Bedford Blues have been suffering in the league as of late, but there is another competition in the pipeline that could give Mike Rayer’s side a chance of silverware.
The Championship Cup is due to begin on 8th April, with Round 22 of the Championship season moved to 2nd April from 19th March due to a number of Covid cancellations in recent weeks.
Bedford Blues have been drawn against Nottingham for the first round, with the first leg to be played at Lady Bay on the evening of 8th April before the return leg at Goldington Road a fortnight later.
In the other ties, local rivals Ampthill host Coventry, Doncaster Knights face a tough tie against Cornish Pirates, Richmond face Hartpury and Jersey Reds host London Scottish.
As league leaders, Ealing Trailfinders receive a bye into the quarter-finals.
That draw was also completed yesterday, with the winner of Bedford’s tie going on to face one of the two sides who will qualify courtesy of having the closest aggregate loss in the first round.
The quarter-finals will also be contested over two-legs, on 30th April and 7th May with the semi-final, on 14th May and the final the following week being one-legged affairs.
The Blues’ league campaign continues this weekend with a tough game at table-topping Ealing Trailfinders after what has been a disappointing 2022 so far for Mike Rayer’s men.
