College colts face off in national rugby match

Bedford College claims some of the top talent in the county among its Rugby Academy students.

Since the Rugby Academy began four years, at least one youngster each new season has won an England Cap.

Rugby ColtsNow two will be facing each other in one of the most important cup matches in the young game. On opposing team in the Quarter Final of the National Colts Cup on March 20th will be prop Stuart Jordan (Bedford Athletic) and Steve Smith (Bedford Blues). Both now aged 18, the lads first knew each other when they were students at Robert Bruce: Stuart went on to Hastingsbury Upper and Steve to Wootton.

Reunited at the Bedford College Rugby Academy, the lads are now playing top level local rugby. Their mates at the Academy joined them for a face-off photo call with Head Coach  Tom Cassidy and Assistant Coach Ross Honeyman.

The rivalry has another interesting angle, Steve is a sport student at Bedford College and Stuart is now on an Outdoor Education course at Shuttleworth College, which joined with Bedford College in 2009. So both campuses have their favourites to cheer along.

“It is great for the academy to have players performing at such a level,” said Tom Cassidy."

“Bedford College Rugby Academy is a great place for young talented rugby players to get quality coaching, with educational qualifications which will lead to a career off the pitch. And those careers can be many and varied and at Bedford College or now at Shuttleworth.”

Bedford College Sport Academies includes men’s and women’s football, basketball, golf, tennis, hockey and netball.

Rugby Colts Posing