New Bulls recruit Jay Rossi is aiming to become a star pupil – on the pitch and in the classroom.

The 18-year-old winger has joined the Bulls on a two-year deal from Whitehaven and will begin pre-season training with the Under-20s on Tuesday night.

Yet the bulk of his time will be spent studying – he started a three-year physiotherapy degree course at the University of Bradford in September.

The Cumbrian teenager was named in the England Academy squad last year, where he was coached by Stu Barrow, who is in charge of Bradford’s Under-20s.

When Barrow learned that Rossi was due to begin a degree in Bradford, a deal was struck to get him on the Bulls’ books.

Rossi said: “It’s worked out absolutely brilliantly for me, starting university here in September and then getting a deal with the Bulls.

“I’m going to take things step by step but training with Bradford can only help me to develop physically and mentally.

“It links in well with my degree course too and it’s just about managing my time between my rugby, my university work and my social life.”

Rossi has been successful on that front during the past two years – working towards his A-Levels while playing for Whitehaven.

He claimed an A* in PE and Bs in Biology and Maths, and the level-headed teenager is keeping his future options open.

Rossi, whose great-grandfather was Italian, added: “If I improve enough during the next two years at Bradford to earn another contract, that would be great.

“But my studies have always been important to me and my parents have made me aware of the wider picture.

“I’m just going to work hard on all fronts and see where that takes me.”

Rossi rose to prominence at Whitehaven towards the end of the 2010 season, scoring on his senior debut at Halifax and starting four of the final five games of the club’s Championship season.

He held on to the wing position at the start of this year before falling victim to long-term injury and losing out to Loz Hamzat in what proved a frustrating campaign.

Now he will link up at Odsal with fellow Cumbrians James Donaldson and Liam McAvoy, who he played with for Broughton.

Rossi, who counts Leeds wing Ryan Hall and Wigan’s Josh Charnley among his favourite current Super League players, added: “I’ve spoken to Donno and I played with Liam at Broughton, so it’s good to have a couple of other Cumbrian lads here already.

“I’m really looking forward to starting pre-season and I owe a big thanks to Gary Hewer, who helped me so much at Whitehaven, and Dave Varty, my coach at Broughton.”