Bedford swoop to pack in Cambridge duo
Ben Cooper. Bedford Blues. wk 04.
BEDFORD Blues have strengthened their squad ahead of the Championship play-offs by signing Cambridge duo Darren Fox and Ben Cooper.
Following a serious injury to flanker Sacha Harding, former Northampton Saint Darren Fox has joined the Goldington Road club until the end of the season to provide some much-needed cover in the back-row.
Fox, 31, who stands six foot tall and weighs 100kg, joined the National One side in the summer of 2008 having been with Northampton for six years and an ever-present in the Saints 2007-08 squad.
Twenty-two-year-old tighthead prop Cooper has been a consistent force in the Cambridge pack for the past few seasons.
Having been a latecomer to the sport, Cooper was spotted playing for West Suffolk College and offered the chance to turn out for the Grantchester Road club where he learnt his trade from another former Blue, Mike Guess, before making the number three shirt his own.
Speaking about the new signings, Blues director of rugby Mike Rayer said: “I’m delighted to welcome Darren and Ben to the club and I’m sure that we are all really looking forward to seeing the impact that they can make.
“Having played a few pre-season friendlies against Cambridge, we are more than aware of what Darren can do and with Sacha out for another month at least, this has proven to be a great opportunity to bring Darren on board.
“Ben has been impressive for Cambridge ever since he pulled on the shirt back in 2008 and I think that he has great potential.
“He comes with a great recommendation and I hope that he can go on even further under the tutaledge of Martin Hynes and Matt Volland who will enjoy moulding him even further.
“We’ve been a bit unfortunate losing Sacha and Ricky Reeves to injury while Dan Seal will also be missing for a number of weeks following the decision of the RFU disciplinary board, but it’s all part and parcel of the game.
“The chairman knows that we have been left a little short and I’m delighted that he has allowed us to make these two signings.
“I also want to thank Cambridge for allowing us to approach and sign their players at this very difficult time for the club.
“Everyone at Goldington Road wishes them well and hope that they can once again bounce back from the adversity that they face.”
Fox and Cooper, who joined up with their new team mates earlier this week, could both feature in the 22-man squad which heads up to Headingley on Sunday afternoon to face Leeds in a tricky Championship encounter.
The Blues lost to the former Premiership club at Goldington Road earlier in the season and will be hoping for a reversal this time around.
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Weather for Bedford
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
