Really interesting thread guys, what about you U18's have you any looking ready to make the step up to first team?

Got to say i am dissapointed with your 18's this year, went to watch the other day has my brother plays with Cas 18's, Bradford have some quality players in there side, but look very unfit. My cousin plays for the Bulls 18's so i always keep an eye on there results

whos your cousin??

George Marchant.

Just a question (and its not a pop at the Bulls) but what suprises me about the junior signings you've just made is the fact only one is from Bradford???

Is junior rugby in the area struggling?

I'd be interested to know how many teams in Bradford have a full youth set up. Dudley Hill? West Bowling? Queensbury? It might be the case there's not a big pool to pick from in Bradford?

Part of the explanation is to do with the geographical layout of the Bradford Service Area. And have a look at where Odsal is physically situated. Then it becomes much clearer.

Odsal is at the very southern tip of the Bradford Metropolitan district (which extends northwest way beyond Keighley and over the moors to Ilkley), and of the Service Area.

You can walk from Odsal into the neighbouring metropolitan districts of Kirklees (Huddersfield) Calderdale (Halifax) and Leeds - in one case in less than ten minutes. Wakefield district is not far away either.

What this means is that much of the Bulls' hinterland is actually in neighbouring districts. Look at a map and you will see what I mean! Remember too that the heavy woollen district tends to have historically much more affinity with Bradford (and Halifax and Huddersfield) than Wakefield (mining) or Leeds (ready made clothing, mining etc).

This accident of nature puts Bulls at a disadvantage to most other "big" clubs, that tend to be more centrally-situated within their Service Area. And it gets worse. Pretty well all the amateur sides - and, I believe, all those that run junior sides? - are in the south Bradford area - i.e. within a (admittedly sometimes long) walk of Odsal. South Bradford - and on into the Calder valley - is the RL hinterland in Bradford. You then get that huge swathe across the centre of the city and the district which is now predominantly Asian, where both Bulls and Bantams struggle (despite best efforts) to overcome what seems to be a cultural difficulty in team sport participation. Then you get into north Bradford, which is very much the soccer club's hinterland and the on to the Aire Valley and beyond, which (other than Keighley) has little RL background (it is more Union, e.g. the Bees at Dowley Gap). And most of the Aire Valley (most especially Keighley) - quite apart from beyond into the Wharfe Valley - do their best to ignore any connection with Bradford anyway. Ask Tigertot how much RL is played in Ilkley...?

What this means is that the RL interest in the Bradmet district is concentrated in the extreme south and around Keighley. And therefore not that many amateur clubs.

Leaving aside all the inevitable arguments about how much the Bulls can and should spend on trying to develop junior RL in the city (an area where there was a big new investment last year anyway) This has to have a substantial effect on the talent pool available.

It is no coincidence that the training base at Tong is superbly situated for the widest possible easy-travel RL heartland catchment area. It must give the club an advantage to help offset the big geographical disadvantage. The previous base at Apperley Bridge was miles away from the RL heartland.

That lot is, I suggest, at least a partial answer. Those who are actively involved in the junior or amateur game in the Service Area will be far better qualified to improve on it.

A relation of Tony?

I wondered that, especially since I used to work with Tony's brother.

Well if he turns out to be even nearly as good as Tony Marchant he'll be a brilliant signing. No pressure like.........

The ones that I've seen junior rugby played at are:

Dudley Hill
Queensbury
West Bowling
Wibsey
Clayton
Driglington
Bradford Victoria Rangers
Wyke

Admitedly not all have U8's to U18's but the majority have teams that can feed into the Bulls scholarship.