Lee Dickson named Bedford Blues captain

Bedford Blues scrum-half Lee Dickson has been named club captain for the 2018-19 Championship season.

Former England number nine Dickson, 33, joined the Goldington Road club from Northampton Saints at the start of last season and featured in 26 games, scoring five tries along the way in his debut campaign.

With Michael Le Bourgeois moving on to Premiership side Wasps, Blues director of rugby Mike Rayer has installed the captaincy on Dickson. who already takes on coaching responsibilities at the Blues.

“I was quite shocked when Mike rang me and asked me if I fancied leading the squad this season,” said Dickson.

“I only had to think about it for a second as I'm extremely proud to have been asked. It's a huge honour to have been asked to lead a great club like Bedford with the squad that we've got this season and I said yes straight away.

“It's quite a job taking over from Michael Le Bourgeois as he was a phenomenal captain who led from the front, despite being a man of very few words.

"For me, it'll be more of the same but with a bit more talking. I'll need to calm down a little and look at the bigger picture on the pitch, and make sure that we all click as one.”