COUGARS head coach Paul March has hailed the burgeoning partnership with rugby union neighbours Bradford & Bingley and believes both clubs will reap the benefits.

After the Bees’ Wagon Lane ground in Bingley was badly affected by floods, Martin Whitcombe’s squad have used Cougar Park to train during the past month.

The move has seen the two teams also partake in opposed training sessions while March has developed a friendship with Bees boss Whitcombe.

Cougars assistant coach Adam Mitchell plays for the Yorkshire Division One leaders while Ross Peltier has also turned out for both clubs in recent months.

March would like the clubs to stage a cross-code game, as has happened previously, and look at ways of encouraging Bees followers to attend Cougars matches and vice versa.

Cougars met with Bradford & Bingley yesterday to discuss ways of developing the partnership and March said: “The Bees have trained down at Cougar Park for the past four or five weeks on a Tuesday and a Thursday.

“It has become the norm now to have them there and we have also helped them with wrestle and weights sessions, plus myself and Mitch have been doing a bit of coaching with them and overseen opposed on-field sessions.

“It’s working out well at the minute because, instead of our lads just running sets against themselves, they have different opposition to run against.

“Another thing is with our defensive patterns, if you look at the rugby union scene right now, there are a lot of rugby league coaches working at a higher level in the 15-man code.”

Former Bradford head coach Francis Cummins now serves on the coaching staff at Yorkshire Carnegie and ex-Bulls stars Paul Deacon and Mike Forshaw both work as coaches at Sale Sharks.

With the likes of Mike Ford and Andy Farrell also having coached at the highest level, March is keen to extend work with the rival code.

March, whose wife Jess is a keen union follower as a season-ticket holder at Sale for over 15 years, added: “If we can help in any way to strengthen the Bees defensively, we will do.

“I’m sure there are other ways we can help each other as clubs, such as with groundsmen and making sure our field is in top condition.

“In rugby league and union, there are certainly plenty of ways to help each other out, especially from their point of view with the defensive structures they use.”

March has been impressed with the abilities of several of Whitcombe’s squad and added: “Their South African fly-half, Gerhard Nortier, is a player who could easily fit into a rugby league jersey, as could both their centres.

“You never know, this could turn out to be a very worthwhile partnership in more ways than one.

“The key point in the partnership is helping each other training-wise and facilities-wise because, once Wagon Lane gets sorted again, we could easily stage reserve fixtures there.

“But, long-term, if we could get some players crossing over and also organise a cross-code game, maybe at Christmas time, which would help raise money for both clubs, then I think that’s the way forward.”

On his relationship with opposite number Whitcombe, March said: “Martin had a very good career in rugby union and is obviously very highly regarded as a player and a coach.

“He commands respect and you can tell the lads at the Bees look up to him.

“The relationship is building between us two and the clubs, so long may it continue.

“I’d like us to look at ways to incentivise Cougars and Bees to go and watch both teams.”

Meanwhile, Whitcombe has expressed his gratitude for the way Cougars have helped them while they have been unable to use their Wagon Lane home.

Whitcombe said: “We have been training at Cougars for three weeks now and it feels like a second home.

“They haven’t asked us for anything, other than to roll the pitch, and we are incredibly grateful. I think the seeds are there for a rugby partnership in the future.”