Front row pair signs new Bedford contract

Bedford Blues have increased their squad size for next Championship season with prop Dave Spelman and hooker Jacob Fields both signing new deals.
Spelman, who has represented England Students, Cambridge University and Old Albanians, suffered a frustrating first season at Goldington Road with the 23-year-old suffering a season-ending knee injury  in training at the tail-end of 2016.
Also packing down with Spelman will be hooker Fields, 23, who came through the Bath Academy and also had a spell with Loughborough Students where he benefitted from the coaching of George Chuter.
Blues Director of Rugby Mike Rayer said: “Dave and Jacob are still relatively young for front rowers and both have shown a huge appetite to improve and develop. More importantly, they also want to continuing do it here under Hynsey and now Alex Rae as well.
“Dave is well on the way to recovering from quite a serious injury and he’s due to be fully integrated into training before the end of the month. After such a long time on the side-lines, he’s revitalised and eager to get stuck in.
“Jacob has now had a full Championship season under his belt and that will stand him good stead as the hooking position is now a very competitive one.”
The re-signings move the Blues squad for 2017/18 up to 27 players as Dave and Jacob join Rich Lane (Jersey), Harry Sheppard (London Scottish), Tom Lindsay (Saracens), Will Hooley (Exeter Chiefs), Howard Packman (Northampton Saints), Chris Czekaj, Lee Dickson (Saints), George Edgson (Wasps), Sean McCarthy (Jersey), Alex Penny (Ealing Trailfinders), Alex Rae (Jersey) and Jarad Williams (Doncaster Knights) in signing for next season while Ben Adams, Dean Adamson, Justin Blanchet, Josh Buggea, Jordan Burns, Will Carrick-Smith, Elliot Clements-Hill, Ben Cooper, Ollie Dodge, Michael Le Bourgeois, Camilo Parilli-Ocampo, Ed Taylor and Paul Tupai have all signed new deals.
JAMES LARSSON