THE Bulls have already drawn up training plans for when rugby is given the green light to start back up.

John Kear has stated that he does not expect to be playing in front of crowds again until 2021 – and is not anticipating a return to action any time soon.

But the Bulls chief and his coaching staff are well prepared for the time they are eventually allowed to return to practice.

Kear revealed that a routine has been prepared that will ensure the players are “battle hardened” for any possible return date.

He said: “We have planned both for a three and a four-week return to play.

“The first week we are anticipating small groups. What we would do is probably train in numbers of five or six without any showering or changing at the training centre.

“They would be socially distanced but in small groups with time in between the sessions for one to completely clear out before the next came in.

“After that, we have planned for a larger group return and then a team group return.

“Hopefully within that, we can make sure they do get the contact element so they aren’t coming back to playing without experiencing that.

“It would be a heck of a shock to anyone’s body that’s not been used to doing that for the last couple of months minimum and then having to return to it.”

The Bulls are currently waiting to hear about their loan application to the RFL as part of the £16 rescue package the government have handed to the sport.

The players are staff remain in furlough while there is no firm news of a resumption.

Some reports are already suggesting that a number of clubs in the Championship and League One believe that the current season, which was put on hold after round five, will be declared null and void to avoid the financial strain of playing behind closed doors.

Bulls chief executive Mark Sawyer stressed the Bulls squad are “absolutely desperate” to return whenever possible.

“Our main priority would obviously be to make sure it is a safe environment,” he said. “If we can return in whatever guise, we need time to organise it and cover every angle because we don’t want anybody getting ill.

“There are so many issues but until somebody makes a declaration we don’t know what we’re working towards.

“But once that does happen, you can be certain we’ll be on the job straight away and looking at how we can make it possible.”

The government have made cautious noises about allowing individual sports to be played as part of their gradual shift from the country's total lockdown.

But rugby, given the amount of close contact involved, is likely to be one of the last given the all-clear.

Kear added: “I can’t anticipate what the government are going to do. But so long as they do it to ensure everybody’s safety, I’m not really bothered.

“That’s their job. Mine is to make sure Bradford Bulls are ready to play on the designated date and we will be, whenever that is.

“We feel pretty at ease with what we’ve planned and we’ll be looking forward to implementing it. But I think we’re a few weeks off yet.”