Rugby Union News: Northampton Saints’ Retiring Hooker Tom Cruse Joins Bedford Blues as Forwards Coach
Northampton, England – Tom Cruse, the recently retired hooker of Premiership club Northampton Saints, has been appointed as the new forwards coach for Championship side Bedford Blues, effective for the upcoming season.
The 35-year-old Cruse, who announced his retirement from professional rugby in April after spending just over a year at Franklin’s Gardens, now transitions into a full-time coaching role. This move represents an exciting new chapter in Cruse’s career as he embarks on his coaching journey.
Cruse, a self-proclaimed “massive advocate of the Championship,” already has experience playing in the second-tier competition, having featured for Rotherham earlier in his career. Additionally, he has gained valuable coaching experience this season, serving as the forwards coach for Chinnor, helping guide them to promotion to the Championship.
In his new role, Cruse will reunite with his former Wasps teammate, Michael Le Bourgeois, who joined Bedford Blues after Wasps’ administration in 2022. Cruse, who had a short-term spell with Edinburgh before joining Northampton Saints, expressed his enthusiasm about the opportunity.
“Bedford are a big, traditional club and I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity,” Cruse said. “It’s one I feel very privileged about, there’s a few familiar faces at the club – one of those being Michael Le Bourgeois from my time at Wasps.”
The former hooker emphasized his excitement about the challenges that lie ahead in the highly competitive Championship, stating, “It’s a really exciting challenge for me as I begin my coaching career, in a league that’s highly competitive. I’m a massive advocate of the Championship, it’s a great place to help talent grow, and I’m eager to put my stamp on things to aid that.”
Cruse’s appointment aligns with Bedford’s focus on player development, as the club’s director of rugby, Mike Rayer, highlighted the importance of nurturing both players and coaches. For Cruse, this opportunity represents an ideal first step in his transition to a full-time coaching role, where he can apply his wealth of playing experience to help shape the next generation of rugby talent.
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