London Scottish can today reveal that Harry Sheppard will join Bedford Blues for the 2017/18 season.
The fly-half spent two seasons at the Athletic Ground and made 20 appearances after bursting on to the scene at the end of the 15/16 campaign, but will now head to Goldington Road for a new opportunity with the Blues.
Sheppard made his debut at Clifton Lane against Rotherham in the penultimate match of the 15/16 season and showed what he was capable of, resulting in a contract for the 16/17 season.
The 21-year-old then turned in to the first choice fly-half with highlights of his time at the club including a try in the Athletic Ground derby victory over Richmond, as well as kicking a crucial penalty in the win over Ulster ‘A’ in the British and Irish Cup.
Sheppard paid tribute to the club for allowing him to develop in to a promising fly-half:
Looking back on my two years of Scottish the outstanding thoughts that come to mind are my development and enjoyment. As a 20 year old looking to develop and start out his career in the Championship I couldn't have been in a better environment to do so.
To have a coach like Peter Richards who was so passionate about rugby and levels of performance was invaluable to me. This season, especially, as I found my way into the starting 10 shirt most weeks, he was instrumental in developing my game management at that level.
I owe a lot to the senior players around me in that side, Jamie Stevenson, Robbie Fergusson, Jason Harries, Rory Bartle who helped take a lot of pressure off of my shoulders as I found my feet at Championship level and then encouraged me to express myself on the field week in week out.
Other thank-yous would go to the physios Mikey Burroughs and Aaron Walters and S&C staff, Matty Long, who kept me fit and on the playing field as much as possible!