Watch: Chaotic scenes as bull runs wild at French Super League match

The Catalan Dragons’ warmup took an unlikely and dramatic turn on Friday night when a Bull escaped its handlers and took to the field.

Players scattered as the beast jogged out onto the pitch, initially dragging one handler face-first along the ground behind it. Catalan players also faced the unfortunate coincidence of wearing red warm-up kits.

Dragons owner Bernard Guasch is the man responsible for the Bull’s presence at the stadium, a prematch show with the cattle was planned as the Super League club owner is also head of the Catalan Cattle Breeders’ Association.

After the animal calmly returned to its peers standing sideline, officials were able to get ahold of it and the match was able to proceed as scheduled. The Dragons went on to claim a 24-12 victory over the St Helens Saints.

WOW!!

The new warm up at @DragonsOfficiel have really been spiced up at home this season!!!#Bullsintown #SkyRL pic.twitter.com/IwYM2xqYT5

— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) May 5, 2023

The drama was inevitably well received by fans on the internet, images of the beast in stride were quickly turned into memes while comments compared the beast to players with the equivalent physical presence.

One viewer said “Hull FC offered it a 2 year deal”.

Hull FC offered it a 2 year deal

— Chris Smith (@ChrisSm51291812) May 5, 2023

Another compared the run to that of former All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu: “Lomu the bull”.

Lomu the Bull

— Gerry Mohabir (@GerryMohabir) May 5, 2023

Former league prop Paul Anderson, who earned the nickname “Baloo” after the Jungle Book character was also referenced: “Nice of Paul Anderson to come out of retirement for you”.

Nice of Paul Anderson to come out of retirement for you👏🏻👏🏻

— David Prescott (@Precky89) May 5, 2023

The sight of men in red running for their lives from the bull was also appreciated: “Not a day to be in a red rugby shirt!”

Not a day to be in a red rugby shirt!

— Stuart Wright (@stuartwright191) May 5, 2023