Halifax have apologised to Bradford Bulls, who were branded retards, cattle and whingers in the latest Halifax programme.

The Shay club's acting chief executive officer Stephen Pearson said: "The piece was intended to be taken in a light-hearted and jocular fashion, and we have made a public apology.

"We had two members of staff off last week - one who had had a heart attack and another who was in for a minor operation - and the checking process wasn't what it should have been.

"The local freelance journalist who wrote the piece has been reprimanded."

The Challenge Cup winners have sent the offending paragraph, published for last Friday's match against St Helens, to the Rugby Football League and the Tetley's Super League in the hope that some official action will be taken.

Bulls chairman Chris Caisley said today: "These words are extreme and very insulting to those who are less fortunate than we are, and to those who have some disability.

"I don't think either that the Rugby Football League's executive chairman Richard Lewis, the RFL or the game in general will be too happy about it either.

"And it is not the first time that Halifax have used their match-day programme to have a go at us by using the word cattle, although I don't think they were punished last time."

Caisley added: "We set our stall out several years ago to be a family club, and totally and absolutely welcome anybody, irrespective of their colour, creed, gender age or disability."

The Bulls media and public relations officer Stuart Duffy confirmed that the offending paragraph had been sent to both Andrew Whitelam of Super League and Emma Rosewarne of the RFL's administration department for their perusal.

And the article has caused not a little controversy on the Bulls' website message board.

There has been amazement that such a paragraph has been written in an official club document, with one fan calling it "childish, unpleasant and, not to mention, extremely offensive". He added: "Good-natured banter is one thing, but making comments that are going to cause personal upset is not, and never will be, accepted."

Other supporters feel it is typical of Halifax's "small-town mentality" and reckon they are jealous their neighbours are doing so well. But the Bulls fans are quite prepared to take action of their own, including boycotting the match at the Shay on July 11.