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ESL system of numbering is based on order of selection for that season. The first round of the year, a team is chosen (1 = fullback, 2 & 5 = wingers, 14-17 = interchange, ect). If, say, a 2nd-rower gets injured and can't play the next weekend, someone else will come into the team. He will be numbered 18. He keeps that 18 jersey all season, as will the injured 2nd-rower keep his 11 or 12 jersey all season. The more players that come into the team throughout the year, the higher the numbers go, but they keep them until the season has ended.
Interchange used to start at 27 I think, as the Reserve-Grade numbers were 14-26 and both Firsts and Ressies were named as a squad instead of two individual teams.
For what it's worth, I'm happier with the current numbering system. If we had to change, I'd prefer to go the way of the ESL system.
I'm pretty sure League has always had the 1-13 numbering system, only slightly different. I don't know when it happened (1970's perhaps?), but it used to be 1-7 as they are now, but 13 & 11 were props, 12 hooker, 10 & 9 second-rowers, 8 lock.It's not like Rugby League has a long history of 1-13 numbered jerseys. I think up until the 50's it was free for all (perhaps RL1908 could expand on that). I could of sworn I have seen match day cards where it looks as though each team had a stack of jerseys numbered 1 to wherever, and the players have picked which ever number they wish to be associated with.
Interchange used to start at 27 I think, as the Reserve-Grade numbers were 14-26 and both Firsts and Ressies were named as a squad instead of two individual teams.
For what it's worth, I'm happier with the current numbering system. If we had to change, I'd prefer to go the way of the ESL system.