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'I'd love to see that': Current and ex-Super Rugby stars want names on jerseys
Current and former Super Rugby stars say they would like to see player names feature on the back of playing jerseys in Super Rugby Pacific.
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Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall and former Blues hooker James Parsons threw support behind the concept, which has become commonplace in professional sport worldwide.
Teams competing leading sports competitions such as the NBA, NFL and Premier League have profited hugely off having the names of marquee players on the back of their playing jerseys, shirts and singlets for many decades now.
Even in rugby, the use of player names on the back of jerseys has been used by clubs in European competitions like the Premiership, as well as countries competing on the World Sevens Series circuit.
However, teams in Super Rugby is yet to adopt such a feature, which Hall believes could be a lucrative marketing tool.
“I’m a big advocate for American sports,” Hall, a five-time Super Rugby champion with the Crusaders, told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“If you look at a Tom Brady and the likes of those players, the really high-end NFL players, the amount of marketable money that they make for their clubs, just due to the fact of their jersey sales, is great.
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“I know for us as players, it’d be great to see that and being able to have fans that you can see just walking along the street and they’ve got your name on their back and it’s really cool to see.
“I’m not too sure if the [New Zealand] Rugby Players’ Association and New Zealand Rugby could collaborate in being able to get an idea if that could be done, because I know you can make really good money out of it.
“It’s been seen in the NFL, baseball, all over in America, and you see it in grounds, you see [fans] turning their back and putting their favourite players that they’ve got on the back of their shirts.
“For us as players, I know really enjoy it. I’d love to see that happen, and so it’s maybe something that can happen in the future, hopefully.”
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Parsons, the former Blues captain and centurion who now works as player services manager for the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association, said that previous discussions have been had about the idea of names on playing jerseys in Super Rugby.
However, the former two-test All Blacks hooker told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod that those conversations fell flat for reasons unknown to him.
Nevertheless, Parsons added that he is also keen on the concept, provided the numbers on the playing jerseys remain unchanged, unlike in other sports where players get to choose the number they wear.
“I’m a fan of the names, but I’d like the numbers to remain. I wouldn’t want to go as far as guys picking their own number,” Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“As you know, I’m a traditionalist, so keeping the fabric of our game throughout its development would be key for me, but I think it’s a great idea.
“We see it time and time again, as you’ve both alluded to with the NBA and NFL. I’ve bought many a singlet and top to connect with the team or a certain player, so I think it’d be exciting.
“I know there’s been discussions many a time before about it, but it just hasn’t transpired, so it’s definitely something that we can put into the mixer as we look to move forward with Super Rugby and our other teams.”
Hall agreed with the assertion that the numbers on playing jerseys shouldn’t change, but noted that Super Rugby Pacific teams could go one step further and introduce throwback jerseys as another way to boost their profitability.
“The Warriors do it really, really well,” Hall told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod of the New Zealand-based NRL club.
“I don’t know how many jerseys they have, they’ve got that many jerseys, but I loved seeing that heritage, that grand final jersey that they wore [last] weekend against the Roosters.
“Again, it’s something that you can connect back with the people that have gone [before you]. You look at the 2002 Warriors team and they can see that, and then the players are able to represent that knowing what jersey meant all that time ago.
“I’ve even seen on some social media sites, whether that be the Legend of Marty Banks or different Instagram handles, being able to see fans that have made heritage jerseys.
“I’ve even seen them as players and we’re like, ‘Man, those are really cool jerseys, we actually wouldn’t mind playing in those jerseys for a round or heritage round or whatever it may be’. I definitely think there is money to be made in that space.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Did footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to comments