BULLS are set to play their first game at Headingley against Leeds in over three years, as they get set to visit Rhinos for a pre-season friendly on Sunday, January 29.

The two sides will playing in the inaugural Keith Howard Foundation Trophy match, with the game kicking off at 2:30pm.

Bulls and Leeds are coming together to promote the game of rugby league to a new generation in the two West Yorkshire cities.

The initiative will focus on taking rugby league to young people of the region, together with a number of diversity, equality and sustainability programmes and messages.

The work will be supported by the Keith Howard Foundation, which was established in 2008 by the late Dr Keith Howard OBE, a philanthropist and businessman who was raised in Yorkshire.

Howard was extremely passionate about supporting local charities in Yorkshire and creating a wide range of opportunities for various communities.

His family continue his legacy today through the foundation, which, since its inception, has granted over £16million to local charities.

As part of the initiative, Bulls and Rhinos will meet annually in a pre-season clash to contest the Keith Howard Foundation Trophy.

Bulls faced a young Leeds side at Odsal in a January 2022 friendly, losing 30-12, but the pair's last game at Headingley in January 2020 was an emotional occasion.

A huge crowd of nearly 20,000 spectators witnessed a 34-10 win for the hosts, but the scoreline was academic in reality, as both sides came together for the joint-testimonial of Rob Burrow and Jamie Jones-Buchanan.

The former had already retired in 2017, but had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in December 2019, and this game a month later was his final one in a Leeds shirt, as he played in the closing stages.

An emotional speech from Burrow after the game reduced many of the capacity crowd to tears, with the game acting as a fundraiser for the former half-back and his family.

The Rhinos legend continues to push on in the fight against the disease, which has since rendered him unable to walk or speak.

But he will be one of many keeping an eye on this latest encounter between his old side and Bulls.

The game will be Bradford's final one before their Championship campaign gets underway at Odsal against Whitehaven on Sunday, February 5.