Preparations for the new Champ Rugby campaign are well underway at Goldington Road, as Bedford Blues have confirmed that the vast majority of last season’s squad have been retained for 2026/27.
22 members of the playing squad will hope to go one step further, following a heartbreaking Champ Rugby play-off final at Goldington Road, which saw the Blues lose 27-14 against Worcester Warriors.
Read: Blues heartbreak as Worcester Warriors win Champ Rugby title at Goldington Road
Among the retained players are fan favourite, Dean Adamson, who has committed to a 12th season in Blues colours and Fred Tuilagi, who was once again voted the Players’ Player of the Season at the Blues’ recent end of season awards ceremony.
Tuilagi, who was largely employed in the number six jersey throughout the year, becomes the first player in Blues’ history to receive the Players’ Player award twice in their first two seasons.
The first re-signing came back in April, with regular number eight, Tui Uru committing to a second season, followed swiftly by captain, Alex Day and fly half Will Maisey, who became the sixth man in Blues history to score 1,000 points during a win against Cornish Pirates.
Among the players who have left the club are winger, Joe Hill who has since joined Cambridge, plus fellow winger, Rafe Witheat and forward, Archie Hosking who only made seven appearances between them, with injury hampering both of their seasons.
Kayde Sylvester was named as the last of the 22 retained players on Sunday (14 June).
“Ever since being back, it’s felt like a family”, said Sylvester on his re-signing.
“It’s an honour to be part of such a great club, which is also doing unbelievable things on and off the pitch.
“From a personal standpoint, I can’t wait to continue to grow and seeing how I can help the team continue its upwards trajectory.”
Continuity the name of the game
Confirmation of 22 retained players is in stark contrast to this time last year, when long-serving Director of Rugby, Mike Rayer was working hard to gel a large squad which included a number of new players.
Before last season’s opener against Ealing, Rayer spoke of the challenge of integrating “10 or 11” new names into the squad, as well as managing changes in his backroom staff, noting that the continuity he’d kept the year before contributed to a runner-up finish in 2024/25.
His mantra of “not forcing it” and allowing an “organic” gelling worked wonders, as the Blues once again punched above their weight, falling at the final hurdle in Champ Rugby against full-time outfit, Worcester.
He will be hoping his 22nd season as the patriarch of the Blues is a successful one, as Bedford look to find the one missing ingredient in their pursuit of a Champ Rugby title.
Blues’ opponents will by and large be the same as well, with no promotion to the Prem taking place, as Worcester did not apply for promotion before the RFU deadline.
Towards the bottom end of the division, both Cambridge and London Scottish have been relegated to National One, and replaced by third tier winners, Rotherham Titans and a familiar opponent in Blackheath, who beat Scottish in the accession final.
Otherwise, familiar faces will adorn the Goldington Road turf as the Blues prepare for 26 league games. In the blink of an eye, it will be May 2027, with the hope that Rayer’s men can take the next step and claim a first league title since 1998.
Full list of retained Bedford Blues players
Forwards: Joey Conway, Jamie Jack, Tommy Herman, James Fish, Oisin Heffernan, Monty Royston, Alex Woolford, Rory Ward, Ilan Evans, Kayde Sylvester, Nicholas Finch, Tui Uru, Fred Tuilagi.
Backs: Alex Day, James Lennon, Will Maisey, Dean Adamson, Michael Le Bourgeois, Lucas Titherington, George Worth, Ryan Hutler, Louis James
