Watch shocking moment BULL gets loose on pitch before Super League clash as players run for their lives

RUGBY stars were forced to run for cover after a BULL broke loose during the pre-match parade.

Catalan Dragons were set to face off with St Helens in the Betfred Super League, when pre-match events took an unexpected turn.

Dragons owner Bernard Guasch, head of the local Cattle Breeders’ Association, had brought three bulls to the game to show off the quality of meat in the area.

In footage of the incident, a handler can be seen being dragged along by the bull, with them unable to prevent the bull from breaking free of their grasp.

After being able to run free for a while, players could be seen leaping over advertising boards to escape a possible rampage.

Fortunately, the animal remained calm and was recovered by handlers after venturing back over to where the other two bulls were situated in the stadium, with damage done.

In a statement prior to the incident, Dragons had said: “Three prize-winning bulls, as well as two cows from the same Gascon breed, will perform a lap of honour during the warm-up.”

Reacting to the shocking incident, one fan Tweeted: “They ain’t got a Dragon so have two real live bulls on the pitch pre-match!”

A second said: “Didn’t know they played Rugby in Pamplona!”

A third joked: “Bit rough for the team in red.”

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“That is amazing 😂😂,” declared a fourth.

While a fifth added: “Bloody hell!!! 😳😰.”

The game at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan went ahead as scheduled.

Dragons went on to beat the Saints 24-12.

Debutant Matt Ikuvalu was almost over the fence as the huge beast charged and admitted it was an “intense” experience.

But they provided real prime cuts to chop down the four-times defending Super League kings, whose errors made them look more like gristle – six days after France were hammered 64-0 by England.

And boss McNamara said: “It was huge for us and it was important we put rugby league in France back on the map. We hadn’t been far off but it was a good performance.”

James Roby entered St Helens’ record books again as he made his 531st club appearance, tying Kel Coslett’s mark.

But England boss Shaun Wane may have plenty to ponder from this ahead of the Tonga Test series as international prop Alex Walmsley opened the scoring before the islanders’ Konrad Hurrell allowed Jack Welsby to make it 12-0.

Enter Sam Tomkins, who is still not definitely out of the Autumn clashes despite announcing he will retire.

First he threaded Arthur Mourgue through a gap to race 50 metres and start the fightback before his kick created compatriot Tom Davies’ second try.

Wane would also have noted Hurrell swearing at ref Liam Moore and being sin binned, while Test team-mate Siua Taukeiaho made it 12 a side.

Ikuvalu, who moved from NRL side Cronulla, dragged the French side level at 12-12 before Davies’ brace and Adam Keighran’s fourth goal.

Seeing Walmsley spill the ball inches from the line summed up Saints’ woes as boss Paul Wellens cursed: “We were massive contributors to our own downfall, especially around the way we attacked.

“As the game went on, we became a bit reckless – you can’t just p