JAMES Davies has extended his stay with the Bulls until the end of the season.

The former Hunslet Hawks forward arrived on trial at the start of the month and has been involved in the Championship club's last three games.

He says that signing for Bradford on a permanent basis is a "dream come true" – but admits he unwittingly left the club waiting for a decision on the offer.

"I had a voicemail but I didn't pick it up until Sunday because my phone wasn't working all day Saturday," he said.

"I couldn't work out why it was not working – but apparently there had been a major blip on the network.

"It came as a bit of a shock and I wasn't expecting anything like that. But it's a dream come true and I snapped their hand off."

Now 23, Davies lost his way after leaving Leeds Rhinos five years ago and trying his luck in Australia.

On returning to England, he joined Hunslet but found his path to the first team blocked by dual registration players from Leeds.

He then started playing rugby union for part-timers Morley and set up a business as a personal trainer ('JD Fit') in Hunslet.

"It's always hard to pull yourself out of a scrapheap but I have managed to do it," he said.

"There were a couple of other offers but none that would work round my work. Now I want to get my minutes up and hopefully my performance will come on with fitness."

Looking ahead to Sunday's trip to Toulouse Olympique, Davies said: "I have never played against Toulouse before, so it's going to come as a shock and I had best put some factor 50 on so I don't burn.

"Hopefully we will get the two points – but they are big and strong down the middle and we are going to have to do our best to muscle up and compete for 80 minutes."