Bradford Bulls are continuing their re-build under new head coach Eamonn O’Carroll with the club confirming the signing of former Featherstone Rovers forward John Davies.
Davies was one of 17 players that Featherstone said goodbye to following their 2023 campaign in which they failed to achieve their Super League dream, however Davies finds himself landing at rival Championship side Bradford on a one year deal.
The 32-year-old had been a mainstay at Featherstone over the past few seasons, having joined the Flat Cappers from Sheffield Eagles in 2016 after starting his career with Super League side Castleford Tigers. but he now links up with the Bulls who have made a whole host of signings for the upcoming season.
With Eamon O’Carroll’s appointment the club have been ambitious in their recruitment with Davies being yet another high profile signing following the acquisition of former Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers man Daniel Smith earlier this week.
Confirming Davies arrival, the club stated: “Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce the signing of experienced back row forward John Davies on a deal until the end of the 2024 season!
“The 32-year-old joins the club after eight years at Featherstone Rovers, where he played a key role in securing the League Leaders’ Shield and AB Sundecks 1895 Cup. Davies was also an integral part of the sides that reached the Million Pound Games in 2019 and 2021. The club would like to thank the Bradford Bulls Squad Booster association for their contribution.”
The player himself added: “It’s all happened really fast, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind of a week but I am really excited. I met Jason and Eamon and there seems to be a really good feel and buzz about the club. I genuinely feel the club is on an upward trajectory, and that is something I am really excited to be a part of.
“I have been at Featherstone for 8 years and I have been happy with my performances but now it’s a new environment and a new set of fans to try impress. The move is really exciting, refreshing and it whets the appetite for me to get my head down, cement myself in the team and become a fans favourite.”
He becomes the 28th confirmed member of the Bulls squad for 2024, a team that O’Carroll has built and packed out with talented players with Davies having been identified as a high level Championship player, and someone who can potentially take the Bulls over the top.
O’Carroll said of Davies: “I am really pleased, he is a great acquisition for us. John has been a proven, top quality Championship player for a number of years and he will give us depth as he can play in the back row, on the edges and in the middle to a high standard week in, week out.
“He will be great for us, I was really impressed by his drive, he expressed he wanted to be part of something he feels is special and compete week in, week out and he fits the calibre of player and person we want to bring to the club.
“He has played at a really high level for a number of years and in good environments, he knows what it takes to play at the top end of the Championship and he will be happy to share that experience not only with the younger lads but with us all.
“It was really important we nailed the squad we wanted before we got into pre-season and we have now got great depth, balance and a mix of youth and experience.
“It is exciting to be getting to the part of our journey where we are starting pre-season together and we are not far off in terms of recruitment. There might be a couple more but if we were to go into the season now I would be happy with the squad we’ve got.”
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