RFU Championship - team preview

Courtesty of new boys London Scottish, here it is: Part 1

And for those that can't be orsed to click on the link:

Bedford
Last season the club reached the Championship semi-final play off and pushed the eventual Championship winners Worcester Warriors all the way. Bedford raced to a 19 - 0 half time lead, but eventually lost 22 - 19 in a pulsating match. The club backed this up by reaching the British & Irish Cup final, losing this match to the hosts Bristol in a rain drenched Memorial Ground. Bedford have an excellent and highly experienced Head Coach in Mike Rayner, who excels in identifying good raw rugby talent with potential and successfully integrating them into the existing squad at the club. The club has been a conveyor belt for players subsequently moving up to the Premiership & future International recognition. Next season promises to be no different and Bedford have a strong home record in the Championship, who will make it very difficult for visiting teams at their Godlington Road ground. The club has been very active in the player recruitment front over the summer months and have added the following players to their squad:

Don Barrell - back row from Saracens
Neil Cochrane - flanker from Doncaster & former Scotland U21 Jon Fisher - flanker from London Irish Mark Kohler - winger/centre from Luton Stefan Liebenberg - winger from Old Albanians Jamie Lennard - fly half from London Irish Henry Staff - centre from Barking Nico Steenkamp - prop from Rotherham David Vincent - winger from Barking

In addition to the above signings, Bedford have further developed their relationship with Saracens and for the 2011/12 season they have signed seven Saracen Academy players on dual registration, who will no doubt enhance an already strong squad.

Prospects - Bedford will be amongst the challengers during stage one of the Championship and another top four position is well within their capabilities. The only hinderance to progressing further is the lack of a Premiership standard ground, although on the pitch they will certainly be there or there abouts.

Bristol
The Memorial Ground outfit are about to embark on their third consecutive season at Championship level after the club were relegated from the Priemership in season 2009/10. They failed to gain an immediate return following their relegation when they lost out to the Exeter Chiefs in the Championship play off final. This loss led to a financial melt down at the club and last season they suffered an exodus of their more experienced players who moved on to pastures new. The club placed a reliance on their younger players and brought through a number of their Academy players. Last season was one of consolidation for Bristol, which led to the club finishing just outside of the relegation play off positions. For much of the season it looked like they would end up battling against the threat of relegation, but recovered late in the season and finished 9th in the league. It was not all doom and gloom for the West Country as they won the British & Irish Cup, which for a struggling side was a truly remarkable performance. A change of Head Coach over the summer was brought about by the resignation of long serving Paul Hull, with former Bristol Academy coach Liam Middleton taking over. Liam has recruited a number of new players for the coming season, which are as follows:

Rhys Lawerence - hooker from Llanelli Scarlets Josh Ovens - flanker from Bath Louis Silver - scrum half from Worcester Warriors Tom Slater - scrum half from Cardiff Blues Tristan Roberts - fly half from Doncaster Knights Fautua Otto - centre from Samoa Matt Williams - winger from Doncater Knights Jon Goodridge - full back from Esher

In addition scrum half Matt Keyte and centre Ollie Woodburn have been signed on dual registration from Bath.

Prospects - Bristol with a new coaching regime in place will be anticipating great improvements on the pitch for next season. The new squad for the coming season will take time to gel and the absence of Internationalist Otto away on World Cup duty with Samoa will place additional pressure on the remaining young centre combination. Should the club get off to a slow start they could well be playing catch up rugby, but a top half position in stage one of the Championship will certainly be on the cards either way.

Good preview aslongasbut100.

Of course I am biased but I think the Bedford team will be very strong. Last season they had James Short playing a few games for them - he scored 4 tries in one game. Expect the other dual Saracens signings to have an impact too.

Ben Ransom and Mako Vunipola - involved in the England U20s world cup will be the one to watch out for in my opinion.

Some of the Saracens boys like Jake Sharp,Henry Staff and Don Barrell will be full time Bedford players now.

With a point to prove these players will be hungry for success.

Bedford have always been fairly strong anyway.