.co.uk
