Jamie Elliott signs for Bedford Blues

Bedford Blues have strengthened their backline options for the coming Championship campaign with the capture of Jamie Elliott.

Capable of playing on the wing or in the centre, Elliott, 25, has signed for his hometown club after leaving Northampton Saints in the summer.

Speaking about the  capture, Blues Director of Rugby Mike Rayer said: "It's great to be able to welcome a player of Jamie's quality to Goldington Road and we're all excited to see him out on the pitch very soon.

"Jamie has been training with us throughout the summer following his release from Northampton Saints and he's thoroughly enjoyed himself. He's fitted straight in with the group of lads that we have, he knows the town and the club really well and he wanted to stay. We're delighted to have him. 

"We've been really impressed with Jamie's work ethic and it is clear that he's a talented centre and winger who will add plenty of depth to our squad. With Michael Le Bourgeois heading to Wasps and Ollie Dodge hanging up his boots, Jamie gives us a great option in the centre as well as providing pace out on the wing."

Elliott - who joined the Northampton Saints Academy straight from Bedford School - made his debut as an 18-year-old against Saracens in the LV= Cup, before making a try-scoring Aviva Premiership debut on the wing against Sale Sharks in 2011. He went on to make 115 first team appearances for the Saints scoring 34 tries in the process including an iconic score against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in the 2013/14 Heineken Cup