2023

13/12/2023

Brixton Bulls feature twice in December issue of Forty 20 magazine

In the first article our very own Tim Probert told the good news story of our inaugural masters season, taking the time to praise the hard work of our leader Pablo Bawdeker, and the high-quality spread served by our friends at Medway Dragons masters.

The second article talked about diversity in primary and junior rugby league, with Rick Jones discussing the positive effect of the demographic reach of our club.

Forty 20 magazine is available in WH Smiths.

10/11/2023

Brixton Bulls Triumph at London RL Foundation Awards

In an evening of recognition and celebration, the Brixton Bulls secured the coveted title of "Club of the Year" at the London Rugby League Foundation awards. The club's outstanding contributions were further highlighted by nominations in various categories, including Adult Coach of the Year, Children’s Coach of the Year, Junior Male Player of the Year, Services to Rugby League, and Volunteer of the Year.

The event, held at London Bridge Belushis on November 9th, featured insightful interviews with Oli and Bill Leyland of the London Broncos. It raised money for community rugby clubs in London, with a quiz, auction and raffle. 

The club of the year award reflects the dedication and hard work of the volunteers who form the backbone of the club, and celebrates our growth to a club that can put out six sides in a weekend!

10/10/2023

Brixton Bulls juniors represent London South

The Brixton Bulls' 2023 season concluded with a competitive plate final loss against the Eastern Rhinos, but the journey continued for five players who earned the honour of representing London South in the London Origin Series.

Our representatives for London South were forward Alex Kelly, who was also recognized as the Coaches' Player of the Season, forward Ishmael Townsend-Stone, wing Ryan Weathers, centre Lenny Ulbrich, our Most Improved Player and wing Hamza Zidour, who claimed the title of Top Try Scorer and Tackler for our club.

In the London Origin Series, a two-game contest against the North, the South emerged victorious with a final tally of 12 tries to 7. The Brixton Bulls' representatives played instrumental roles in this success, with standout performances that left a lasting impact. Alex Kelly consistently came off the bench to put in a steady performance. Ishmael Townsend-Stone showed great strength in leading the line with a strong, consistent performance. Ryan Weathers demonstrated skill and pace, particularly when running from dummy half. Lenny Ulbrich showed excellent defensive skills and positional play when playing in the centre along side Ryan. And Hamza Zidour pulled off one of his trade mark length of the field tries, demonstrating pace and power which had the large crowd on their feet in applause.

These five players represented not only London South but, most importantly, themselves and the Brixton Bulls, with a level of excellence that garnered admiration and applause. Well done boys. All coaches, players and parents at the club are really proud of you and this sets the president for some of our younger players to aspire to. 

05/08/2023

Brixton Bulls narrowly lost their semi-final to London Chargers in a low scoring game. The cold and wet conditions were challenging for both sides, and despite some opportunities to score in the final minutes Brixton were unable to convert. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise superb season with the players putting a lot of effort into the matches and training across the months.

29/07/2023

Emphatic victory over West Warriors

Brixton Bulls men's team beat Wests Warriors to top the table by two clear points, and will now face London Chargers in the semi-finals next week.

The first half was an even affair, but after the break the Bulls ran away with it. Despite some consolation scores at the end from the Warriors, Brixton ended up as comfortable winners.

Conor Willets and Ugo Thomas scored two tries each, with Stefan Linton, Ben Cowell, James Amarchee, and Jack Hancock contributing one each.

22/07/2023

In the last two years we have been fortunate enough to have been awarded CreatedBy RLWC2021 Capital Grants Programme funding to purchase new match shirts and equipment for our players.

Most recently we received a grant that enabled us to purchase shirts, shorts and equipment for our masters team. This week the new shirts finally arrived and some of us wore them to the London Broncos match, along with the mini Bulls who were the on-field mascots, in their CreatedBy match shirts.

Delivered in partnership between RLWC2021, The National Lottery, the Rugby Football League, Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, the CreatedBy programme is a funding pot made available by the government and The National Lottery to support the legacy of the Rugby League World Cup by growing participation in the sport.

Thanks to all the InspirationALL people involved with the RLWC2021 Social Impact Programme for making this happen!

22/07/2023

Brixton Bulls U14 lose hard fought contest

The Bulls U14 team acquitted themselves admirably in a tough game against Eastern Rhinos, who took a significant age and size advantage into the match. The Rhinos scored three quick tries without reply, but after that the Bulls got back into the game and played some really good rugby. They can be very proud of both reaching the plate final, and of their performance in the match.

15/07/2023

The following players won the End of Season Awards for the different age groups at Brixton Bulls. Many congratulations to them all - the awards are all fully deserved!

U14
Most Improved Player - Lenny Ulbrich
Best Trainer - Lawrence Ipoli
Top Try Scorer - Hamza Zidour
Top Tackler - Hamza Zidour
Coaches Player of the Year - Alex Kelly
Players Player of the Year - Will Hale

U12
Players Player of the Year - Kevonne Jackson
Coaches Player of the Year - James Hale
Most Improved Player - Elijah Ajayi

U11
Coaches Player of the Year - Jake Rees
Most Improved Player - Raheem Barnett-Aubee

U9
Coaches Player of the Year - Sebastian Bailey
Most Improved Player - Amayah Barnett-Aubee

U7
Coaches Player of the Year - Senan Orr-Ewing
Most Improved Player - Agnes Leigh

08/07/2023

Brixton beat London Skolars to go clear at top of table

Brixton Bulls Open Age put on a relentless display in north London against a Skolars side bristling with talent. The heavy rainclouds came in just in time for kick-off and to set the game up as an intense arm-wrestle.

The match was a test of keeping the error count low and capitalizing on opportunities: Brixton came out on top in both areas. Despite the slick conditions the travelling side held onto the ball well, sticking it up the jumper when needed. When loose Skolars’ carries fell into waiting black and gold hands time and again, the score count quickly started racking up.

Spirit and determination were called on when needed, as Skolars mounted repeat attacking sets and struck home through some explosive carriers. Ultimately tries came flooding in as reward for the efforts, with Will Curtis scoring a brace and James Amarchee claiming a hat-trick in two stand-out displays.

The win puts Brixton clear at top of the London & South East Premier Division table with three games to go until play-offs.

08/07/2023

Bulls edge game 36-22

Brixton Bulls U14s won their Plate Semi-Final vs Brentwood Eels yesterday, 36-22, with three tries in the last 10 minutes to take the game, and set up a final against Eastern Rhinos in Hemel on 22nd July. 

The Bulls started strongly, with quick hands from hooker Ryan Jones helping the forwards make good yardage creating good field position for full back Hamza Zidour to score two tries before Brentwood had touched the ball. 

Brentwood hit back though, and with Brixton struggling to contain Brentwood’s bigger, stronger players they powered over for three tries to make it 12-12 at half-time; the excellent goal kicking of half-back Dylan Robson keeping the scores level.

The third quarter was a tough affair, with both sides scoring one converted try to make the score 18-18 with 10 minutes to go. Brixton rose to the occasion however, with Robson stepping through a gap to offload to Zidour who crashed over for the game breaking try. Zidour followed up with another couple before the end, with Brentwood adding a consolation on the hooter to make the final score 36-22. 

Tries: Zidour 6 | Goals: Robson 6

The U11 or U12 also welcomed the Elmbridge Eagles for some challenging matches.

24/06/2023

U12 show growth with performance against strong side

On a blazingly hot day the U12 put on a fine performance against St Albans to demonstrate how much they've learned over the course of the season.

Earlier there was an outstanding turnout for the minis section, which saw the return of coach Dan to great acclaim.

In the afternoon the men's team put on a sterling display at Elmbridge Eagles to beat their opponents from last year's Grand Final.

10/06/2023

Brixton Bulls take on Medway Dragons

In a scorching summer's day, Brixton Bulls Open Age faced off against the formidable Medway Dragons. The game started with promise as we executed a tidy exit set and a kick launched downfield to lift the players’ spirits, but handling errors and penalties allowed Medway to dominate possession and secure the first two scores. Half-back Joe Leadley turned the tide with a remarkable intercept try, injecting renewed energy into our team. Our left-edge chemistry shone again as Kelland Thomas and Rimarni 'Rampage' Richards combined for an impressive try. The game became an intense battle with both teams trading blows. Josh Burke broke tackles to set up Tommy 'Terminator' Beal for a crucial try. Medway fought back, closing the gap. Brixton ramped up their aggression to meet the moment, with some huge carries up the middle from the battering ramps of Frasier Macintosh, Charlie Millner and Billy Wilson. Brixton were knocking on the door, but it would not open until Josh Burke threw a huge dummy and dived for the line to score. Elliott 'the Swede' Hagan showcased his agility with another try, and Kelland Thomas sealed the victory. Khrystopher Speed was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance at hooker. Final Score: 32-18.

03/06/2023

Brixton Bulls show resilience despite tough weekend 

In a challenging weekend of rugby league action, Brixton Bulls' teams demonstrated unwavering determination and resilience on the field. Despite facing formidable opponents, the players showcased their passion for the sport and never wavered in their commitment. It was a joy to see such a love for a game and a desire to overcome the challenges in their way.

21/05/2023

Matches across all age groups from U9s to Over 35s!

Brixton Bulls played matches across almost all age groups this weekend in a great couple of days for rugby league in London.

The U9s and U11s both travelled to Brentwood to play in a mini festival. The U9s played against Brentwood Eels and Eastern Rhinos, while the U11s played against Eastern Rhinos and Elmbridge Eagles. This was a great experience for all, with many players playing in their first ever rugby league matches.

The U13s and U14s hosted Elmbridge Eagles at Streathan & Croydon. The U13s kicked off proceedings with a friendly match, with an opportunity to give the whole of the U13s squad a full match, and were also joined by a few new U12s who put in a great effort in their first every rugby league matches.

The U14s then played a full-blooded London Junior League matches against one of their biggest rivals. The Bulls shot into a 12-0 lead, but a series of handling errors gave the Eagles the initiative, and they lead 24-18 at the break. In a tough second half, the Bulls fought back well, and came close to tying the game with the last play of the game, but the Eagles held on for a 34-28 win.

The Brixton Bulls Men's team then played London Skolars "A"s in the London Premier Division. It was a similarly thrilling game, but this time the Bulls were able to come out on top, winning 32-28.

Finally, the Bulls Masters team travelled to St Albans to join up with Medway Dragons, Southampton Spitfires and the St Albans Centurions. This was a great opportunity for the over 35s to roll back the years in a great game for older players, which involves a mixture of touch and contact, depending on each player's age and fitness. The highlight of the match was a try from a 74 year old playing his first game of masters.

13/05/2023

Mascots inspire Broncos to 30-16 victory over Barrow Raiders

The Brixton Bulls Minis had a fantastic time being mascots at the recent London Broncos game against Barrow Raiders. The players were all very excited to be on the pitch and cheered on the Broncos to a convincing victory.

Before the game, the Minis were led out onto the pitch by the Broncos players. 

The Minis really enjoyed being mascots and they were all very proud to represent the Brixton Bulls. They would like to thank the London Broncos for a great day out and they hope to be back again soon.

30/04/2023

Play multiple matches against top Northern teams

Brixton Bulls U13s and U11s went on tour to Keighley over the bank holiday weekend, with nearly 30 players and another 30 parents making the trip to Yorkshire to take on some of the best rugby league clubs in the North.

The U13s were comfortable winners in their two matches on Saturday, winning 34-6 and 36-6 against West Bowling and Keighley Albion. On Sunday morning they faced Siddal, one of the strongest amateur rugby league clubs in the country, who provided two of yesterday’s England team and whose U13s are currently near the top of Yorkshire Division 1. The Bulls battled hard, and had some superb individual performances, but the greater organisation and precision of Siddal told in the end as the Bulls went down 34-16.

The U11s faced a range of top sides, including Keighley Albion, Siddal, East Hull, Milford and West Craven. There were some tough matches for the Bulls as the greater rugby league experience told but the Bulls did a great job sticking with it and learned a huge amount from the matches.

23/04/2023

Bulls Masters travel to Gillingham for games with Medway Dragons and Aldershot & Fleet

It was a game of four halves as Brixton Bulls Masters put on a great show in their two games today against Aldershot & Fleet and Medway Dragons. We conceded a try in each game, with our solitary score by Tom being the highlight of the day.

15/04/2023

Tough loss in opening game

Brixton Bulls U14s travelled to Hemel Hempstead on Saturday morning for the opening fixture in the London Junior League to play a strong Hemel Stags side, who had already been crowned winners of the pre-season 9s competition.

The Bulls comprised mostly U13s, and were put under pressure from the outset by a bigger and stronger U14 Hemel side. Having been down heavily at half-time, the Bulls rallied strongly in the second half significantly improving their completion rate, and some smart work by hooker Ryan Jones and half-back Dylan Robson, helped create space for loose forward Hamza Zidour to cut through for a well earned try. Robson also added the goal from wide out.

Second row, William Hale, meanwhile, was named Player of the Match, with the most carries and a great effort in defence. Nevertheless, the final score was 54-6 to Hemel Stags.

01/04/2023

Close match against Elmbridge at Rosslyn Park

Brixton Bulls U14s played in a curtain raiser against Elmbridge Eagles ahead of London Broncos Challenge Cup 3rd round tie against Doncaster at Rosslyn Park.

Despite the Bulls comprising mostly U13s, and playing against mostly U14s, the scores were level at 18-all at half time, thanks to 3 tries from loose forward, Hamza Zidour and 3 goals from half-back Dylan Robson. The Eagles' superior size told in the second half however, and Elmbridge ran out 28-18 winners, in a closely fought game.

25/03/2023

The Brixton Bulls Masters team played their first ever game at Aldershot & Fleet, scoring two tries. Newcomer Benoit scored one, demonstrating his commitment to learning the game, while the other try came from seasoned veteran Tim. The Bulls' defense held strong against a determined Aldershot & Fleet attack, and the team showed great teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the match.

If you're over the age of 35 and interested in playing rugby league, we invite you to join the Bulls Masters team. We welcome players of all experience levels and look forward to growing our team together!

20/03/2023

Brixton Bulls U14s reached the semi-finals of the London Junior League Pre-Season 9-a-side competition which was held at Elmbridge. The Bulls did extremely well given their side comprised only two U14s, with most of the side being a year young.

Having struggled against a strong and powerful Hemel Stags side in the first match, Brixton tightened up their first up carries and were then were able to spread the ball to their player of the tournament Hamza Zidour. Together with much improved defence, this brought a win against an athletic London Skolars side. This put them into the semi-finals against Elmbridge Eagles, where they lost a thrilling game, 12-8, narrowly being denied an equalising try in the dying seconds.

Zidour scored seven tries for the Bulls overall, but there were good performances from across the park. The Bulls now look forward to the start of the London Junior League season proper after Easter.

15/02/2023

Twelve of Brixton Bulls U13 and U14 players attended a Development Day held by the London Broncos yesterday. They took part in training sessions run by the Broncos' Head of Youth, Chris Baxter, and the RFL's Head of Community Development, Rob Powell. The sessions were also supported by several London Broncos first team players, most of whom had come from London based community clubs, and through the Broncos Scholarship and Academy System.

The Development Day was the first step in the players looking to gain a place on the London Broncos Player Pathway, with the ultimate goal of achieving a professional contract and player for the London Broncos. For the London Broncos it was the first step in identifying talent from across the region. The Broncos Scholarship programme starts at U15s and U16s, with the Academy taking players at U17s and U18s.

As well as a significant portion of the current London Broncos team, the Broncos youth development system has produced a number of current England and Super League Players, such as Mike McMeeken, Kai Pearce-Paul, Dan Sarginson, Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Tony Clubb. Indeed, there were more players from the London Broncos Academy in the England squad at the World Cup than from many traditional Super League Academies in the North.