Key Points

• Leeds Rhinos Under-18s Academy are aiming to keep their unbeaten start to 2026 intact when they travel to Dudley Hill ARLFC to face Bradford Bulls on Friday night, with kick-off at 7pm.
• Chev Walker’s side go into the fixture after beating Leigh Leopards 68-4 in their season opener and then defeating Castleford Tigers 26-16 in a hard-fought Yorkshire derby.
• Tom Richardson scored twice against Castleford, with two interception tries helping Leeds hold off a comeback.
• Sonny Hetherington, Dacx Jones-Buchanan and Liam Watson also added tries in the win over Castleford.
• Leeds’ U18s have largely dominated this fixture over the last decade, losing only twice to Bradford Bulls since 2016.
• Bradford’s most recent victory in the age-group clash came at the end of 2024, when Harvey Duckworth scored late to seal a win at Odsal.
• Leeds responded in 2025 with strong wins over Bradford, including an 80-0 home victory in which Oscar Brown scored five tries.

Leeds Rhinos (The Leeds Times) April 7, 2026 when they visit Bradford Bulls on Friday night, with Chev Walker’s side looking to back up two strong early-season performances.

Why is this match being watched closely?

As reported by Leeds Rhinos, the Academy side have already shown both attacking power and resilience this season, first producing a 68-4 win over Leigh Leopards before edging Castleford Tigers 26-16 in a more competitive contest.

The Castleford match was especially notable because Tom Richardson struck twice through interceptions to help prevent a late Tigers fightback. Sonny Hetherington, Dacx Jones-Buchanan and Liam Watson were also among the try-scorers in that victory.

The Bradford fixture is significant because it comes soon after the senior Leeds Rhinos side also met Bradford Bulls in Super League’s Rivals Round, adding extra local interest to the derby theme. Leeds’ Academy have also built a strong record against Bradford over the past ten years, with their only defeats since 2016 coming on two occasions.

What have Leeds done so far in 2026?

Leeds Rhinos opened their 2026 U18s campaign with a commanding 68-4 win over Leigh Leopards at Golborne Parkside. That performance featured a 13-try display and four tries from Sonny Hetherington, with Leeds leading comfortably long before the final whistle.

The team followed that with a 26-16 win over Castleford Tigers at Stanningley, where Richardson’s two interceptions proved decisive.

The pattern across those games suggests Leeds have begun the season with a balanced approach, combining direct attacking play with alert defence. That is relevant heading into Bradford because the Bulls have often provided tougher opposition in this age-group rivalry than the scorelines alone might suggest.

What is the recent history?

Leeds’ recent record against Bradford is strongly in their favour. According to Leeds Rhinos, the U18s have lost only twice to the Bulls since 2016, which underlines how consistently they have handled this fixture in recent years.

Bradford’s latest success in the rivalry came at the end of 2024, when Harvey Duckworth scored with seven minutes remaining to secure a win at Odsal.

Leeds then answered in 2025 with two dominant displays against the Bulls. The most eye-catching of those was an 80-0 home win in which Oscar Brown scored five tries, a result that showed the gap Leeds can create when their attacking rhythm clicks.

How are the teams framed?

As previewed by Leeds Rhinos, Friday night’s match is being played at Dudley Hill ARLFC with a 7pm kick-off.

The club’s own preview presents the game as another Yorkshire test for Walker’s young side, coming in quick succession after a physically demanding victory over Castleford. Bradford, meanwhile, will be looking to make better use of home advantage than in some of the more recent meetings between the teams.

The match also carries developmental importance because it gives Leeds’ next generation a chance to test themselves in another derby environment. For academy rugby, fixtures like this can matter as much for composure and decision-making as for the final score.

Background of the development

Leeds Rhinos’ U18s campaign has been shaped by the aftermath of their 2025 Grand Final disappointment, with the 2026 season offering a fresh platform under Chev Walker.

Their opening win over Leigh Leopards and follow-up victory against Castleford Tigers indicate that the group has settled quickly into the new campaign. The Bradford clash sits within a wider rivalry that has been one-sided in Leeds’ favour across the last decade, although Bradford’s late-2024 win showed they can still trouble the Rhinos when chances arrive.

The same week has also featured senior-level attention on the Bulls-Rhinos rivalry, which adds a broader backdrop to the academy fixture. For Leeds, that means the under-18s are entering a game where club interest, local rivalry and player development are all aligned.

What could happen next?

For Leeds Rhinos’ academy players, a win would strengthen their unbeaten start and further reinforce the early momentum they have built in 2026. It would also continue a long-running positive record against Bradford Bulls and keep the side well placed for confidence in the next phase of the season.

For Bradford, a competitive performance or a victory would be important for narrowing the recent gap in this fixture and for showing they can challenge Leeds more consistently at youth level.

The wider effect on the audience is likely to be straightforward: Leeds supporters may see the match as another sign that the club’s academy pipeline remains strong, while Bradford followers may view it as a measure of progress against a familiar rival. In either case, the result will help shape early perceptions of both sides’ 2026 academy prospects.