News
U14s beat Brentwood at AFC Wimbledon stadium
12/05/2024
A solid win at the home of the London Broncos
Brixton Bulls U14s had their second win out of two in the London Junior League, beating Brentwood Eels. Excitement was high before the match, which was being played at the AFC Wimbledon Stadium, at the home of the London Broncos, before their crunch Super League tie with Hull FC.
Brentwood got off to a strong start, scoring off the first set after a couple of defensive errors from Brixton. However it was one way traffic for the rest of the half, with half-back Dylan Robson pulling the strings, strong runs from the likes of Will Hale up front and strike running running out wide from Hamza Zidour and Captain Nathaniel Bent.
At the start of the second half it was a different story as Brentwood capitalised on some defensive lapses from Brixton to score a couple of tries, and bring themselves within 14 points.
However Brixton rallied again, scoring another 4 tries to make the final score 58-28.
Many thanks to the London Broncos for arranging the venue, and it was great to see both Broncos and Hull players watching much of the match. Both Brixton and Brentwood teams also stayed to watch the Broncos first Super League win of the season, in a great day for rugby league in London!
Photos @LondonBroncosRL
Sun, 12 May
U14 58 28 Brentwood Eels
Open Age Campaign Off To Winning Start
11/05/2024
Mens team victorious in first game of the season
Brixton Bulls travelled to Elmbridge Eagles on Saturday 11th May to begin the journey to the London & South East Grand Final. Our opponents have proven themselves worthy rivals after a series of fierce matches in recent years. So we knew to expect strong competition.
Brixton kicked off and immediately came under pressure. The Eagles were keen to stamp their mark on the match from the off and an opening set full of fast plays and hard runnjng led to a breakthrough. Elmbridge broke through the line on the right, and good support made for a simple opening score inside two minutes.
Faced with an uphill battle, the Bulls took things back to the basics we had been working on in pre-season. Spirited defence and completed sets saw Brixton make it to within 20m of the whitewash. The ball was moved fluidly from right to left before coming all the way back for Elliott Hagan to barrell over despite the attention of two defenders. Josh Burke nudged over from a wide angle to level things up.
Only six minutes later and Tommy Beale went over for a score in the same channel: Brixton's shape and execution were looking to pay dividends. On a hot and sunny opening day, Brixton went into the twenty minute water break up 12-6.
Kelland Thomas-Smith was the next Brixton try scorer before the half. The Bulls had the bit between their teeth and with the hard yards being made to look easy by the middles, momentum seemed on our side. Sadly, discipline was starting to fray. And towards the end of a first half peppered with penalties Ugo Thomas was shown yellow and was sent for an XL half time break. 18-6.
With a man advantage, Elmbridge looked to start the second half like they had begun the first. And an early score saw the Bulls' lead dwindle by 4 points. Soon after the Eagles struck again to make it a narrow 18-16 lead to Brixton.
Just as soon as we were back to our full complement, the ref sent two more Brixton players in the bin for some handbags following a penalised tackle.
The two man deficit didn't seem to cow the Brixton players left on the pitch, however. Instructions from the (sin binned) player/coach to implement a bend-not-break defense were implemented to cut out any Elmbridge breaks. And heroic shots from the likes of Ben Cowell ensured they could never build up a head of steam.
And with a full set of 13 finally reinstated, this dogged defense saw its reward with two scores from Charlie Milner and Emmett Banahan (on debut) putting the match beyond reach.
Final score: 28-16
Sat, 11 May
Elmbridge Eagles 16 28 Mens
Brixton Host South Masters Festival
11/05/2024
Eight sides play in the biggest masters event in the South
This afternoon saw the 2024 South Masters Festival, hosted by Brixton at Streatham & Croydon Rugby Football club. Eight teams participated, including Brixton Bulls, Aldershot & Fleet, Cardiff Blue Dragons, Hammersmith Hills Hoists, Medway Dragons, Solent Spitfires, Swindon St George, and Toll Bar.
Full report to follow.
Sat, 11 May
Masters 0 0 Toll Bar
Masters 0 0 Swindon St George
Masters 0 0 Aldershot & Fleet
U12 Season Underway
11/05/2024
U12 lose first match of the season three tries to five
The players were massive today. We put on some great defence in the first half to see Elmbridge out which was rewarded with Idris' well worked try with the team giving great field position and some great passes out to the right edge.
After a couple of exchanges and on the stroke of half time with some great field position we worked great passes out to the left edge, where Euan found himself with space in front and scored a great try right on top of the corner flag.
The second half saw a lot of defensive efforts going in and after a couple of Elmbridge tries we capitalised on their errors and battered their try line for 2-3 sets getting some repeat sets of 6 and finally Frazer found a gap on the left hand side and got himself over.
It was a great first game by all involved: there is plenty to work on and plenty of positives. Robbie Heritage was player of the match with some awesome tackling and great carries.
Finally, a big shout out to all the parents players and coaches for supporting the players as best as we could to help them grow.
Sat, 11 May
U12 12 26 Elmbridge Eagles Black
Brixton Bulls U12s win Pre-Season 9s
27/04/2024
Brixton Bulls U12s emulate the U14s in winning the Pre-Season 9-a-side Tournament.
With nearly 20 players available, including many on debut, Brixton entered two mixed ability teams to face Bromley Bengals, Eastern Rhinos and two teams from Elmbridge Eagles.
Brixton 1 won four of their games in the group stages, only drawing 3-3 with Elmbridge 2, who also won their four other games. This set up a re-match in the Final with Brixton 1 squeezing home in another very tight contest, 4-3, with Frazer Marmont-Robertson scoring the match winning try and earning himself the Player of the Tournament Award for his team.
Brixton 2 won one of their four games, against Eastern Rhinos, though almost got the better of Brixton 1, only going down 4-3 in the last minute, and had another tight 4-3 loss to a strong Bromley Bengals side. This left them 5th in the league table, but there were many very creditable performances, notably from Robbie Heritage, who was Player of the Tournament for his team.
Many thanks to everyone for their efforts and looking forward to the start of the Junior League matches on 11th May!
Sat, 27 April
U12 Winners 9s Cup
Brixton U14 Win Opening League Match
20/04/2024
Brixton Bulls U14s won the opening match in the 2024 London Junior League, beating a strong Elmbridge Eagles side by 40-4. Brixton looked solid from the off, forcing a turnover on Elmbridge's first set, and looked to have scored from an excellent cross-field kick only to have it ruled out by a foot in touch.
However, Brixton soon got on the score sheet after a sweeping move to the right, allowing right centre, Nathaniel Bent, the new skipper, to power over on his debut. This was followed by typically elusive running from full-back Hamza Zidour, and another from Bent in a carbon copy of the first try.
The Bulls were in a strong position at 12-0 after 15 minutes, but a period of poor ball control gave Elmbridge significant possession in the Brixton half, and the Eagles finally made this pay, stripping the Bulls for numbers down the right to make it 12-4 on the stroke of half time.
The second half saw Brixton raise the quality. A quick play the ball from excellent second row William Hale gave Zidour space against a back pedalling defence, and enabled him to use his footwork and pace to score from half way. After that, the Bulls looked in control. A back-hand flick from Zidour enabled Bent to go over unopposed for his hatrick. Half-back Dylan Robson, who controlled things well all game, stepped and dummied to go in under the posts. An offload and seven pass team move gave speedster Maxwell Fyffe on the left wing the space to dive over in the corner before another bullocking run from prop Tirae Campbell saw him crash over. Robson also slotted 4 goals in difficult conditions.
Sat, 20 April
Elmbridge Eagles 4 40 U14
Brixton Throwbacks - 2019
15/04/2024
Celebrating 20 Years of Brixton Bulls!
Let's throw it back to 2019, with one of our own Sam Dore making his debut for Castleford Tigers U19. A bruiser on the field, and one of the nicest gents you will meet off it, Sam has been a credit to Brixton Bulls; he can also speak Mandarin.
We hope to see him back in the yellow and black this coming season.
Brixton Bulls Club Shop
06/04/2024
We have a new Club Shop, thanks to O'Neills, the providers of our new mens kit.
Brixton Bulls merch is available in adult and children sizes.
U14 Win London 9s Comp
06/04/2024
A beautiful sunny day for the start of the rugby league season and the opening 9s festival for our U14s.
Last year our U14s had played up a year (all bar one U13) and it had been a tough season. To their credit they never gave up and although out powered by the bigger opposition we played some great rugby league. The boys were excited to see how they would be now at the top of their age group.
Although only playing against three other teams the level of rugby across the board was high and it was typical 9s: fast, furious and physical.
We had some new lads making their debuts and they proved great additions to the side. Nathaniel Bent running hard and strong and some great lines. Toby Smith working hard on the wing and scoring a fantastic try from a great ball of Dylan Robson, going three quarters of the length of the field. Maxwell Fyffe on the other wing scored as well, with William Hale and Hamza Zidour all going over for the Bulls during the morning.
We faced a strong Elmbridge black side who took us to a draw in our first game and we just beat Brentwood 3-2 in our second game. An injury caused a delay and somewhat halted the momentum of the day but we beat Elmbridge White to end up with a draw on points against Elmbridge Black at the top of the table. As time had ran away with us, due to the injury, we ended up with winning the cup on tries scored.
A great morning of rugby league. Great to see the boys back on the field and it bides well for the rest of the season. Lots of fun and hard work to come for these lads but it's going to be an interesting season if the standard of rugby league was anything to go by on this bright but breezy April morning.
Sat, 06 April
U14 Winners 9s Cup
Brixton Throwbacks - 2019
05/04/2024
Celebrating 20 Years of Brixton Bulls!
Let's rewind to 2019, where Brixton Bulls legends Abeku and Marcus took their game to the global stage, representing Ghana in the Middle East and Africa Championship. It was quite the ride – they stumbled in their first match against Nigeria but bounced back strong, clinching a sweet victory over Cameroon in the final showdown and securing a respectable third place in the championship. Adding to the fanfare, coaching the Cameroonian team was none other than Kahlil, another familiar face from our Bulls family.
Andy Gilvary was the Ghana head coach at the time and one key people who helped create Brixton Bulls all those years ago. Here's to our global ambassadors and the legacy they've built
Brixton on Rugby League Outsiders
28/03/2024
Meet Richard Jones of the Brixton Bulls Rugby League Club
Our very own Rick Jones sat down with Karl Walker and Craig Williams, of the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to discuss all things Brixton Bulls and the London community rugby game.
Richard Jones' Rugby League Journey: From a childhood fan due to his father's influence to moving to London for work, Richard's lifelong engagement with Rugby League led to significant roles within the Brixton Bulls and the London Rugby League Foundation.
Brixton Bulls' Inclusive Culture: Emphasised as possibly the most diverse rugby club in the country, Brixton Bulls showcases inclusivity, with voluntary membership fees ensuring the sport is accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic background.
Impact of Funding Cuts: A drastic reduction in registered primary Rugby League players from 600 to 60 highlights the challenges faced following funding cuts, underlining the importance of community and foundation support to sustain grassroots participation.
London Broncos' Super League Return: Seen as a significant boost for Rugby League in London, the return brings excitement and potential growth for the sport despite challenges like the changing academy and scholarship structures.
Cross-Pollination with Rugby Union: The potential for Rugby League to engage talented players from Rugby Union setups, providing an alternative pathway for athletes not progressing in Union.
Safety and Tackle Technique: Emphasising the importance of teaching safe tackle techniques from a young age, reflecting broader concerns about concussions and head injuries in contact sports.
Promoting Success Stories: Highlighting the need to showcase success stories of players who have advanced from local clubs to professional teams, illustrating the potential career path within the Rugby League.
Historical Legacy and Potential in London: Reflections on London's rich Rugby League history and the latent interest that could be tapped into with strategic, long-term investment in the sport.
Favourite London Broncos Players: Richard Jones admires past Broncos stars, underlining the influence of high-profile players on the team's and sport's profile.
Challenges and Opportunities for Growth: Strategies for boosting the Rugby League's profile in London, including better media coverage, supporting community clubs, and hosting significant events like internationals and a Magic Weekend in London.
Rugby League Outsiders is a podcast where two passionate fans and former players, Karl Walker and Craig Williams, bring their love for the game to the Midlands. After relocating to the area, they were disappointed that rugby league wasn't as prevalent as in their former homes
However, instead of accepting defeat, Karl and Craig saw this as an opportunity to promote the sport and make it more accessible for others in the Midlands. They started the Rugby League Outsiders podcast to shed light on the hidden gems of rugby league in the region and to give a voice to those who may have been overlooked.
Tune in weekly as Karl and Craig share their insights and experiences, interview players and coaches, and delve into rugby league. From local clubs to the latest news, they've got you covered.
Brixton Throwbacks - 2013
24/03/2024
Celebrating 20 Years of Brixton Bulls!
Flashback to a historic moment in Brixton Bulls' journey: our first major trophy win, the U14 Finals in 2013! It's hard to believe it's been over twenty years since our team was founded, and each milestone along the way has been a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players, coaches, and supporters. From humble beginnings to this unforgettable victory, the spirit of the Bulls has always been about determination, teamwork, and passion for the game. Here's to many more years of success and memories on and off the field!
Sat, 23 March
Masters 0 0 Aldershot & Fleet
Masters 0 0 Solent Spitfires
Masters 0 0 Cardiff Blue Dragons
Played in joint team with Royal Navy
Brixton Throwbacks - 2012
08/03/2024
Celebrating 20 Years of Brixton Bulls!
Our journey began in 2004, and now we're marking our 20th anniversary with some amazing posts highlighting the best moments from our incredible history. Kicking off our throwback series is a memorable moment from February 2012: when England head coach Steve McNamara graced Norwood Park with his coaching skills on a typically chilly evening! It all started with a chance encounter between Alison, Philippa, and Steve, where they asked him to come down and take a session—a bold request, but shy bairns get nowt. Check out the familiar faces in the photo, some of whom went on to become Grand Final winners! Stay tuned for more nostalgia-filled posts as we celebrate two decades of Brixton Bulls excellence.
Team Colostomy Capital Clash
05/03/2024
Matches at Rosslyn Park against Team Colostomy to help raise awareness
This Sunday Brixton Bulls played two matches at Rosslyn Park against Team Colostomy to help raise awareness. There were two firsts for Brixton Bulls with a mother-daughter pairing, and both the mum and dad of one of our minis turning out together. It was a huge amount of fun for all of us and thanks again to Colostomy UK for putting on a great spectacle.
Colostomy UK formed their own rugby league side in 2018 to prove that a stoma is no barrier to playing even the toughest of contact sports and were amazed by the response.
From their website:
We’ve had amazing 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons, building each year after an 18 month absence because of the Pandemic, generating some great awareness and publicity, and are looking forward to an even more exciting 2024 calendar where we’ll be launching new Wheelchair and Women’s Rugby League too!
Our origin team plays a mixture of rules depending on our opponents, and we’re always looking for new players. Our games are equally suitable for both male and female players regardless of your ability or experience.
Please get in touch with giovanni.cinque@colostomyuk.org.
Sun, 3 March
Team Colostomy 0 0 Over 35s
Team Colostomy 0 0 Touch
Bulls at Broncos
15/02/2024
Brixton Bulls Juniors attend London Broncos Development Days
Twenty Brixton Bulls Juniors have been benefitting from professional coaching at the London Broncos Development Days across U12s, U13s, U14s and U15s. The Development Days involved intensive training as well as evaluation, and are the first step towards the London Broncos Academy. The Junior Bulls are now looking forward to the start of the Junior League season in April, and are set to play competitive matches at U14s (Yr 8&9) and U12s (Yr 6&7) most Saturdays from April until July.
Sat, 13 January
Masters 0 0 Medway Dragons
Representing Hammersmith Hills Hoists
2023 Club of the Year
09/01/2024
More publicity for Brixton Bulls
At the end of last year Brixton Bulls were awarded the prestigious Club of the Year award at the London RL Foundation Awards.
In the December 2023 issue of Forty 20 magazine there were two articles featuring Brixton Bulls, and mentioning our achievement.
Following on from this, an article has now been published in South London Press about our Club of the Year award at the London Rugby League foundation.