Bertrand Bedes DoB - 6th May 1981
Place of Birth - Montpellier
Height - 6' 4" (1.93m)
Weight - 17st (108kgs)
Position - No 8Previous Club/s - Montpellier, Toulouse, Narbonne, Pau
Honours - Toulouse
(Junior Champions of France 2002)

Bertrand Bedes

Keen to secure the services of a quality No. 8, the Cornish Pirates confirmed back in May, 2008, that they had found their likely man to fill the back-row void left by former skipper Tim Cowley.

As Tim crossed 'La Manche' to join Bourgoin, heading in the opposite direction across the English Channel was 27 years old Bertrand, a Frenchman who arrived in Cornwall from Pau.

Having first played rugby at the age of six, for Villeneuve les Maguelonne, his home village on the Mediterranean, Bertrand, later joined Montpellier (1999-2001), Toulouse (2001-04) and Narbonne (2004-06). He was the second player joining the Cornish Pirates from the French Pro D2 side Pau, it previously confirmed that 24 times capped Canadian lock Mike Burak would also be heading to the Duchy.

Commenting on his move to Cornwall, Bertrand said:
"Having always played in France, I felt that it was about time to discover a new culture and a new style of rugby. English clubs are much more professional in terms of weight training etc., and I wanted to discover that for myself.

My teammate Mike Burak is also moving to the Pirates, which will help me settle, and I have also spoken to Nicolas Sestaret, who is moving from Plymouth to Exeter, and he told me a lot of good things about the south-west and also about the Pirates. Coming from Montpelier in France, which is by the coast, it was important for me to find a club in the United Kingdom that is by the sea, and I can't wait to get over and start pre-season."

Surprisingly, Bertrand is likely the first Frenchman to wear the Pirates colours, and most certainly in the professional era. When his signing was announced, he was described as being 'brave, powerful, and friendly' - a player who will undoubtedly be immensely popular with supporters.

Bertrand was certainly expected to settle well in Cornwall, his educational studies having concentrated on the shellfish industry, him owning a windsurf shop in Narbonne, and his interests including windsurfing, golf, beach volleyball and petanque (a game of bowls played in France).