Covid-19: told by Bradford Bulls and Keighley Cougars

The virus was first identified from an outbreak in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Attempts to contain it failed, allowing the virus to spread to other areas of Asia and later worldwide.

As of 24 November 2022, the pandemic had caused more than 639 million cases and 6.62 million confirmed deaths, making it one of the deadliest in history.

With the danger that the virus brought, many restrictions had to be put in place, with the UK and many other countries being placed in lockdown. Following the ending of the first lockdown, further restrictions were put in place to help stem the spread of the virus; sport, having been cancelled, was allowed to resume but without spectators in attendance.

It was a strange period for all, and with the gradual resumption of normality, I (Harry Williams) wanted to delve deeper into the impacts of the pandemic on sport in the region, particularly in rugby league - where we have a handful of top-quality sides; both at amateur and semi-professional level.

In this feature piece, I look at Bradford Bulls, Keighley Cougars, West Bowling and Bradford Dudley Hill, four teams that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in one way or another, whether it be a positive or negative impact.

I was able to speak to numerous individuals who are involved with the clubs to get a greater understanding of what it was truly like to be involved in an athletic environment during the past couple of years.

In this segment of the two-piece feature, I explore the impact of the pandemic on two of Bradford’s most established sides, Bradford Bulls and Keighley Cougars.

The change around their game was particularly noticeable, with fans absent and a handful of protocols in place during training sessions and on matchdays.

Discussing that period, current Bradford manager Mark Dunning said: “It was a really dark time where everything had a very distant feel to it; it was like nothing we’ve experienced before and it’s nothing we want to experience again within the sport or life for that matter. The word I would use to describe that period would be soulless.

“We understood that there were restrictions which needed to be put in place, but that meant that people had to jump through so many hoops just to ensure a game could go ahead. It was a testament to everybody involved within the sport because it helped to keep the sport going. We also had to endure the different protocols which were put in place during training and matches, I.E, tapering warm-ups, how we prepared for games and the difficulty of having to fit 18 or 19 men into a changing room with a two-metre distancing rule. The challenges we had to face were never ending.

“Once a game kicked off, it did have some kind of normality on the management side of things, albeit with social distancing and a stadium without fans. However, it was the preparation which made it so difficult because the RFL would only allow players to have a certain amount of physical or face to face contact with players or staff for that matter. So, that made it challenging to prepare, however, when gameday came that was probably the most normal part of the week.”

There was a time when ‘elite level’ sport was allowed to continue during the pandemic, however, it meant that fans weren’t allowed to be present at the time, and unfortunately, it took away from the matchday experience according to the Bradford boss and many others with an interest in sport.

He said: “Soulless is the word I’d use again. Whatever you sport you play in, particularly our sport, it’s absolutely nothing without the fans. Our supporters turn up in numbers and are loud and proud, and they were certainly missed when they weren’t there, so because of that it had a very distant feel about it.

“The day we returned to Odsal with our fans present, that signalled the return to some sort of normality, and it was a great day and it’s one that will live in the memory of this club forever. We didn’t actually want to leave Odsal in the first place, so to be back there in front of our supporters after such a difficult period, it was just outstanding.”

Discussing the difficulties Bradford faced in returning to ‘normal rugby,’ Dunning said: “The challenge was trying to rediscover what normality actually was because we were in the pandemic for so long. It seemed like a lifetime when we were in the numerous lockdowns and having training sessions on zoom and other similar platforms. It was just a million miles away from normality, so I think the overriding feeling for when we did get back to some normality was one of relief.

“It did make us appreciate what we had more; I’m very humble and appreciative for what I’ve got in sport and life, so Covid I think naturally made people sit up and appreciate what we had more.

“It’s amazing to have the fans back and restrictions gone because it’s brought normality back to the game we love, so for that I’m grateful. Hopefully, we can kick on this upcoming season and achieve great things.”

Bradford Bulls star and local lad George Flanagan commented: “It was a very strange period, and one that as a player felt so different. Going to Odsal with no fans, and then going to away games with no fans; it felt very eerie.

“The weeks leading up to the fixtures also felt very odd because we had to train in separate groups, bubbles and there were regular checks to see if we had Covid. Some days the lads would turn up to training and feel completely fine, but then their swab test result would come back as positive, so they couldn’t return to training for a while.

“Matchdays weren’t the nicest of experiences because when we were travelling to away games, for example, we had to sit two rows apart and then you’d get to the ground, and the hand sanitising stations and flow tests would kick in once again. In all honesty, it didn’t feel like the rugby we know.”

Flanagan added: “John and Mark formed the coaching team at that point, and John was very strict with it because he had to be. I do think that it hampered our campaign a bit because in pre-season we didn’t really come into the close contact side of things, particularly with wrestling and looking at our tackling techniques. Not only that, because we were training in bubbles, you’d end up training with a number of lads that you don’t usually train with, or you’d have to train on your own because you weren’t allowed to be in a two-metre radius of one of your teammates. So, on the coaching side of things I can imagine it was quite tough and I’ve got to say, they did well to get out of it what they could really.”

Empty stadiums were the norm throughout 2020 and 2021, and it’s an experience that Flanagan doesn’t want to have to go through again.

He said: “You could literally hear anything during that period; you could have heard a pin drop because it was that eerie in the stadiums.

“Sometimes in a game where there are loads of fans there, you can’t hear any instructions from the coaches or anything that the opposition are saying to each other, however, instructions from coaches, calls from your teammates and discussion between the opposition could all be heard. What I found very strange as well was that when we scored a try or won back possession, there would be no crowd to cheer you on or celebrate with you; it was just a high five or a hug with your teammates and the game would be underway again.

“It’s one of the strangest experiences I’ve had to go through in my career. I’m no spring chicken anymore and I found that it did hamper mine and the team’s development, and I’d say it even played a part in slowing down some of the younger lads’ development despite them only kicking off their careers.

“We were over the moon to have rugby back to its original state last season because we’d all missed it. We didn’t have the best of times on the field last time out, but it was just nice to have fans back, the restrictions ended and to be able to head to Odsal without having to worry about anything else but the rugby. Looking ahead to next season, we’ve got teams like Keighley Cougars in our division and that just epitomises what rugby league is all about, having that rivalry between fans, players and the coaches. So, to be out of that strange, strange period is a blessing to everyone.”

“I’m speaking on behalf of myself; however, I know a lot of the lads felt the same way about this period; we are all glad it’s behind us now.”

As well as speaking to a player and the managers at both Bradford Bulls and Keighley Cougars, I also had the opportunity to catch up with a fan/s of each club.

Luke Mawson, who is Head of Media at the Odsal side, likewise gave his thoughts on an indifferent past couple of years.

He said: “It was a strange experience; it felt like there was no life in the game. As a fan, you live for those moments that get you up off your seat and being able to celebrate a last-minute try, and even when we beat Halifax with a late drop goal at the start of 2021, there was a smattering of people celebrating within the stadium. You can imagine a full stadium (Dewsbury at the time) celebrating that achievement; it was an iconic moment but there was nobody in the ground to celebrate. I remember looking around and thinking it was a bit surreal to see nobody celebrating and it genuinely felt like a training match.

“On the other hand, I work for the club as well as being a big Bradford fan, and it made me realise how important it was to keep growing the club’s fanbase because we saw the impact the pandemic had when we tried getting supporters back into the stadiums. Once people fall into habits, it’s hard to get them out of them, so it was about giving them a reason to come back to the stadium after that. It really hit home just how important the fans are to an atmosphere and to how a club runs.

“We have seen the difference the fans make in the time we’ve been back in ‘normality’. Whether it’s two, three or four thousand fans that come to Odsal, they always make a massive difference. It’s an old cliché but the fans really are the 14th or 12th man. We know the atmosphere was flat at times last season, but that was on the back of performances. We know full well that there is nothing better than a full and rocking Odsal, and we can see what can be achieved when it’s like that; the games against Leigh and Featherstone last season really emphasised that point.

“All-in-all, I’m delighted that the pandemic is over and we’ve been able to get back to some normality. As a fan, I love coming to Odsal to see Bradford play week-in-week-out, but it wasn’t enjoyable coming to watch the rugby during that period. A full, loud and vibrant Odsal is what everyone wants to see and we’ve got that back, so I’m very grateful.”

David Darnbrough, another Bradford Bulls fan, commented: “I’ve been coming to watch Bradford for at least 60 years and for me, it doesn’t matter if they win or lose, because I’m happy as long as they’re playing. It’s a family game and it’s a game to be enjoyed, and that’s why I love coming to Odsal to watch the rugby.

“If Bulls weren’t here, I wouldn’t be supporting rugby league as a sport; I’d be finished. Not being able to go during the pandemic was hard going. I do a lot of walking in my spare time, so I had to fill up my time with staying active as possible. I felt like my Sundays- where I’d usually be heading to watch the Bulls- were a waste of a day. I love coming to Odsal and to watch Bradford, so I’m thrilled that I’m able to come and watch the rugby again here, and I’m expecting a positive season ahead.”

As much as Bradford boss Mark Dunning disliked playing through the pandemic, Keighley Cougars’ boss Rhys Lovegrove found it beneficial in some ways.

He said: “It was certainly interesting for me, and I did quite enjoy it because it forced me to find new ways to interact with my players. Traditionally, you complete most of your coaching on a face-to-face basis at training sessions, but the pandemic brought along different scenarios which we as coaching staff had to combat.

“I’m going to generalise here, but demographically; most rugby league players weren’t great at school and a lot of them work in labour-intensive jobs. So, I found it interesting when trying to get a group of fellas together, who may usually get quite bored with theoretical knowledge application, to engage in some form of learning.

“We did the usual stuff-where we told the players to stay active at home, but we did a few webinars and other elements of learning to try and get across information in other different ways. So, it was interesting to see that learning process come to fruition. In honesty, we’ve really reaped the benefit of it in the last 18 months because the lads have become so much more technically advanced, and it has allowed us to delve deeper into certain aspects of our game over online sessions.

“Of course, it was certainly challenging; obviously a big part of that was trying to get them working because there was a lot of uncertainty around rugby league at the time, and there were so many questions about whether the players would get paid and whether players would be able to fulfil their contracts, so it was a really interesting time in that regard.”

Lovegrove added: “On the other hand, the lead up to matchdays and matchdays themselves were very hard work to be honest. As a group, we are very process orientated and I’m very OCD when it comes to stuff like that, and I like my routines. A lot of my players are very similar, so a lot of them really struggled with having that interaction with players when there were so many limitations on what you could do. At Super League level it may have been okay because their facilities are much bigger and there is so much more space to accommodate for a situation like the pandemic. At semi-professional level, however, when you’ve only got a gym that fits 12 people at the best of times, and you’re trying to reduce that down to four in a two-hour period, it becomes really difficult. We were then going into a full collision sport with people that were under conditioned.

“I do feel that these protocols and restrictions massively took the competitive element away from the game. I had multiple conversations with players that wanted to retire because they said it wasn’t fun anymore. A lot of the boys didn’t enjoy it anymore and you have to think that semi-professional rugby isn’t a player’s livelihood; they play it because they enjoy it and love the sport. So, Covid certainly did take that enjoyment aspect away from a number of the players.”

The transition back to normality has brought great success to Cougar Park, as last season Keighley went a full campaign without being beaten and it confirmed their rise back to the Betfred Championship, the league in which Bradford Bulls play in.

Despite seeing an increase in performance towards the end of the 2021 campaign and in 2022, the return to ‘normality’ brought one pressing issue home to Keighley.

Lovegrove admitted: “The thing about transitioning back into normal rugby was that we picked up a lot of injuries, and it was understandable why. We had half a season cancelled and then all the way through 2021 we were under Covid protocols. Obviously, this restricted us and it meant we couldn’t train and work properly on the physical side of things. So, coming back into normality at full pelt, the players certainly paid for it because they had been playing at a reduced level of intensity for the past 18 months.”

The Keighley boss added: “Yes, I did enjoy some parts of playing through that period, however, I’m delighted to be back in a ‘normal’ world- where we have fans back and the protocols have been removed- but it was certainly an experience. I was amazed by the team’s performance last season as they achieved promotion, so I’m excited for the future now. It’s also great that the pandemic is slowly becoming a distant memory and we can continue to look forward instead of looking over our shoulders.”

Cougars star Jake Webster, who made his professional debut 19 years ago in the NRL, believes it was one of the strangest periods in his long and distinguished career, admitting, at 39-years of age that he’s not seen much like it.

He said: “It was a very different and eerie experience because it was nothing like we’ve had to face before. We got shut down as a club for a year; that was a double-edged sword for me because it was the first time I’d done nothing in my career, and I quite enjoyed that aspect of it. It was nice to be able to let me hair down for a while and be in control of what I was doing. On the other hand, I missed the whole structure of rugby league. In my career, to go from full-time, to part-time, to absolutely nothing was strange.

“I feel like a lot of the boys were lost when they came back to the club. We’d gone from having no rugby league and not thinking about rugby league, to then just be thrust back into the action. We thought it would be a familiar setting, but it wasn’t because of all the protocols that were in place.

“Matchdays were quite annoying once we’d returned at first because we had all these things to worry about before we’d even stepped foot into the changing rooms to start thinking about the game. Then, to have no atmosphere as well was very strange. If it had continued in this vein and the experience continued to be like it was during Covid for much longer, that, I think would have tipped me over the edge, and possibly made me hang up my boots. I’ve had a long career, so to finish it in that way wouldn’t have been enjoyable; I’m just happy we had crowds back and had a successful season last time out. I speak for a lot of the boys, but that period wasn’t enjoyable in the slightest.

“We are all thrilled to have our sport back in its original state.”

Josh Chapman, a lifelong fan and current staff member at Keighley Cougars, commented: “It was a very difficult time to be a Media Manager and a fan. The restrictions made it so hard to do your job as well as you could, and although I was one of the few supporters allowed in the stadiums, it was just so odd and eerie.

“I remember going to Dewsbury Rams, where Bradford Bulls were playing at the time against Keighley, and there was literally about eight people in the stadium. You could hear everything; the shouts, the calls, and the effing and jeffing from the sidelines. It was a very strange world we were living in.

“Yes, I had the privilege of going to the games, however, it didn’t feel right and as a fan, the experience wasn’t pleasant. You want to be going to these games with a full house and along with other fans to cheer on your team, however, it just wasn’t the case, was it?”

“A lot of fans go to these games for a social catchup and because they love the comradery and the buzz that a match day brings. I can imagine it was a mentally tough period for a lot of supporters because they weren’t able to go and have that interaction with their mates or fellow supporters.”

Chapman added: “I’m so grateful that we are back to normality and being able to do what we do, and it’s brilliant to be able to enjoy sport again. It made me appreciate what I had before; I remember going to my first match after the first lockdown and I’ve never been so happy to attend a social occasion and to be able to speak to friends and fellow supporters.

“A lot of the time throughout the pandemic, I know they were classed as competitive fixtures, but they just felt like glorified friendly fixtures. So, to have rugby and any sport for that matter back to some kind of normality, it’s amazing.”