BRADFORD Bulls have named almost a dozen youngsters who will take part in their scholarship program for 2021.

11 future stars will join the current crop who were unable to link up with Ryan Hunkin's side this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The starlets will hope to follow in the footsteps of ex-scholars John Bateman, Sam Burgess, Ethan Ryan and Elliot Whitehead in reaching the pinnacle of the game.

The follow players will join the system: Jacob Bateman - Birkenshaw Blue Dogs, Cobi Denton - Keighley Albion, Isaac Denton - Keighley Albion, Brody Duckmanton - Guiseley Rangers, Kyle Kus - Keighley Albion, Patrick O'Reilly Milner - Leeds Irish, Xanda Rycroft - Hunslet Club Parkside, Charlie Savage - Keighley Albion, Connor Sayner - East Leeds, Cobie Wainhouse - East Leeds, Joe Ward - East Leeds.

Head of recruitment/scholarship manager Alex Stephens said: "We are very pleased to welcome the new intakes into the club. They are players we have been aware of for some time and believe they will adapt well coming into a scholarship environment.

"A big thanks must go to our talent id's Jason Jubb, Davey Dixon and Antony Ward, who managed to cover off so much activity last season so the lack of games this year meant we still had a good idea on the players coming on board.

"The players community coaches have also all been fantastic in taking the time to give us an insight into the players attitudes whilst there have been no community games to watch.

"We still have a number of spaces available for this age group, if we choose to take more players. Therefore, we look forward to the community game being back up and running so we can see how other players have developed."

Bulls' head of youth Leigh Beattie added:"I would like to thank Alex [Stephens] and all the scouts for their hard work in identifying these players and bringing them into the club.

"A special mention too to all the community clubs and their coaches who worked so hard in getting community rugby going again after the first lockdown.

"It was great to see the kids with smiles back on their faces with a ball in their hand and that is testament to the efforts of all involved to get them back playing again.