Riley Gelder signs first team deal
Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce rising star Riley Gelder has signed his first professional contract with the club.
The 17-year-old is a product of our famed pathway system having joined the club in 2024. Gelder was a double award winner in his final year at Scholarship level, scooping the Players’ Players and Coaches’ Player of the Year awards before graduating to our Elite Academy in 2026.
Riley was named in the travelling party for August’s trip to Toulouse, being named 19th man for his first experience with Kurt Haggerty’s side – and will now link up with the First Team Squad for pre-season, which begins at the end of October.
Riley Gelder, sponsored by Method A Fitness, said:
“I’m absolutely buzzing, I am really grateful to be given an opportunity like this and I am ready to put the hard work in.
“My journey started at five-year-old in Allerton and it has gone from there. I’ve played for West Bowling, Queensbury and Siddal growing up, starting at West Bowling was big for me and then I really enjoyed my year at Siddal. It was good to meet a lot of different people and learn from some good coaches in and around the community clubs.
“I joined the Scholarship system at the end of 2023 and just felt really welcomed. I was nervous coming in but I loved it from the start. I had some good coaches helping me, Martyn [Oxbury] made me feel comfortable and helped me develop.
“Getting the experience of being in and around the first team at training this year has been quality, there are a lot of people to learn from and it is something I can now do even more next year. Just looking at players like John Bateman coming in it will be really good to be in an environment with him, ask him questions and continue to learn.
“Being part of the squad going to Toulouse was a great experience, I was really looked after and just to be abroad in a Super League environment, I loved it! Now the main thing for me is to just keep developing and become a better player.”
First Team Head Coach Kurt Haggerty said:
“I’ve been really impressed with Riley. He’s trained with the first team quite a few times this year and we obviously took him over to Toulouse and gave him that experience. He’s a first-class young man, he’s very studious and he’s worked extremely hard to give himself the opportunity to become a full-time rugby player.
“It shows the faith we have in our pathway system and the hard work done by Ryan Hunkin and Jonathan Schofield in particular. You’ve seen lads like Alfie Leake and Jamie Gill have the opportunity to step up and play in Super League this year and it will be no different for Riley who will be expected to become a full-time rugby player for the Bradford Bulls.”
Jonathan Schofield, who coached Riley in our Elite Academy this year, said:
“Riley has worked extremely hard this year and fully deserves this opportunity. He’s continued to develop, shown a great attitude to learning and demonstrated the qualities needed to take the next step into the first team.
“It’s been a pleasure to work with him this season, and I’m delighted to see his hard work rewarded with a first-team contract. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of what he can achieve at the Bulls.”
Bradford Bulls Head of Youth, Ryan Hunkin, said:
“I’ve known Riley and his family from a young age, so it’s fantastic to see how he’s developed and earned a first-team contract. His progression is further evidence of the Bulls’ pathway continuing to produce stars of the future, and as Head of Youth, it makes me incredibly proud to see another young player take this step.
“I’d also like to thank everyone who supports our Elite Academy, including Bullbuilder, and all the coaches who have played a part in Riley’s development to date. Their contribution is invaluable in helping young players reach their potential and achieve their ambitions with the Bulls.”