Bradford signs young union player

[CanadianSteve]

Here's one for league over union in England:

Bulls land union prodigy
Bradford Bulls have signed highly-rated England under-19 rugby union squad member Matthew Cook on a three-year contract.
The 16-year-old winger from Buckinghamshire, who has just returned from an under-19 training camp in South Africa, has previously played for Saracens and East Midlands.

He has also played for England Schools at both union and league.

"Matthew is a very talented player and I am really looking forward to working with him in our junior set up here at Odsal," said Bulls coach Brian Noble.

"Bulls fans should be very excited that we have captured a player of his calibre and with so much talent."

Cook said: "I have been very happy with my career so far in rugby union but I am very pleased to have signed for what I believe is the best club in the country."

 

[GBT]

It is encouraging to see a youngster from outside the traditional RL heartland of the UK being signed by one of the top clubs. Hopefully, as the RLC expands, more young guns will be discovered in places like Buckinghamshire.

 

[suburbanknight]

He made a big impression on his debut for the academy team in the centres against Leeds last Friday, scoring two tries. Looks like the Bulls have got themselves a star in the making when you consider he'd not played RL for 2 years.

 

[ali]

He made a big impression on his debut for the academy team in the centres against Leeds last Friday, scoring two tries. Looks like the Bulls have got themselves a star in the making when you consider he'd not played RL for 2 years.

He must be quite a talent. If he is only 16, and was in the England under 19, you've got to admit thats a very big achievement. Was that the junior academy he played in?

 

[terracesider]

He made a big impression on his debut for the academy team in the centres against Leeds last Friday, scoring two tries. Looks like the Bulls have got themselves a star in the making when you consider he'd not played RL for 2 years.

He must be quite a talent. If he is only 16, and was in the England under 19, you've got to admit thats a very big achievement. Was that the junior academy he played in?

It was, ali.

Apparently, he's 6' 3", 15 stones and "...on his way to becoming a karate blackbelt." (League Weekly, 11/8/03)