Bridgend Blue Bulls
Encyclopedia
Bridgend Blue Bulls RLFC are a rugby league
side based in Porthcawl
, Wales
. They play in the Welsh Premier
of the Rugby League Conference
. They are the most successful amateur rugby league team in Wales, having won the Welsh Premier a record five times, as well as winning the Harry Jepson Trophy twice against teams from England, Wales and Scotland.
. Since then, guided under head coaches Karl Hocking & Jon Purnell, they have won the league every year until 2008. In 2003 and 2004 they won all their games. In 2005 they lost just one, before drawing one game and losing one in the 2006 and 2007 seasons respectively.
In 2003 and 2005 the team also won the Harry Jepson Cup, competing with teams from England, Scotland and Wales. In 2003 they beat Cardiff Demons
, Aberavon Fighting Irish, Ipswich Rhinos
and winning the final against Carlisle Centurions
by 33-26 at Wilderspool
, Warrington
. In 2005, this time at the Brewery Field
, they clinched the cup in a record breaking 60-10 victory against Leeds Akkies
. That match was seen by just over 1,150 people.
In 2007 they won the Welsh Grand Final at Brewery Field
by beating the Newport Titans
24-18. The Blue Bulls were actually 6-0 down early on, but made an astonishing recovery to lead 24-6 at one point. They held their lead despite the Titans scoring two more tries.
The 2008 season saw Bridgend field a side that contained many new faces mainly youngsters that had not played league before. This led to more defeats than the club was used to and they eventually had to release their strangle hold on the Welsh title with it going to another team for the first time ever.
The 2009 season saw a marked improvement from the previous season, losing just one game during the regular season, they made it to the grand final against arch-rivals Blackwood Bulldogs
at Virginia Park, Caerphilly, but fell at the last hurdle 38-22 in a bad-tempered encounter.
In the 2010 season, the Blue Bulls beat Cardiff Demons 28-56 to secure a home tie in the Welsh Premier Playoff Semi-Finals, after finishing second by points difference in the table, behind Valley Cougars.
. They spent 2005 at the Brewery Field
and have based themselves at Porthcawl RFC
since 2006. They have also played home matches at Maesteg RFC
and Llangeinor A.F.C..
.
Supporters of the club formed a tag rugby
outfit named Bridgend Blue Heifers in 2008.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
side based in Porthcawl
Porthcawl
Porthcawl is a town on the south coast of Wales in the county borough of Bridgend, 25 miles west of the capital city, Cardiff and 19 miles southeast of Swansea...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. They play in the Welsh Premier
Rugby League Conference Welsh Premier
The Rugby League Conference Wales is the higher of two Welsh domestic leagues for the sport of rugby league. It forms a Premier division of the Rugby League Conference competition which covers all of Great Britain.-History:...
of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
. They are the most successful amateur rugby league team in Wales, having won the Welsh Premier a record five times, as well as winning the Harry Jepson Trophy twice against teams from England, Wales and Scotland.
History
The Blue Bulls were formed in 2003 and joined the newly formed Welsh Division of the Rugby League ConferenceRugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
. Since then, guided under head coaches Karl Hocking & Jon Purnell, they have won the league every year until 2008. In 2003 and 2004 they won all their games. In 2005 they lost just one, before drawing one game and losing one in the 2006 and 2007 seasons respectively.
In 2003 and 2005 the team also won the Harry Jepson Cup, competing with teams from England, Scotland and Wales. In 2003 they beat Cardiff Demons
Cardiff Demons
Cardiff Demons RLFC are a rugby league side who play out of St. Albans RFC in the east of Cardiff, Wales. They play in the Welsh Premier of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
, Aberavon Fighting Irish, Ipswich Rhinos
Ipswich Rhinos
The Eastern Rhinos Rugby League Football Club is a British rugby league club based at Ipswich RUFC in Colchester, in the county of Essex. Their first team plays in the South Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference...
and winning the final against Carlisle Centurions
Carlisle Centurions
East Cumbria Crusaders is a rugby league club based in Carlisle, Cumbria. They play in the North East Division of the Rugby League Conference. Their home ground is Creighton RUFC....
by 33-26 at Wilderspool
Wilderspool
Wilderspool is a district of Warrington, England, located near to the town centre. Its area is basically Wilderspool Causeway and the streets coming off it; the limits being the River Mersey into the Stockton Heath Area of Warrington , Bridgefoot , and Centre Park...
, Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
. In 2005, this time at the Brewery Field
Brewery Field
Brewery Field is a 8,000 capacity sports stadium in Bridgend, Wales 1,100 of which is seated capacity...
, they clinched the cup in a record breaking 60-10 victory against Leeds Akkies
Leeds Akkies
Leeds Akkies are a rugby league team based in The Old Modernians Sports Club, Cookridge Lane, Leeds, LS16 7ND, West Yorkshire. They play in the Yorkshire Regional division of the Rugby League Conference, their A side plays in the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League.-History:Leeds Akademiks were founded...
. That match was seen by just over 1,150 people.
In 2007 they won the Welsh Grand Final at Brewery Field
Brewery Field
Brewery Field is a 8,000 capacity sports stadium in Bridgend, Wales 1,100 of which is seated capacity...
by beating the Newport Titans
Newport Titans
Titans RLFC are a rugby league side who play out of Machen RFC in Machen, South Wales. They play in the Welsh Premier of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
24-18. The Blue Bulls were actually 6-0 down early on, but made an astonishing recovery to lead 24-6 at one point. They held their lead despite the Titans scoring two more tries.
The 2008 season saw Bridgend field a side that contained many new faces mainly youngsters that had not played league before. This led to more defeats than the club was used to and they eventually had to release their strangle hold on the Welsh title with it going to another team for the first time ever.
The 2009 season saw a marked improvement from the previous season, losing just one game during the regular season, they made it to the grand final against arch-rivals Blackwood Bulldogs
Blackwood Bulldogs
Blackwood Bulldogs are a rugby league team based in Blackwood, Caerphilly, Wales. They play in the Welsh Championship of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
at Virginia Park, Caerphilly, but fell at the last hurdle 38-22 in a bad-tempered encounter.
In the 2010 season, the Blue Bulls beat Cardiff Demons 28-56 to secure a home tie in the Welsh Premier Playoff Semi-Finals, after finishing second by points difference in the table, behind Valley Cougars.
Grounds
The club have played home games at a number of venues throughout the county, the original home for the first two years was at Coychurch Road, the former home of Bridgend Town F.C.Bridgend Town F.C.
Bridgend Town F.C. is a Welsh football club that currently play in the Welsh Football League First Division. They are based in Bridgend in south Wales. Historically, their local rivals were Maesteg Park who disbanded in 2009...
. They spent 2005 at the Brewery Field
Brewery Field
Brewery Field is a 8,000 capacity sports stadium in Bridgend, Wales 1,100 of which is seated capacity...
and have based themselves at Porthcawl RFC
Porthcawl RFC
Porthcawl Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union team based in Porthcawl, Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Ospreys....
since 2006. They have also played home matches at Maesteg RFC
Maesteg RFC
Maesteg Rugby Football Club is a rugby union team from the town of Maesteg, South Wales. The club presently play in the Welsh Rugby Union Division One West and is a feeder club for the Ospreys.-Club history:...
and Llangeinor A.F.C..
2009
| Team | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackwood Bulldogs Blackwood Bulldogs Blackwood Bulldogs are a rugby league team based in Blackwood, Caerphilly, Wales. They play in the Welsh Championship of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 328 | 90 | +238 | 16 | |
| 2 | Bridgend Blue Bulls | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 302 | 103 | +199 | 14 | |
| 3 | Valley Cougars Valley Cougars Valley Cougars are a rugby league team based in Caerphilly. They play in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference-History:They were founded in 1975 and joined the Welsh Division of the Rugby League Conference in 2003. They led a nomadic existence for their first few years in the valleys... |
8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 333 | 234 | 99 | 12 | |
| 4 | Cardiff Demons Cardiff Demons Cardiff Demons RLFC are a rugby league side who play out of St. Albans RFC in the east of Cardiff, Wales. They play in the Welsh Premier of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 220 | 167 | 53 | 10 | |
| 5 | Newport Titans Newport Titans Titans RLFC are a rugby league side who play out of Machen RFC in Machen, South Wales. They play in the Welsh Premier of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 228 | 286 | -58 | 7 | |
| 6 | Neath Port Talbot Steelers Neath Port Talbot Steelers Neath Port Talbot Steelers are a rugby league team based in Port Talbot, West Glamorgan. They play in the Welsh Premier division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 146 | 262 | -116 | 4 | |
| 7 | Torfaen Tigers Torfaen Tigers Torfaen Tigers are a rugby league team based in Pontypool, Monmouthshire. They play in the Welsh Premier division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 170 | 314 | -144 | 4 | |
| 8 | Dinefwr Sharks | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 213 | 320 | -107 | 3 | |
| 9 | St Clears Wild Boars West Wales Wild Boars West Wales Wild Boars were a rugby league team based in St Clears, Carmarthenshire. They played in the Welsh Premier of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 102 | 266 | -164 | 2 | |
Play Off Round 1
Play Off Round 2
Grand Final
2010
| Team | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valley Cougars Valley Cougars Valley Cougars are a rugby league team based in Caerphilly. They play in the National Division of the Rugby League Conference-History:They were founded in 1975 and joined the Welsh Division of the Rugby League Conference in 2003. They led a nomadic existence for their first few years in the valleys... |
10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 556 | 256 | +300 | 18 | |
| 2 | Bridgend Blue Bulls | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 536 | 246 | +290 | 18 | |
| 3 | Cardiff Demons Cardiff Demons Cardiff Demons RLFC are a rugby league side who play out of St. Albans RFC in the east of Cardiff, Wales. They play in the Welsh Premier of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 296 | 320 | -24 | 12 | |
| 4 | CPC Bears CPC Bears CPC Bears are a rugby league club based in Carmarthen and are the regional side for Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. They play in the Welsh Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 188 | 494 | -306 | 4 | |
| 5 | Newport Titans Newport Titans Titans RLFC are a rugby league side who play out of Machen RFC in Machen, South Wales. They play in the Welsh Premier of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 258 | 433 | -175 | 4 | |
| 6 | Blackwood Bulldogs Blackwood Bulldogs Blackwood Bulldogs are a rugby league team based in Blackwood, Caerphilly, Wales. They play in the Welsh Championship of the Rugby League Conference.-History:... |
10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 267 | 352 | -85 | 4 | |
Play Off Elimination Round
Grand Final
Other Teams
The club runs junior sides at under-13, under-15 and under-17 levels in the Welsh Conference Junior LeagueWelsh Conference Junior League
The Welsh Conference Junior League is a Welsh rugby league competition competed for at the under-17; under-15 and under-13 age groups. Its adult counter-part is the Rugby League Conference Welsh Premier.-Participating teams:...
.
Supporters of the club formed a tag rugby
Tag Rugby
Tag Rugby, also known as rippa rugby, flag rugby league or flag rugby, is a non-contact team game in which each player wears a belt that has two velcro tags attached to it, or shorts with velcro patches. The mode of play is based on rugby league with many similarities to touch rugby...
outfit named Bridgend Blue Heifers in 2008.
Grand Finals
- 2003: Won 42-8 against Averavon Fighting Irish
- 2004: Won 26-21 against Aberavon Fighting Irish
- 2005: Won 56-16 against Torfaen Tigers
- 2006: Won 22-10 against Cardiff Demons
- 2007: Won 24-18 against Newport Titans
- 2009: Lost 38-22 against Blackwood Bulldogs
- 2010: Lost 46-44 against Valley Cougars
Club Honours
- RLC Welsh Division: 2003, 2004
- RLC Welsh Premier: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011
- Harry Jepson Trophy: 2003, 2005
National Representative Honours
- WalesWales national rugby league teamThe Wales national rugby league team represent Wales in international rugby league football matches. Currently the team is seventh in the RLIF World Rankings. The team were run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, but an independent body, Wales Rugby League, now runs the team from...
: Christiaan RoetsChristiaan RoetsChristiaan Roets is a Welsh international rugby league player currently playing for the South Wales Scorpions in the Championship One. He previously played for the Bridgend Blue Bulls in the Welsh rugby league competition... - Wales AWales A sideThe Wales A side is an international rugby league side that plays in the Skanska Home Nations Championship. The players are picked from the nine-team Welsh Conference Premier league....
: Dan Williams, Gareth David, Karl Hocking, Neil Dixon, Paul Morgan, Karl Davies, Grant Epton, Craig Fox, Nathan Hawkins, Gareth Howells, Matthew Hutchings, Jamie Murphy, Lloyd O Connor, Shaun Owens, Christiaan Roets, Daniel Smith - Wales U18s: Nathan Hawkins
Club Records
- Biggest winning margin: 84–1 against Swansea Bulls (Coychurch Road, Bridgend, 2003)
- Most points scored: 90-30 against CPC BearsCPC BearsCPC Bears are a rugby league club based in Carmarthen and are the regional side for Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. They play in the Welsh Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
(Porthcawl RFC, 22 May 2010) - Biggest defeat: 68-18 against Blackwood BulldogsBlackwood BulldogsBlackwood Bulldogs are a rugby league team based in Blackwood, Caerphilly, Wales. They play in the Welsh Championship of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
(Blackwood RFC, 26 July 2008)
Player Records
- 2008 top try scorer: Lloyd O'Conner (13)
- 2008 top points scorer: Lloyd O'Conner (80)
Players earning international caps while at Bridgend Blue Bulls
- Allan BatemanAllan BatemanAllan Glen Bateman is a Welsh former rugby union and rugby league player, a dual-code rugby international centre who represented the British Lions at rugby union and Great Britain at rugby league....
won caps for Wales (RL) while at Warrington, Cronulla, and Bridgend Blue Bulls 1991…2003 14-caps 5(6?)-tries 20(24?)-points - Kevin Ellis won caps for Wales while at Warrington in 1991 against Papua New Guinea, in 1992 against France, England, and France, in 1993 against New Zealand, in 1994 against France, and Australia, in 1995 against England, and France, in the 1995 Rugby League World Cup against France, Western Samoa, and England, while at Bridgend Blue Bulls in 2003 against Russia, and Australia, and in 2004 against Ireland, and won a cap for Great Britain while at Warrington in 1991 against France
- Karl HockingKarl HockingKarl Hocking is a professional rugby union and rugby league footballer who at club level has played rugby union for Tondu RFC, Bridgend Ravens , and Caerphilly RFC, playing at Flanker, or Number Eight, i.e. number 6 or 7, or 8, and at representative level has played rugby league for Wales, and at...
won caps for Wales while at Bridgend Blue Bulls 2005(…2006?) 1(2?)-cap(s) (sub) - Paul MorganPaul Morgan (rugby)Paul Morgan is a professional rugby union and rugby league footballer who at club level has played rugby union for Bridgend Ravens, and at representative level has played rugby league for Wales, and at club level for Bridgend Blue Bulls, Celtic Crusaders. playing at , or , i.e...
won caps for Wales (RL) while Bridgend Blue Bulls 2005(…2006?) (1-cap?) or 2-caps (sub) - Nathan Strong won caps for Wales while at Bridgend Blue Bulls 2004 2004(…2005?) 2-caps (sub)
- Lenny WoodardLenny WoodardLenny Woodard is a professional rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, who at representative level has played rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Ebbw Vale RFC, London Welsh RFC, Pontypridd RFC, Pontypool RFC, Bridgend RFC, Aberavon RFC, Glamorgan...
represented Wales (RU) during the 1998 tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa in non-Test matches, and won caps for Wales (RL) while at Pontypridd RFC (RU), and Bridgend Blue Bulls 1999…2005 (4?)3-caps + 2-caps (sub) 3-tries 12-points
Notable Current & Former Players
- Allan BatemanAllan BatemanAllan Glen Bateman is a Welsh former rugby union and rugby league player, a dual-code rugby international centre who represented the British Lions at rugby union and Great Britain at rugby league....
- Wales & Great Britain RL, Wales & British & Irish Lions RU (status - retired) - Lee ByrneLee ByrneLee Martin Byrne is a Welsh international rugby union rugby player, who plays for ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14 and Heineken Cup...
- Wales, Ospreys & British & Irish Lions RU (status - active) - John DevereuxJohn Devereux (rugby)John Anthony Devereux is a Welsh former dual-code rugby football international. In 1989 he toured with the British and Irish Lions and at the time played club rugby union for Bridgend...
- Wales & Great Britain RL, Wales & British & Irish Lions RU (status - retired) - Kevin Ellis - Wales & Great Britain RL, Wales RU (status - active)
- Lenny WoodardLenny WoodardLenny Woodard is a professional rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, who at representative level has played rugby union for Wales, and at club level for Ebbw Vale RFC, London Welsh RFC, Pontypridd RFC, Pontypool RFC, Bridgend RFC, Aberavon RFC, Glamorgan...
- Wales RL & Wales RU (status - active) - Christiaan RoetsChristiaan RoetsChristiaan Roets is a Welsh international rugby league player currently playing for the South Wales Scorpions in the Championship One. He previously played for the Bridgend Blue Bulls in the Welsh rugby league competition...
- Wales RL (status - active)