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.

The Academy

The Senior Academy 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

PlayerPositionCurrent Club
Mark WoodsPropRetired
Chris BridgeCentreWarrington Wolves
Brett FerresSecond RowLeeds Rhinos
Stuart FieldenPropRetired
Stuart ReardonFull BackNorth Wales Crusaders
Paul SykesStand OffDewsbury Rams
Karl PryceWingDewsbury Rams
Leon PryceStand OffHull F.C.
Robbie PaulScrum HalfRetired
Robert ParkerPropRetired
Jamie PeacockPropRetired
Andy SmithWingRetired
Richard MoorePropHalifax
Jamie LangleyLoose ForwardRetired
Sam BurgessPropSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
Matt JamesPropSheffield Eagles
Matt CookSecond RowerLondon Broncos
Craig KopczakPropSalford Red Devils
Richard HawkyardFull BackKeighley Cougars
Keale CarlileHookerSheffield Eagles
Vinnie FiniganWingerKeighley Cougars
Paul MennellScrum HalfRetired
Steve CrossleyPropBradford Bulls
Neil CherryholmePropKeighley Cougars
David ClaytonWingerHunslet Hawks
Larne PatrickSecond RowerSalford Red Devils
Alex SzostakLoose ForwardWorkington Town
Adam WalkerPropHull Kingston Rovers
Elliott WhiteheadSecond RowerCanberra Raiders
Kieran HydeScrum HalfSwinton Lions

Former staff