Bulls set to form link with union

Bradford Bulls are to form a link with rugby union. The Super League champions are to make an announcement today.

Bradford have established a close relationship with the Zurich Premiership champions Leicester in recent times and their chief executive Abi Ekoku has spoken of the need to make full use of the planned redevelopment of Odsal stadium.

The former Great Britain international, Steve McNamara, the Huddersfield captain, said the relegated Super League club are adopting a siege mentality as they try to bounce back at the first attempt.

McNamara, the former Hull and Bradford goalkicking loose forward, believes the Giants are being given a rough ride in the Northern Ford Premiership.

"There's a feelingthat the world is against us," McNamara said. "In the eyes of many, we're the 'big boys' who need to be put in our place. But the more people knock us, the more determined we will become."

Huddersfield seek to maintain their 100 per-cent record when they take on Keighley at the McAlpine Stadium today. The Giants forward, Darren Turner, will be making his comeback from a knee reconstruction while the full-back, Paul Reilly, faces a late test on a shin injury.

The game is certain to go ahead because of the stadium's undersoil heating. Other games are scheduled at Dewsbury, Doncaster and York but Gateshead v Whitehaven, Workington v Barrow and Wakefield v Halifax are all off.

* Oldham have placed their Alliance coach Mark Knight in charge of first-team duties after the departure of Mike Ford, who is becoming defence co-ordinator with the Irish Rugby Union.