Bulls dancer Sadie Flower is heading back to Odsal for a hero's welcome after winning TV's Strictly Dance Fever.

The 19-year-old will swap her silver sequins for the famous rugby shirt for the last time to thank her supporters in Bradford.

And she said her experiences with the Bulls helped her victory on the hit show watched by millions of viewers.

Sadie, who hopes to come back for the match against Widnes, a week on Sunday, said: "The final was so nerve-wracking but dancing for the Bulls undoubtedly helped me to success.

"I believe in fate and I believe everything I did before Strictly Dance Fever helped me to win it."

She said the nerves she needed to perform in front of thousands of rugby fans helped calm her down before last Saturday's final.

"Being one of the dancers for the Bulls helped me cope with the big event and the pressure that comes with it.

"I am used to being in front of the cameras and being in front of the big crowds.

"I also used to help with the choreography of the dance routines and on Strictly Dance Fever that came in useful as we had to devise our own routines."

And she honed her performance techniques during the cheerleader routines.

"Those performances helped me have the all-round package.

"The smile, the personality, the charisma. They are all needed to get to the top.

"Being with the Bulls has helped me on the way."

Sadie's TV success follows fellow cheerleader Carolynne Good who went on to become one of the BBC Fame Academy finalists.

Sadie, from Methley, has previously been a cheerleader at Leeds United - though never with the Rhinos.

But her rugby league loyalties are spread across West Yorkshire as she dates Halifax player Lee St Hilaire.

She was a stand-in dancer for the Bulls and joined the girls whenever they were short of numbers.

"I have very fond memories of my time with the girls. The outfits are a million miles from the sequins but I think the girls look lovely in them."

Having collected the £25,000 winnings and television and a tour contracts she now plans to shelve plans to be a dance teacher and continue performing which she loves.

Sadie and partner Joseph Hall were among 80,000 non-professional dancers who applied to be on the show which started back in March.

She also has previous dance partners in Baildon.

But she clicked with Joseph, finding they shared the same desire of doing the best they could, and went on to collect millions of votes to scoop the crown.

She added: "We had never met before the competition and it was surprising to meet someone with the same ambitions as myself. We decided not to let any negative comments get to us and to give it our best. We get on well both as friends and partners."

She now plans to pay off her credit card bills and go on holiday before getting back to dancing.

A spokesman for the Bulls said: "We are very proud of Sadie and her achievements and were supporting her all the way.

"She is very talented and we shall be sorry to lose her due to her new commitments.

"But we shall have a special homecoming for her and celebrate her great win."