Bedford Blues have learnt their opponents in the pool stage of the Premiership Cup this season with Bath, Bristol Bears and local rivals, Ampthill drawn alongside the Blues in Pool D of the revamped tournament.
Last season, there were 22 sides split unevenly into four pools but the competition has been slashed to 20 teams for this edition, with Cambridge and newly-promoted Chinnor controversially left out.
Cambridge finished bottom of last season’s Championship while Chinnor won National League One to reach English rugby’s second tier for the first time.
Gloucester were the winners of last season’s inaugural tournament, beating Leicester 23-13 in the final in March, although they weren’t the only side to beat the Tigers as Mike Rayer’s men completed their pool stage with a shock victory against an admittedly weaker side last October.
Read: Blues pull off shock to beat Leicester Tigers in group stage closer
The Blues eventually finished fourth in their pool that also featured Sale, Newcastle Falcons, Caldy and Ampthill but the victory against Leicester Tigers will live long in the memory and there will be another chance to cause an upset this time around.
The Battle of Bedfordshire reignites
Premiership Cup pool fixtures will be played during November and February to coincide with the international break with the Blues travelling to Ashton Gate to face Bristol Bears for the opening fixture on 2nd November.
Six days later, the Battle of Bedfordshire resumes as Bedford host Ampthill under the Friday night lights before hosting last season’s Premiership runners-up Bath on 23rd November.
The reverse fixtures begin on Friday 31st January 2025 with Bedford Blues travelling to Bath for the first time in almost a quarter of a century before a second edition of the Friday night lights against Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears on 7th February.
The pool stage closes on Saturday 15th February as Ampthill play host to the Blues.
Bedford Blues’ league campaign begins at Goldington Road against Caldy on 21st September, with three pre-season friendlies preceding that opener, beginning with Blackheath this Friday night (23 August).
All three home cup matches are included in this year’s Season Ticket Package for Blues fans, while tickets for all of Bedford Blues’ home games in league and cup will be available throughout the season here.
