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Northampton Saints go into 'no brainer' partnership with Bedford Blues

PA

Northampton Saints have revealed a strategic partnership with Championship rugby club, Bedford Blues. The new, mutually beneficial collaboration will see Saints and the Blues formally cooperate on a number of playing, coaching and training opportunities.

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For the 2020/21 Championship season, Saints will exclusively make a number of academy and senior squad players available to the Championship outfit.

A coaching pathway between the two clubs has also been agreed, where Saints will make high quality, high potential young coaches available to Bedford’s coaching set-up in order for them to gain valuable experience in the second tier of English rugby.

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In addition, Blues coaching staff will benefit from attending regular upskilling sessions with senior Saints coaches held at Franklin’s Gardens. The partnership also allows for joint training sessions between the two clubs when advantageous.

“I am delighted to be able to announce Saints’ strategic partnership with a club of the calibre of Bedford Blues,” said Northampton Saints Chief Executive, Mark Darbon.

“Like Saints, Bedford has a long and proud history, with close ties to its local community, so we believe it’s a natural fit.”

“The new partnership will be mutually beneficial, aiming to bring greater benefits to players and coaching staff at both clubs, as well as helping both organisations financially.

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“We very much see this as a long-term relationship, which we hope could evolve further over time.”

As part of the relationship, an annual pre-season fixture will also now be played, alternating each season between Franklin’s Gardens and Goldington Road, home of the Bedford Blues.

“Saints has a long history of producing high quality, homegrown talent and it is fundamentally important that this continues to be the case,” said Saints Director of Rugby, Chris Boyd.

“Our new relationship with Bedford ensures that we can continue to develop our best young players by securing them regular Championship game time in a highly-competitive environment.

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“Having got to know Mike Rayer and some of the Blues coaches I’m confident that we’re working with excellent people who share a similar philosophy on rugby and I’m excited about what we can do together.”

Bedford Blues Chairman, Geoff Irvine said: “We are very pleased to be able to make this announcement, not only does the relationship give us fantastic access to their players and resources, but it is a lifeline to our Club in the present situation.

“Saints is the natural fit, our near neighbours with a shared passion for history and heritage. This long-term partnership will help safeguard our Championship status and allow us to build for the seasons ahead.

“The decision was influenced by the challenging financial situation we face, not least as a result of the cuts announced by the RFU earlier this year and the uncertainty about future funding.”

Bedford Blues Director of Rugby, Mike Rayer added: “Given the current circumstances and longer-term picture, the partnership with Saints is a no brainer.

“Conversations with Chris Boyd have been really positive and it’s a great opportunity for more collaborative thinking and progression. It’s clear we share a similar rugby philosophy and that will form the basis of a strong relationship.

“We will be working with some of the best youngsters in the country through the Saints pathway, and together with our retained squad it should give us a great balance. There are already several links in the Saints coaching setup so it’s a really natural fit and one we are very excited about.”

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J
JG 58 minutes ago
Scott Robertson opens up on drama surrounding Bongi Mbonambi's knock-on try

Oh my word, for how long are they still going to keep bleating about that try.

The match officials DID explain it at the time, ruling that the ball was knocked out of Bongi’s hand by a NZ player. The ball went straight down (not forward) and Bongi fell on it, thus resulting in the try being awarded.

So it is disingenuous of Robertson to say that it wasn’t checked. If the match officials are confident in their decision, based on what they saw, then they don’t usually go to the TMO - even if requested.

Or else they’ll be going upstairs for virtually every try scored in a match.

Seriously, the Kiwis must now get over themselves. Every time they lose a match by a narrow margin, they find something to go on and on about. It’s almost as if they believe that other teams are “not allowed” to beat them.

Mind you, I think that dates back to a few years earlier when it seemed like the All Blacks were untouchable in the eyes of the match officials at the time.

Maybe Robertson still thinks that is the case nowadays. He hasn’t received the memo about the ABs no longer being unfairly “protected” by match officials.

Let’s face it - there was a time, not too long ago, where players from other teams were almost too afraid to touch or tackle a New Zealand player, for fear of incurring the referee's wrath.

And also, around the same time, NZ captain Richie McCaw was the “golden boy” amongst match officials and even amongst the big brass at the (then) IRB (now World Rugby).

Dont get me wrong, I’m an admirer of McCaw as a player and captain - I think he was great. And I will ALWAYS regard the All Blacks as a great Rugby team.

BUT let’s just be realistic, the New Zealand Rugby fraternity do tend to have this rather large sense of entitlement when it comes to test matches won or lost.

They expect other teams to accept it whenever a dubious decision goes the All Blacks’ way in a game.

BUT they don’t seem willing to do the same.

They'll routinely congratulate their opponents when they lose a match, but will then (for months, or even years afterwards), continue to bleat and “bitch” about a decision or incident that occurred in that match, trying to play the “victim” that was hard-done-by.

Perhaps it’s time for all involved in NZ Rugby to realize and accept that NO team should expect to have the right to always be “protected” or “favoured” in every match they play in.


Come on Scott Robertson, quit sinking to the low levels of some of your predecessors who, annoyingly, believed that the All Blacks have some divine, inalienable right to win every match they play.

15 Go to comments
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