4 Apr 2018
Bradford Bulls to take on Leeds Rhinos in headline act of Women's Super League round one
Bradford Bulls v Leeds Rhinos will take centre stage on Sunday, April 15, as the 2018 Women's Super League season gets underway.
The Bulls, Super League and Challenge Cup winners in 2017, will welcome old rivals Leeds to Odsal Stadium kicking off at 3.45pm.
The game takes place as the 'headline act' in a double-header which also sees Bradford Bulls clash with Coventry Bears in Betfred League 1, 2pm kick off.
Bradford Bulls Women collected every possible honour in 2017, claiming both the Challenge Cup and Super League titles, while finishing top of the inaugural Super League table.
The Bulls boast an array of England internationals, but will be in for a tough task against Leeds who, led by Head Coach Adam Cuthbertson, have been hard at work recruiting talent for the 2018 season.
The Bulls men's team will provide a guard of honour to the women's team ahead of the match and Bradford Bulls Chairman Andrew Chalmers said it was a simple decision to give the Women's team headline status for the fixture at Odsal: "It's the Super League season opener for our Bradford Bulls Women against Leeds Rhinos, two of Rugby League's biggest brands.
🦠On April 15th the Women’s @SuperLeague and @TheChallengeCup winners, Bradford Bulls Women will open their 2018 Super League Campaign as they host @leedsrhinos Women at Odsal Stadium in a 3.45pm kick-off...
— Bradford Bulls (@OfficialBullsRL) April 4, 2018
Details âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/JafbXplQL2 pic.twitter.com/6Fw4fEO5M4
"Our women are the defending champions and Challenge Cup holders - they are Bradford's leading sporting team.
"Gender doesn't come into it. We'll be fielding a number of international and locally-developed Rugby League players when they take the field on the 15th and it's only fitting that they are allocated the feature game," said Chalmers.
"Our men's team will provide a guard of honour after their match against Coventry Bears and the entire club and fan base will be behind the Women as they seek to get off to a winning start against our traditional rivals, Leeds Rhinos."
Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington was equally as supportive and excited about the prospect of two fierce rivals meeting again.
He said: "It's so good to be resurrecting the old Bulls v Rhinos rivalry at Odsal and I expect it to be a fiercely-contested affair.
"I am looking forward to attending and being part of this feature Women's Super League game, which in years to come will take its place in the history of Rugby League."
Hundreds of local women’s Rugby League players of all ages will be guests of the club for this historic fixture and will be taking part in a lap of honour to mark the opening of the Bulls Women's season.
Tickets for the double-header are now on sale HERE.
