Super League goes mainstream after bizarre bull incident

Rugby league never ceases to amaze.

For so long there have been calls that fans want to see the Bulls – the Bradford Bulls that is – back in Super League. Well last night we saw a bull make his own move to get more involved in the competition.

Last night’s live TV game between Catalans Dragons and St Helens did not have much of a build-up on Sky Sports and they may just have missed the moment of the season in warm-up.

As the Dragons players settled into their pre-match routine at the Stade Gilbert Brutus, a large bull escaped its handler and started charging around on the pitch forcing players and staff to flee.

The bull was part of an arranged entertainment prior to the big Super League clash, but having decided it wanted more air time made a dash to get back onto the pitch.

Despite the best efforts of the handler, who was taken to the ground and dragged along the turf, the bull cut free and forced the likes of Sam Tomkins and his Catalans teammates to make a run for it.

Both players and staff could be seen climbing into the stands to escape but thankfully the bull only wanted to have a wonder and was safely ushered back to the side allowing the Dragons players to resume their warm-up.

Watch the incident below which was shared by the official Sky Sports Twitter account.

WOW!!

The new warm up at @DragonsOfficiel have really been spiced up at home this season!!!#Bullsintown #SkyRL pic.twitter.com/IwYM2xqYT5

— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) May 5, 2023

Despite the brief moment of danger which could have resulted in someone being seriously hurt, fans unsurprisingly found the funny side of the incident.

Meanwhile, it has seen rugby league break into the mainstream media which is rare and usually only occurs from a scandal happens.

The incident saw rugby league make a headline in the Telegraph but bizarrely it also found its way into the Irish Independent as the incident had a wide appeal.

The Mirror and The Daily Mail also got in on the act. Meanwhile, the incident also made headlines in Australia where NRL outlet Fox Sports said: “Bizarre Super League pre-match parade goes horribly wrong as rampaging bull breaks loose.”

The last time we saw rugby league gain so much attention and feature in such a wide range of publications was after the Joe Westerman incident which Lee Radford slammed after the Castleford Tigers’ Round One defeat to Hull FC.