Bradford players given redundancy fight go-ahead after RFL appeal rejected

The RFL have failed in an attempt to have the cases of 39 former and current Bradford Bulls players and staff struck off at an employment tribunal in Leeds.

There are a total of 46 claimants, including current players Dane Chisholm, Jon Magrin, Liam Kirk and ex-players Chev Walker, Phil Joseph, Lachlan Burr and lead claimant Adam Sidlow, who was present at the hearing.

They are claiming for loss of wages, holiday pay, unfair dismissal and redundancy payments against the liquidated Bradford Bulls Northern Limited, the RFL and the newly formed Bradford Bulls 2017 Limited.

The RFL argued at the preliminary hearing that 39 of the 46 cases should be thrown out for non-compliance with the ACAS Early Conciliation Process (ECP).

However, the judge dismissed the plea and instead ordered a seven-day hearing to be held at Leeds Employment Tribunal in January next year.

Solicitor Richard Cramer, who represented the players and staff, said: “It’s a victory but there is another battle to fight.”