Calendar Bradford Bulls News

Bradford Bulls have signed Forward Ben Evans on a season long loan deal from Warrington

Evans, 20, joined the Wolves back in 2009 with his twin brother Rhys, making the move up north to pursue their Rugby League careers.

He progressed through the Wolves’ scholarship and academy schemes, making the step up into the first team training squad in 2010.

This autumn has seen Ben represent Wales as part of this year’s international series alongside England and France.

Ben will be a good signing for us. He is young and keen to learn and I am really looking forward to having him on board with us for 2013. He certainly has the ability and attitude to go a long way in the game and I’d like to thank Tony Smith and Warrington Wolves for allowing us to take him for the season.

Ben Evans is looking forward to joining up with the Bulls:

I am really looking forward to it. It should be a good move for and I will get some game time. I met up with Francis Cummins last week and I was impressed with his ideas for the club. I also spoke to Matty Blythe and he is really pleased for me and we will be travelling over together.

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England rugby league international Sam Burgess has been caught up in the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Sandy on the east coast of the United States. Burgess, 23, the former Bradford forward who now plays for South Sydney, was holidaying in New York when the storm struck.

"He's stuck in his apartment and his flight back to Sydney has been cancelled but he's not too worried," said brother Luke, 25, a Souths team-mate who is currently with the England squad in Loughborough training for Saturday's international against France.

Sam, who was forced to miss England's autumn internationals because of a knee injury, wrote on Twitter: "Hurricane is picking up here down in Lower Manhattan. Safe indoors though. My only worry is the food rations we may be on overnight."

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• Hurrican Sandy

Was a little emotional trying to write that last tweet well am only 22 years old and got loads of time to be back

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• Shaun Ainscough
• rugby

Former Wigan winger Shaun Ainscough today announced that he is leaving Bradford Bulls.

The 22-year-old, who is out of contract, revealed on Twitter that he will be heading for Australia, admitting the decision was down to money after the club had offered him a reduced wage.

The Bulls are hoping to sign St Helens' goalkicking winger Jamie Foster, who spent the last two months of the 2012 season on loan to Hull after losing his place in the Saints team.

Just to let every one know I loved every minute at the Bradford Bulls and would have loved to have stopped but financially add all costs up was just not a stable. Not a stable wage and to be offered less than last year is just ridiculous. So I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life and try my luck in Australia playing rugby. Never knew things would end up like this but I can't wait for the chance to play in the country in Australia. Going to give it my all into my new team for 2013 and like to thank the fans especially after the adversary we been through together as one big team.

You're the best. Made me welcome from day one. You should be proud one big family. That alone will take the Bradford Bulls far in the future P.S "I will be back"

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• Bradford Bulls
• Shaun Ainscough

Bradford scrum-half Luke Gale has signed a new improved contract with the Bulls that will keep him at Odsal until the end of 2015.

The 24-year-old, who joined the club at the start of last season from Harlequins, made a big impression at the Bulls in 2012, scoring 143 points for the club despite missing 10 games with an ankle injury.

Gale had a year left on his current contract. He said: "It's brilliant to put pen to paper and sign a long-term deal.

Bulls Coach Francis Cummins said: "Along with the young lads, he will form the backbone of the team we've got going forward."

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• Luke Gale

Bradford Bulls have announced that John Bateman has signed a new improved three year contract with the club and will remain at Odsal until the end of the 2015 season.

Bateman, who Captained the England Academy Squad to Australia earlier this year, had one year left on his original contract but the Bulls have moved to secure his future at the club in light of predatory approaches from other Super League Clubs. Here he speaks to Chris Dawkes.

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• John Bateman

Bradford Bulls have announced that John Bateman has signed a new improved three year contract with the club and will remain at Odsal until the end of the 2015 season.

Bateman, who Captained the England Academy Squad to Australia earlier this year, had one year left on his original contract but the Bulls have moved to secure his future at the club in light of predatory approaches from other Super League Clubs.

It’s been a long time waiting with what’s been happening at the club and I’m really happy to get it sorted. There’s a security here now and everyone knows what’s going on. People have been asking me where I’m going but from day one I’ve always said I want to stay at Bradford. Hopefully I’ve given the fans a bit back of what they’ve done for me.”

It’s a huge signing. It sends out a signal of the ambition of the owners at the club, not just to our own fans but the game as a whole. They pledged that they’d invest in youth and keep these good young people and we’ve secured one of the hottest properties in the game at the moment.

We’ll get other people in, maybe foreign stars when we get going but the foundations will be set by John, Elliott Whitehead and Tom Olbison who’ve been here since they were kids. That’s how we will take this club forward.

“We have shown our commitment to the club by securing for Bradford Bulls the future of one of Rugby League’s finest young talents. John is key to what we want to achieve at the Bulls and we want him to be here for the rest of his career but we need the support of fans in this. They showed last year just how committed they were to the club in the difficult period but we need them now more than ever as we look to take the Bulls to a new level.

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• John Bateman
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Cash-strapped Super League club the Bradford Bulls are to twin with Championship neighbours Dewsbury in a move that will see players move between the two clubs. Dewsbury will have access to players who are not included in Bradford's weekly 19-man squad or are too old for the new

Under-19 academy structure, while the Bulls will have first option on the Ram's brightest prospects. Bradford say there will also be opportunities for Dewsbury to use their training facilities.

Bulls coach Francis Cummins said: "There was a natural synergy with Dewsbury as we already have a partnership with them through our lottery and I am sure the benefits of this arrangement will be felt at both clubs and in the amateur game."

Dewsbury's newly-appointed coach Glenn Morrison said: "The Bulls have a lot to offer the Rams and we, too, will be making a big contribution to this relationship."

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Winger Jason Crookes has become the latest Bradford player to confirm his departure from Odsal by signing a three-year contract with Hull.

Crookes, 22, was today confirmed as Hull's fifth recruit for 2013, following the Black and Whites' acquisition of Gareth Ellis, Joe Arundel, Daniel Holdsworth and Ben Galea.

Crookes is the sixth out-of-contract player to leave the Bulls, who recently came out of administration after being taken over by local restaurant owner Omar Khan.

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• Bradford Bulls
• Jason Crookes