Bradford & Keighley Rugby League Service Area are celebrating after seeing record entries for this year’s Carnegie Champion Schools competition.

Since 2009, entries into the boys’ competition have risen by over 100 per cent and Queensbury High School, Immanuel College, St Bedes Catholic Grammar and Bradford Academy have all entered every age group from Years Seven to 11 this year.

Schools rugby league in the district will begin again in February and culminates in the Bradford Schools final at Odsal Stadium on May 16.

James Lewis, Rugby League Service Area co-ordinator for Bradford & Keighley, said: “It’s not just the numbers that have increased but also the quality of those teams playing.

“For the past few years we have been trailing behind the likes of Leeds and Wakefield schools but I would like to think that this season we may have some teams that could make some progress in the national competition.

“To have ten teams entering into our Year Seven competition is also a very promising sign of what is to come from Bradford schools rugby league in the future.

“Big praise must be given to the community rugby league coaches at Keighley Cougars and Bradford Bulls for all the hard work that they have put into their local schools.

“I wish the best of luck to the 20 teams from the Bradford district still in with a chance of making the national finals.”