League: If you're Hape and you know it clap your hands

Shontayne Hape wanted to play rugby union so much, he paid for his own release from the Bradford Bulls. The 27-year-old had two months left on his Bradford contract - more if they made the playoffs - but was determined to get to Bath for pre-season training to give him the best chance of making a successful switch to rugby union. At first, Bradford weren't keen when Hape asked for an early release. "It came down to money," he says. "I had to pay a fee to leave. "It only meant staying [at Bradford] for another nine games but I thought for my development I needed to be in Bath in the off-season to learn the new rules and come to grips with the game. "It's something I really want to try and I need to be there early. I didn't want to come halfway through the year." Hape is not the first rugby league player to make the switch and... [read full story]