Gulliver and Armes sign for Bedford Blues

Posted on May 17, 2012 in Bedford

Bedford Blues have signed two Premiership stars for the 2012/13 Championship season – and both will be familiar names to the Goldington Road faithful.

After one season with Worcester Warriors, Ben Gulliver, who previously played for the Cornish Pirates, Plymouth and Coventry as well as a loan spell with Leicester Tigers, is making the move from Sixways.

Gulliver, 30, who stands at six foot five inches tall and weighs in at almost 17 and a half stone will add some much needed fire power and experience to the Blues second row.

Adding a bit of weight in the back row department will be former Bedford Blues Academy player Tom Armes who returns to Goldington Road after a four year stint with Leister Tigers.

Armes, who can play anywhere across the back row, was signed to the Leicester Academy and played in the ‘A’ League with Tigers before making his debut as a replacement in the Premiership win over Northampton in October 2009 followed up a week later by coming off the bench in the historic win over the then world champions South Africa.

The 21-year-old spent time with Championship rivals Nottingham during the 2010/11 season to gain some valuable game time but returns to his roots with a permanent move to Goldington Road.

Blues Director of Rugby Mike Rayer said: “I am thrilled to be able to welcome Ben and Tom to Goldington Road and I think everyone will be excited to see them in action for the Blues next season.

“We all know just how important a player Ben was for the Pirates and how influential he was down in the West Country. I have no doubts that after a stint in the Premiership, he will be fired up and raring to get going for us next term.

“Tom is a fantastic talent who we all know really well and I’m sure he will slot in perfectly within our back row. Tom headed off to Leicester with our best wishes but we are now delighted to welcome him back and I’m certain it won’t take long to get back into the swing of things.”

Cardiff Blues hold on to Alex Cuthbert

Posted on May 16, 2012 in Cardiff Blues

Cardiff Blues have held on to their Welsh international winger Alex Cuthbert,  with the young star deciding to sign a new contract extension with the region.

Cuthbert underlined his credentials during the Blues Heineken Cup campaign in November scoring a brace of tries against Racing Metro in Paris and was picked for Wales soon after, making his debut against Australia in December 2011.

It has been a meteoric rise from UWIC, Cardiff RFC, and Cardiff Blues to Wales Grand Slam winner for the young Gloucester man who extends his contract with the Cardiff Blues this week.

Speaking of his decision to stay with the region, Cuthbert, said:

“I am very pleased to be re signing for another year with The Blues and I can now look forward to the summer tour with Wales and next season with the region”

“I had a few offers outside of Wales and having gone through all the options thoroughly with family and friends, I came to the conclusion that the best option was to stay at the Blues, showing my loyalty to the region, coaches and the fans”

“Playing for Wales was a huge part of my decision to stay with the Blues and playing for the region regularly will hopefully strengthen my chances of keeping my place in the Wales team.”

“Obviously with Phil taking over as Head Coach it’s exciting times for the region as well. I know Phil from my time with the Wales Sevens where he was involved. He’s a great coach, I’ve heard he’s very well organized and puts good structures in place which I know will benefit the club next season.”

“I’m also very excited that the Blues are moving back to the Arms Park, I’m yet to play there in front of a full crowd so hopefully we can do that next season. I’ve watched a few games down there and the atmosphere is unbelievable and if we maintain good crowds that will help us no end on the pitch.”

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Bedford Blues bid farewell to eight players

Posted on May 15, 2012 in Bedford

Bedford Blues have announced they will be parting company with eight players following the club’s failure to win the Championship.

Currently there are eight members of the squad who will be leaving Goldington Road this week and all go with the best wishes of the Board of Directors, coaches and fans.

After four seasons with the Blues, prop Sam Walsh is heading off to pastures new as is fellow front row compatriot Nico Steenkamp. The Blues will also be bidding a fond farewell to three second row forwards in Sean Tomes, Sam Pailor and Billy Johnson.

In the backs, fly half Jamie Lennard has put pen to paper on a deal to take him back to Doncaster Knights where he played before joining Premiership outfit London Irish while wingers Handre Schmidt and Dave Vincent are also leaving the Blues this summer.

Speaking about the departures, Blues Director of Rugby Mike Rayer said: “We’ve enjoyed a fine season and everyone is disappointed to have fallen at the semi-final stage as we pushed for the Championship title.

“All of the players who are leaving us were an important part of the team that did so well this season but we have identified some areas that we need to change and unfortunately it means that we have to say goodbye to some familiar faces.

“On behalf of all the coaches, directors and the fans, I want to say a big thank you to all of the lads for their hard work and dedication during their time with us and we wish them all the best for the future.

“Looking ahead to next season I can confirm that we have identified four players who we are in negotiations with, 17 players have already re-signed, a couple more have agreed new deals in principle and we are waiting to hear back from a few more. All-in-all things are looking very bright for the 2012/13 campaign and we will have more news shortly.”

Phil Davies “very humbled” at receiving Cardiff call

Posted on May 11, 2012 in Cardiff Blues

By MARTYN WINTERS. Cardiff new boy, Phil Davies, can’t wait to get stuck into running the region.

The ex-Worcester forwards coach was commenting on his appointment as Director of Rugby at the troubled capital city regional outfit. The former Scarlet outlined his plans for the region and his aim to stem the tide of poor results that have stricken the club in recent months.

Davies said: "There are a lot of good jobs in rugby but when you get offered the role of being the Director of Rugby for Cardiff Blues, which is one of the most recognised teams in Europe, then I didn’t have to think twice."

In a nod to the recent run, and his hopes for the future, he commented: "There’s a lot of work to be done but it’s a chance and an opportunity for the next generation to come through and keep the Blues region at the top of the game."

The severe financial restrictions afflicting all the regions in Wales was uppermost in his thoughts when he said: "The salary cap will focus the mind and I genuinely believe we have to work through the change, there maybe growing pains but we can become competitive again."

"There’s a lot of history that goes with the Blues region from the great Pontypridd teams from the 80′s and 90′s when Lynn Howells and Dennis John were coaching and Neil Jenkins was kick goals and Dale McIntosh charging everywhere, to the Cardiff RFC teams of Gareth Davies, Gareth Edwards and Terry Holmes. The heritage is massive and the passion is there."

"We need to get the region to understand that we are proud of that history but embrace it and move forward."

"I’m very humbled and privileged to have this role and will work as hard as I can to make sure it’s successful."

London Welsh and Bedford Blues team News

Posted on May 11, 2012 in Bedford, Championship, London Welsh

London Welsh welcome Bedford Blues to Old Deer Park for the 2nd leg of their Championship semi-final knowing that anything less than a ten-point defeat will be good enough to take the Exiles through to the final.

Hudson Tonga’uiha’s try and eight points from the boot of full back Alex Davies gave Welsh a 13-3 win at Goldington Road seven days ago, with James Pritchard replying for the Blues.

The Exiles’ win made it two wins a piece between the sides this season.

The sides’ previous meeting at Old Deer Park saw the home side run out 25-24 winners in December. The Blues, though, nearly snatched victory with the last kick of the game, only for Jamie Lennard’s drop goal to slip wide.

Bedford’s only visit to Old Deer Park in 2010/11 also produced another tight affair, with Gordon Ross’ 79th minute penalty giving the Exiles a 25-22 win.

The 2009/10 season also produced another home win for Welsh over the Blues, 28-17, thanks to tries from Errie Claassens (2) and Paul Sampson.

Bedford’s last win at Old Deer Park came in September 2008 when they came out on top 32-23.

London Welsh:

15. Alex Davies, 14. Nick Scott, 13. James Lewis, 12. Hudson Tonga’uiha*, 11. Joe Ajuwa, 10. Seb Jewell, 9. Jack Moates, 1. Billy Moss, 2. Dan George, 3. James Tideswell, 4. Adam Brown, 5. Matt Corker, 6. Jon Mills ©, 7. Mike Denbee, 8. Ed Jackson.

Replacements: 16. Vili Ma’asi*, 17. Shawn Pittman*, 18. Greg Bateman, 19. Gary Johnson, 20. Lee Beach, 21. Rob Lewis, 22. Simon Whatling.

* Denotes full international

Bedford Blues have named the starting XV which will take on London Welsh in Sunday’s all important second leg of the RFU Championship Semi-Final.

Having lost 3-13 at Goldington Road last Friday, the Blues know that they have it all to do as they visit Old Deer Park needing to overturn a ten point deficit to reach the final of the Championship play offs.

Bedford Blues Director of Rugby Mike Rayer is picking from an almost fully fit squad but does make six changes from the team which started last week. Jamie Lennard replaces Jake Sharp – who took a knock last Friday – at fly half while Neil Cochrane, Phil Boulton, Gregor Gillanders, Sacha Harding and Jon Fisher all start up front in place of Chris Locke, Ben Cooper, Alex Rae, Darren Fox and Don Barrell while Ian Vass comes on to the replacements bench.

Bedford:

15. James Pritchard (c), 14. Ollie Dodge, 13. Brendan Burke, 12. Henry Staff, 11. Josh Bassett, 10. Jamie Lennard, 9. Luke Baldwin, 1. Ricky Reeves, 2. Neil Cochrane, 3. Phil Boulton, 4. Paul Tupai, 5. Mike Howard, 6. Gregor Gillanders, 7. Sacha Harding, 8. Jon Fisher

Replacements: 16. Chris Locke, 17. Sam Walsh, 18. Alex Rae, 19. Don Barrell, 20. Darren Fox, 21. Darryl Veenendaal, 22. Ian Vass