Bedford Blues will travel to fellow play-off finalists Worcester Warriors on the opening weekend of the 2026-27 Elior Champ Rugby season after the fixtures were announced last week.

Mike Rayer’s side will start the campaign on the road for the first time since 2022 when they travel to Sixways to face the champions, before hosting their first home clash of the new term with Chinnor heading to Goldington Road. Trips to newly promoted Rotherham Titans and Blackheath both come before Christmas, as do six home fixtures with visits from the likes of Cornish Pirates, Doncaster Knights and Hartpury.

Blues head to Richmond on Boxing Day, before hosting the reverse fixture less than a week later on New Year’s Day. Also new this season are two ‘Rivals Rounds’ in Matchdays 10 and 15 respectively, with those seeing Blues paired with Coventry, hosting them in December before heading to Butts Park Arena in January.

Prior to the campaign, Bedford will host two Friday Night Lights pre-season fixtures at Goldington Road, as they welcome Cambridge on Friday, August 21, and Bath Rugby on Friday, September 11, both matches kicking off at 7.30pm. Cambridge are expected to bring several familiar faces, including Joe Hill and Ben Adams, while following a pre-season camp in the Lake District, Blues will return home to face PREM and European semi-finalists Bath Rugby a week before the start of the new league season.

Fixtures out: Bedford Blues' 2026-27 campaign is now known

placeholder image — Fixtures out: Bedford Blues' 2026-27 campaign is now known

The two teams have struck up a close relationship since meeting in the PREM Rugby Cup in the 2024-25 season, with Johann Van Graan’s men returning the favour of a friendly after Bedford’s trip to The Rec last March. Commenting on the pre-season schedule, chief executive officer, Gareth Alred said: “We are delighted to be hosting both Cambridge and Bath in our first hit outs of the new season.

"We have developed great relationships with both clubs and have plans for a special matchday experience for each contest. We look forward to welcoming our #BluesFamily back through the turnstiles in just six weeks’ time as we aim to build on last year’s success. Join us on the journey!”

Bedford Blues Elior Champ fixture list – Sept 19: Worcester Warriors (A); Sept 26: Chinnor (H); Oct 3: Rotherham Titans (A); Oct 10: Cornish Pirates (H); Oct 17: Nottingham (A); Oct 31: Hartpury University (H); Nov 7: Blackheath (A); Nov 14: Doncaster Knights (H); Nov 21: Ampthill (A); Dec 5: Coventry (H); Dec 12: Ealing Trailfinders (A); Dec 19: Caldy (H); Dec 26: Richmond (A); Jan 2: Richmond (H); Jan 23: Coventry (A); Jan 30: Blackheath (H); Feb 6: Hartpury University (A); Feb 13: Nottingham (H); Feb 20: Cornish Pirates (A); Feb 27: Rotherham Titans (H); Mar 20: Ampthill (H); Mar 27: Doncaster Knights (A); Apr 3: Ealing Trailfinders (H); Apr 10: Caldy (A); Apr 17: Chinnor (A); Apr 24: Worcester Warriors (H)

» Bedford Blues Women have learned their fixtures for a first season at Championship Two level, as Eddie Rennell's side, who are in the Midlands Championship Two, will compete in an expanded 10-team league.

Full fixtures – Sept 20: Sudbury Ladies (H); Sept 27: Sheffield Women (A); Oct 11: Birmingham Moseley Women (H); Oct 18: Lincoln Ladies (H); Nov 1: Sheffield Tigers Women (A); Nov 8: Old Albanian Saints II (H); Nov 22: Sutton Coldfield Ladies (A); Nov 29: Long Eaton Women (H); Dec 13: Bridgnorth Women (A); Dec 20: Sheffield Women (H); Jan 10: Birmingham Moseley Women (A); Jan 17: Lincoln Ladies (A); Jan 31: Sheffield Tigers Women (H); Feb 14: Old Albanian Saints II (A); Feb 28: Sutton Coldfield Ladies (H); Mar 14: Long Eaton Women (A); Apr 4: Bridgnorth Women (H); Apr 11: Sudbury Ladies (A).