Irvine and a consortium of businessmen came to the rescue of the club in October 1999, when, after a tumultuous six months under the ownership of Jefferson Lloyd International, its very existence had come under threat.
With Irvine at the helm, Bedford became a model of sustainability off the pitch and an attractive proposition on it, with the Blues playing an exciting brand of rugby under his longtime ally Mike Rayer, still DoR after all these years.
New Zealander Colin Jackson and South African Rudi Straeuli were in charge before Rayer came on the scene in 2005, and both say their time at the Blues has had a lasting impression on them.
Former Springbok head coach Straeuli experienced the unique atmosphere of Goldington Road as a player and then a coach, once Jackson left in 2004 and he needed a new challenge away from South Africa.
“It was very straightforward,” says Straeuli, from his now chief executive officer of the Golden Lions in Johannesburg. “It was post the 2003 World Cup, and all of the fallout I was experiencing.
Denne historien er fra May 30, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra May 30, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
