Bradford Bulls Academy

The Bradford Bulls Youth Development was the youth system of the rugby league club Bradford Bulls. It was one of the most famous and successful youth systems for rugby league and produced some of the best players in both rugby league and rugby union. The Bradford Bulls Youth Development consisted of three main teams, the Senior Academy, the Junior Academy and the Service Area team. Youth Development system also included scouting for the local area and education for the players in the academy teams.

Bradford Bulls Academy
Full nameBradford Bulls Academy Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Bulls
Founded1996
RegionBradford, Yorkshire, England
Ground(s)Grattan Stadium (Capacity: 27,000)
Coach(es) Basil Richards
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.bradfordbulls.co.uk

The Academy

The Senior Academy (from 2013 the Under 19's) was the highest tier in the Youth Development system. Any players under the age of 19 years were eligible to play for the senior academy; the rules also permitted three players over the age of 21 to play in academy matches. Most of the team was made up of fringe squad players and those first team players recovering from injury but also some of the best players from the junior academy were given experience in the senior academy. The Bradford Bulls Senior Academy was one of the best in the country and produced more professional Rugby League players than any other Academy in the country. The success of the Bradford Bulls Academy decreased in its latter years, many Senior Academy players were promoted to the first team squad at quite a young age and either secured a first team places or were released to other clubs. This meant that players from the junior academy players were drafted into the senior academy but were often playing against opposition much older than themselves.

Notable former players

Player Position Current Club
Mark Woods Prop Retired
Chris Bridge Centre Warrington Wolves
Brett Ferres Second Row Leeds Rhinos
Stuart Fielden Prop Retired
Stuart Reardon Full Back North Wales Crusaders
Paul Sykes Stand Off Dewsbury Rams
Karl Pryce Wing Dewsbury Rams
Leon Pryce Stand Off Hull F.C.
Robbie Paul Scrum Half Retired
Robert Parker Prop Retired
Jamie Peacock Prop Retired
Andy Smith Wing Retired
Richard Moore Prop Halifax
Jamie Langley Loose Forward Retired
Sam Burgess Prop South Sydney Rabbitohs
Matt James Prop Sheffield Eagles
Matt Cook Second Rower London Broncos
Craig Kopczak Prop Salford Red Devils
Richard Hawkyard Full Back Keighley Cougars
Keale Carlile Hooker Sheffield Eagles
Vinnie Finigan Winger Keighley Cougars
Paul Mennell Scrum Half Retired
Steve Crossley Prop Bradford Bulls (Captain 2019)
Neil Cherryholme Prop Keighley Cougars
David Clayton Winger Hunslet Hawks
Larne Patrick Second Rower Salford Red Devils
Alex Szostak Loose Forward Workington Town
Adam Walker Prop Hull Kingston Rovers
Elliott Whitehead Second Rower Canberra Raiders
Kieran Hyde Scrum Half Swinton Lions

Former staff

Lee St Hilaire

Basil Richards

Paul Medley

Richard Tunningley

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