BEDFORD TIGERS have launched a fresh application to join the professional ranks.

The community side hope to join the Championship next season in place of London Broncos, who are still waiting to discover if they will be promoted to Super League.

A previous bid to the Rugby Football League two years ago was declined in favour of Goole Vikings, when an open tender process was run.

Bedford were formed in 2004 and this year finished third in National Conference South, at step three of the new grassroots pyramid.

The club, who say they have submitted a business plan to the RFL, intend to operate in partnership with the Broncos, who have used Bedford players in their reserve team this year.

In a statement, the Tigers said: “The move as a joint venture would serve to further the partnership that the two clubs have shared over the past couple of years since our last application to the professional game.

“The on-field blueprint already exists and both clubs would form a very strong professional pathway in the south of England, something that shouldn’t be ignored if the future of the sport is to improve following this year’s disastrous World Cup campaign.

“A fully professional backroom staff are agreed in principle with commercial, coaching and boardroom experience all waiting to get started.”

Bedford play their home games at Wentworth Drive, home of the amateur Bedford Athletic Rugby Club, although when they previously applied for a place in the old League One they held discussions with second-tier rugby union side Bedford Blues, whose Goldington Road ground has a capacity of around 5,500.

London Broncos have been the game’s sole southern professional club since Cornwall withdrew in early 2025.

Before that London Skolars were a third-tier outfit between 2003 and 2023, during which time Gloucestershire All Golds, Hemel Stags and Oxford all came and went.