Bradford Bulls are a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, England. They have been one of the success stories of the Super League era.

Early history

The Bradford Rugby Club was formed in 1863. The club won the Yorkshire Challenge Cup in 1884.

In 1895, along with crosstown neighbours Manningham, Bradford were among 22 clubs to secede from the Rugby Football Union after an historic meeting at The George Hotel in Huddersfield, in response to a dispute over "broken time" payments to players. These 22 clubs formed the Northern Rugby Union. Manningham would leave the Northern Union in 1903-04 to play soccer and become Bradford City AFC.

In 1907, "The Great Betrayal" occurred. The original Bradford club abandoned the Northern Union game to become a soccer club, Bradford (Park Avenue) A.F.C.. A new team Bradford Northern was created to take their place in the Northern Union.

Their traditional nickname is the 'Steampigs' as their forwards seemed to give off steam whilst labouring in the scrum. It is much debated exactly what a steampig is but most theories agree that it is somekind of industrial device.

They wear white with red, amber and black 'V'.

Honours

• World Club Challenge: 2002, 2004 (2 times)
• Championship (including Super League): 1903-04, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1997, 2001, 2003 (6 times)
• Challenge Cup : 1905-06, 1943-44, 1946-47, 1948-49, 2000, 2003 (6 times)
• Premiership: 1977-78
• Yorkshire Cup: 1906-07, 1940-41, 1941-42, 1943-44, 1945-46, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1953-54, 1965-66, 1978-79, 1987-88, 1989-90 (12 times)
• Yorkshire League: 1899-1900, 1900-01, 1939-40, 1940-41, 1947-48 (5 times)
• Regal Trophy: 1974-75, 1979-80 (2 times)
• Second Division: 1973-74

Records

Player records

• Most tries in a game: 7 by Jim Dechan (vs Bramley ) 13th October 1906
• Most goals in a game: 14 by Joe Philips (vs Batley ) 6th September 1952
• Most points in a game: 36 by John Woods (vs Swinton ) 13th October 1985
• Most tries in a season: 63 by Jack McLean 1951-1952
• Most goals in a season: 179 by Henry Paul 2000
• Most points in a season: 404 by Henry Paul 2000
• Most career tries: 261 by Jack McLean 1950-56
• Most career goals 779 by Keith Mumby 1973-90, 1992-93
• Most career tries: 261 by Jack McLean 1950-56
• Most career points: 1828 by Keith Mumby 1973-90 1992-93
• Most career appearances: 580 (+8 as a subsitute) by Keith Mumby 1973-90, 1992-93

Team records

• Biggest win: 96-16 vs Salford City Reds , 25th June 2000
• Heaviest defeat: 75-18 at Leeds, 14th September 1931
• Highest attendance: 69,429 vs Huddersfield (Challenge Cup ) 14th March 1953
• Odsal attendance record: 102,569 - Warrington vs Halifax (Challenge Cup Final Replay), 5th May 1954

Record attendance in Super League era: 24,020, vs Leeds Rhinos, 9th August 1999

External links

Bradford Bulls - Official