A host of former Bradford Bulls players will play in the historic cross-code ‘745 Game’ at Headingley this weekend.
Tomorrow’s game will be a unique hybrid of rugby league and rugby union rules.
It was an idea that Motor Neurone Disease sufferers Rob Burrow and Ed Slater were developing before the former died in June, the Leeds Rhinos legend passing away due to the condition aged just 41.
The ‘745’ name comes from the numbers worn by Burrow (7), former Leicester Tigers and Gloucester ace Slater (4) and Scottish rugby icon Doddie Weir (5) during their playing careers.
Slater, who retired immediately after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease at the age of 33 in July 2022, is the only one of the three men still alive.
Weir, who won 61 caps for Scotland’s rugby union side between 1990 and 2000, got Motor Neurone Disease in 2016 and died as a result in November 2022 aged only 52.
At 3pm tomorrow, former stars of both codes will come together for this ground-breaking clash, which is hoped could become an annual event to support the fight against MND across the country.
The rugby league squad includes a host of former Bulls players from the club’s Super League days, in Matt Diskin, Luke Gale and Adrian Morley.
The former was a long-time team-mate of Burrow’s at Leeds too.
But there are also a couple of players in action who were at Bulls far more recently, with Aaron Murphy and Danny Brough both taking part.
Brough retired after impressing in his one and only season at Bulls in 2021, while Murphy spent two years at Bulls before joining Sheffield.
Murphy left the Eagles and called time on his career at the end of this season, as did one of his team-mates in 2024 and tomorrow, Anthony Thackeray.
For those interested in the rules of this weekend’s game, here is the list below:
- 13-a-side – six forwards, seven backs
- Each team can bring on a goal kicker only for kicks at goal
- Unlimited tackles in your own half but six tackles once attacking team passes half way
- Unlimited interchanges
- Uncontested scrums from knock ons and forward passes. These are taken on the 20m mark in from touch, attacking team can select which side of the field scrum is placed
- Uncontested five man line outs when ball goes into touch
- One-on-one ball steals allowed in tackle before attacking ball carrier gets to ground, once knee to ground, tackle complete, play the ball to restart play
- Two markers at tackle, offside is five metres from the play the ball
- Two referees, one union, one league. One officiating the ruck, the other offside
- Five points for a try, two for a penalty, conversion and drop goal
- If the ball is knocked dead in goal, goal line drop out from the defending team, must go at least ten metres
- Penalties kicked to touch re-start with a line out or take tap from where penalty is awarded, advantage for union but encourages league to attack from penalties
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here