Leicester stalwart Harry Wells set for a second spell in Champ Rugby

Bedford Blues have snapped up Harry Wells on a player-coach deal for next season, with the hugely experienced lock set for a second spell at Goldington Road.

Earlier this month Leicester confirmed that this season would be Wells’ 13th and last at the club, after more than 200 appearances for the Tigers.

Wells also clocked up over 50 games in two-and-a-half seasons at Bedford just over a decade ago and will now reacquaint himself with Goldington Road as part of Mike Rayer’s backroom team.

He initially joined the Blues on loan in 2014, as injury cover for Ben Gulliver, while still an England U20 international, before the move became permanent. Wells then returned to Leicester in 2016.

At first, it was thought that the 32-year-old would follow the same path as his current head coach, Geoff Parling, who swapped Leicester for Exeter in his playing days.

Peterborough-born Wells was a member of the Tigers side that beat The Chiefs in the PREM Rugby Cup final in the East Midlands earlier this season and clearly left an impression on Rob Baxter.

However, the planned move to Devon hasn’t materialised because Wells, who won his only England cap against Canada in July 2021, couldn’t find suitable schools for his children in the area.

Bedford finished second to runaway leaders Ealing, albeit with a 30-point gap between the teams, at the end of the regular Elior Champ Rugby season. They are now due to face the highest-ranked quarter-final winner in the play-off semi-finals at home on May 22.