Bulls refute allegations

The UK?s most successful Rugby Club, Bradford Bulls, has today hit back over allegations that it boycotted last night?s Super League Marketing Awards because of a row over the Salary Cap and other restrictive practices imposed by the RFL.

Bulls media Manager Stuart Duffy said today:

?It is preposterous to suggest we did not attend for those reasons. As a club we regard the Marketing Awards, whereby the clubs pat themselves on the back and where the awards are shared out for no other reason than to give everyone a feel good factor, are a waste of time and effort and that our time and effort is better spent on initiatives which directly benefit our club and the game of Rugby League as a whole. We have been disillusioned with the awards for a number of years and decided several weeks ago that we would not be attending.

We will continue with our efforts to promote the sport of Rugby League in Bradford and throughout the UK.

In other Bulls news:

The UK?s most successful Rugby Club, Bradford Bulls, who are currently Tetley?s Super League Champions, Minor Premiers and Powergen Challenge Cup holders, will launch their successful Go Bull-istic programme in Bradford on Thursday 11th December at the Richard Dunn Sports Centre, Rooley Lane Bradford at 10.00am

The Go Bull-istic programme is a schools development programme aimed at Key Stage 2 children in years 3, 4, 5 & 6. Schools receive a comprehensive package of coaching in the school which is made up from 6 visits covering all of basics of the game. They also receive an assembly in the school with all of the silver ware etc. The assemblies are based on the Bulls successful programme of either, Teamwork and Healthy Lifestyles.

?Go Bull-istic? is different to the normal work normally community work undertaken in that the Bulls target areas of the city and links the programme with amateur Rugby League clubs. At present the Bulls are working with schools around Wyke and are linked up with the junior section of Wyke Amateur Rugby League Club. Members of the club are attending the coaching sessions with the Bulls, creating closer links for the amateur club with the participating schools. Roger Castle of Wyke Rugby Club commented,

?Go Bull-istic has presented a fantastic opportunity for us to work with the Bradford Bulls in schools. This is helping us to build our relationships with schools in our area and introduce rugby league to lots of children. We hope the children who?ve enjoyed the rugby sessions come and join us at Wyke Rugby Club.

The programme has been sponsored by ?SMG Risk Solutions? and matched funded by ?Sportsmatch?. The total value of the award was ?70,000. Robin Hodgkinson of Sportsmatch commented

?We?re delighted that Sportsmatch continues to attract commercial business sponsorship to grass roots sport introducing, encouraging and supporting children to participate in sporting activity.?

The project has been backed by the Local Authority ?B Active? campaign supporting young people participating in physical activity.