Bradford Bulls Academy

Bradford Bulls Academy
Full name Bradford Bulls Academy Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s) Bulls
Founded 1996
Region Bradford, Yorkshire, England
Ground(s) Grattan Stadium (Capacity: 27,000)
Coach(es) England Basil Richards
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.bradfordbulls.co.uk

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.

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
England Mark Woods Prop Retired
Republic of Ireland Chris Bridge Centre Warrington Wolves
England Brett Ferres Second Row Leeds Rhinos
England Stuart Fielden Prop Retired
England Stuart Reardon Full Back North Wales Crusaders
England Paul Sykes Stand Off Dewsbury Rams
England Karl Pryce Wing Dewsbury Rams
England Leon Pryce Stand Off Hull F.C.
New Zealand Robbie Paul Scrum Half Retired
England Robert Parker Prop Retired
England Jamie Peacock Prop Retired
England Andy Smith Wing Retired
England Richard Moore Prop Halifax
England Jamie Langley Loose Forward Retired
England Sam Burgess Prop South Sydney Rabbitohs
England Matt James Prop Sheffield Eagles
England Matt Cook Second Rower London Broncos
Wales Craig Kopczak Prop Salford Red Devils
Scotland Richard Hawkyard Full Back Keighley Cougars
Scotland Keale Carlile Hooker Sheffield Eagles
England Vinnie Finigan Winger Keighley Cougars
England Paul Mennell Scrum Half Retired
England Steve Crossley Prop Toronto Wolfpack (from 2017)
England Neil Cherryholme Prop Keighley Cougars
England David Clayton Winger Hunslet Hawks
Wales Larne Patrick Second Rower Salford Red Devils
Scotland Alex Szostak Loose Forward Workington Town
Scotland Adam Walker Prop Hull Kingston Rovers
England Elliott Whitehead Second Rower Canberra Raiders
England Kieran Hyde Scrum Half Swinton Lions

Former staff

Lee St Hilaire

Basil Richards

Paul Medley

Richard Tunningley

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