68 replies to this topic

[nec]

Just looking through various international results and noticing that there is a Jamaican National Rugby League, an American National Rugby League and obviously an Australian NRL.

The term Super League is no longer a positive selling point, it separates the 'elite' of the sport from those clubs that have been left behind somewhat, it has connotations of the split in Australasia and it is a term used in other sports such as ice hockey.

What I propose is a change to coincide with the new sponsorship deal next season to buy into a brand that already has credibility and emphasises the sport first.

either;

The Typhoo (for example) National Rugby League Europe (would be more lucrative)

or the National Rugby League Europe sponsored by Typhoo (less lucrative but allows for greater continuity)

Then the divisions/tiers underneath being part of the same structure -

Featherstone v Barrow in National Rugby League UK Division 1
Limoux v Pia in National Rugby League (or French equivalent but preferably keeping same initials)FR Division 1
Hemel v Skolars in NRL UK Division 2
Wath Brow v Thatto Heath in NRL UK Division 3
Jarrow Vikings v Peterlee Pumas in NRL UK Division 6 NE
Sunderland City v Durham Demons in NRL UK Division 7 NE

etc

I would love to see a way in which criteria based promotion could be re-introduced at all levels, however the better solution for our international chances is to have clubs taking more of a strategic long-term view and playing youngsters because they know they will not be facing catastrophic loss of income if they lose status. Ideally more cash needs to be found and made available for funding all 14 clubs in the championship, but at the very least a structured umbrella payment could avoid the worst of the pain. Cash would be made available ONLY for specific projects, youth RL, schools RL, ground improvements, marketing etc; this would then be ring-fenced to protect other clubs from cashed-up rivals outspending them.

The last bit is the most difficult as I think that straight promotion and relegation is fantastic for sporting drama, but not necessarily the best strategic solution for the sport. We need to make the (current) Championship more meaningful as the British sporting psyche seems to reject licensing/franchising.

[GeordieSaint]

Completely agree about the name change. If, and only if, it could be replicated across the world, the utilisation of National Rugby League in every league title would be awesome.

[ehbandit]

I like the change to division titles. It gives some continuity.

[Tonka]

The term Super League is no longer a positive selling point, it separates the 'elite' of the sport from those clubs that have been left behind somewhat,

Funny really cos that's sort of what it was supposed to do...

I actually think Super League sounds a bit outdated now and prefer the repeat use of NRL you suggest, although is there not something illogical in calling it a European National Rugby League? No worse that NRL in Australia I suppose...

I quite like your ideas but not sure that a re-branding will result in palpable benefits.

[hindle xiii]

The problem with "Super League" now is there are quite a few of them knocking about, including netball and women's football.

[brooza]

The problem with "Super League" now is there are quite a few of them knocking about, including netball and women's football.

Surely that shows that it's a good name that everyone is copying

[rhinobulldog1]

Interesting discussion, as you say Super League is being used for various sports, however I doubt that taking the NRL title would be 'allowed' because as you say it also has its own brand and marketing power. Not a bad idea, but I think it would ruffle some feathers down under.....but lets be honest..... thats not a bad idea either :-)

Another way to look at it is maybe re-branding the exisitng name to make it appear more exclusive to Rugby League, visual marketing and higherprofile marketing defining the Super League as Rugby League.

[nec]

I agree with the difficulty of a European National Rugby League, but referring to it as NRL UK would make it more difficult for Catalans to market their TV coverage and sponsorship deals.

The Aussies seem to have allowed NRL JA & NRL USA, I think it might make their job easier by emphasising RUGBY LEAGUE and not a title that preceded the darkest days in the sports history down under.

It (SL) was a good name and had merit, but the sports that have copied it are muddying the advertising waters and perhaps we might get better brand value in the UK if we had something that specifically said we are RUGBY LEAGUE, we are proud of our heritage and we have a defined view of how we want our future to develop.

Problem is, it will be just another relaunch if we do not take other measures to bring the sport together in the interim period. We need people in the sport whose sole purpose is to heal divisions and to create a unified brand. Rightly or wrongly those currently in role have become too closely identified with one section of the sport or other, as I mentioned on the solutions thread, perhaps someone with a history of bring together merged companies where the component parts had been serious rivals could be employed to lead this.

[JohnM]

Good idea. NRL. Domain names all taken but some nationalrugbyleague domains still available.

[nec]

In an era of twitter #NRLUK, #NRLUK1, #NRLJA etc; has potential too

[Viking Ste]

I always prefered something like Premier Rugby League or Premier League Rugby, something to define what actual sport the league represents.

[bearman]

I think it's a great idea.

[nec]

I think the order is important Ste, Rugby before League as part of the identity. Your other idea could be incorporated

National Rugby League UK Premier Division

[nec]

Just to be cheeky I would suggest that the Aussies rename the Queensland & NSW competitions as NRL AU Division 1 NSW etc

The Lion Red Cup (if that is still the name) could be NRL NZ Division 1

[CANETMAN]

Excellent idea the SL name is a dead brand and should have been ditched way back.

National Rugby League or European Rugby League far better SL sounds naff:)

CM

[Wiltshire Rhino]

Good idea! Any change would be an improvement if it included the word "RUGBY".

[Johnoco]

RL is a pretty small sport but IMO has done well to, if not exactly monopolize the term Super League, definitely be the sport that is primarily associated with the term in this country.

No mean feat given the paucity of media support.

[kioli]

Good idea. NRL. Domain names all taken but some nationalrugbyleague domains still available.

Won't be an issue with the new TLD's coming out.

In a few years you'll have www.parramatta.nrl or www.warriors.nrl, etc

The IRB being (not nice people) that they are have already stolen the .rugby TLD for themselves...

I'd be surprised if the RFL hadn't picked up .RFL

Edited by ckn, 31 August 2012 - 07:55 PM.
sweary word filter didn't really pick that up enough

[kioli]

Why change the name btw.

Super League is now synonymous with rugby league in the UK. It has good similarity with Premier League which is the soccer comp.

It may have bad memories for Aussies but most of the new generation don't know/care enough anymore.

Keep it and build it. I'll never understand some pommy RL fans and their obsession with knocking down the foundations for a good house just so they can start over...

[nec]

I just don't feel that the name Super League is helpful moving forward. There is no mention of the sport, and it is not the only sport with that name of competition. It is divisive in the UK and will prevent the sport's re-unification (essential for our future) and is divisive in our other potentially lucrative TV market. Drop it decisively now and you force Sky and BBC to lose the tired old graphics, we lose the world's ugliest trophy and we can look at re-branding the whole sport in the UK so that Hemel Stags or Devon Sharks are more obviously part of the same competition seen on TV.