With just two Championship fixtures remaining of the 2024/25 season, preparations for the next campaign are already well underway with the announcement of nine player departures at Goldington Road.
International moves, work opportunities and long-term injuries are amongst the reasons listed for players moving on from the Blues in what is always a tough but necessary part of a long season for Mike Rayer and his coaching staff.
Bedford Blues have enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in over a decade and are on the verge of confirming second place in the Championship after thrashing Cambridge 73-15 on Saturday (17 May).
Read: Bedford Blues score eleven more tries and thrash bottom side Cambridge
Alongside an admirable showing in the Premiership Cup, where the Blues beat Bristol Bears and ran Premiership leaders, Bath close on two occasions, this season has been full of memories, but as ever, there is to be a change in squad for next season.
Amongst the most high-profile departures are last season’s Players Player of the Year, Joe Howard and mainstay, Luke Frost, with the latter moving down to the capital to pursue other work opportunities, although there will be a list of London-based clubs hoping to snap him up.
Number eight, Cameron King is another name from the pack to be moving on, alongside Jac Arthur who leaves Goldington Road after four years, although this season has been plagued by injuries after 27 appearances in 2023/24.
Amongst the backs, Pat Tapley waves farewell to Goldington Road after eleven years of service, culminating in a testimonial last season against a Cambridgeshire invitational side.
Tapley leaves having scored 64 tries in 144 appearances.
Matt Worley is also on the way out as he plans to move permanently to Hong Kong in order to help his international side qualify for the 2027 World Cup, while Bedfordian, Jamie Elliott also leaves having missed the whole of this season through injury.
Winger, Alfie Garside has also opted to pursue other opportunities away from Goldington Road, alongside Joel Matavesi, whose departure was announced in April as the centre moves to Nationale 1 side, USBPA in eastern France.
Read: Bedford Blues centre Joel Matavesi to leave Goldington Road for France
“It’s always a sad time of the year when players leave the club”, said Director of Rugby, Mike Rayer.
“These boys have given everything for us throughout their time here and we’ll look to give them all a good send off in the coming weeks.
“We wish them all the best and hopefully our paths cross again in the future.”
Of those to commit to next season include key players, Will Maisey, captain Alex Day, Fred Tuilagi and the club’s record try scorer, Dean Adamson, who scored four more against Cambridge on Saturday to take his tally for the Blues to 151.
Almost all of the players leaving the Blues will feature in one or both of Bedford’s remaining Championship games, against Chinnor this coming Saturday (24 May) or at Caldy on the final day of the season the following weekend.
