RFU statement: England player names on shirts versus Argentina
England are set to break the mould at Test level next month after deciding to put the names of players on the back of shirts for the duration of the four-game Autumn Nations Series. Amid the recent chaos in the Gallagher Premiership where the league’s precarious finances have seen the tournament reduced from 13 to eleven clubs, there has been much debate about marketing ploys that can potentially enhance the sport.
Only a few weeks ago, England back-rower Lewis Ludlam spoke passionately to RugbyPass about the need to do things that make rugby more accessible. “You can walk into the club shop at Tottenham Hotspur and get Harry Kane printed on the back of your shirt,” he said. “The same sort of culture doesn’t really exist in rugby.
“We need to do more to grow the game to make sure we are getting to those people that wouldn’t necessarily have rugby in their lives. For example, I played football and turned up to a rugby trial at my high school and just six people turned up because people weren’t interested in rugby.
“That is on us to get the product to people who wouldn’t necessarily watch it and show this is a great game with great values and it is exciting. It’s important. Rugby is definitely at a crossroads in that respect and as players, we are trying to do more in that area.”
The marketing department at England Rugby HQ in Twickenham must have been listening as all 23 match day shirts for the upcoming games against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa will see player names on the back.
An RFU statement read: “England will have names on their shirts in their upcoming Autumn Nations Series fixtures. The 23-player men’s squad will all wear their names on the backs of their shirts from their opening game against Argentina at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday, November 6. Ellis Genge, Jack Nowell and Marcus Smith posed with their new shirts at their training camp in Jersey where England are preparing for the four games.”
RFU CEO Bill Sweeney said: “We are delighted to be featuring player names on the back of England shirts for our men’s international Test matches this autumn. We hope this will lead the way for us to consider names on shirts to further promote our world-class England international players participating in other international tournaments across the men’s and women’s game.
“While fans and players will always take ultimate pride in flying the flag and wearing the rose to support England rugby teams, we think player names on shirts may have the potential to bring fans closer to the international stars of our game and we look forward to seeing the reaction to this initiative.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
39 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
39 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
39 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
39 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
39 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments