Keeping the name rugby and generally losing interest in evolving further away from Union. i.e. retaining scrums, kicks at goals etc.
This shits me no end! And we wonder why RL is perminantly in Unions shadow...
I actually reckon keeping Rugby in the name is a masterstroke.. Like some new countries like Canada for instance just call both codes Rugby.
If we were called something different it would be such a hard sell to new frontiers.. . Imagine saying this is a new game called "Grunt Ball " its like Rugby.
Difficult sell.. This way just Keep the name Rugby and people know roughly what your talking about straight away..
Its great having that instant recognition, but the problem comes when people are too sure that they know what the game is (thinking you are talking about Union)...
What is needed is a bit of doubt to go along with that recognision, "hmm, i know Rugby, but ive never heard of GRUNT Rugby before". The problem with calling the game Rugby and riding Unions coattails is that we will always be limited to Unions scraps. I like to think RL is good enough to stand on its own as a genuinely great game, not just a shitty knock-off of Union trying to trick people into buy tickets to the wrong games.
Ive lived in China for a year and Europe for a few now and the best way ive found to explain the game is saying that its a mix of Rugby and American Football (which is a pretty perfect description).
Id love for the RLIF to call the game
Gridiron Rugby, at least in the emerging areas, just to avoid that constant "oh year, ive heard of Rugby League. Go the All Black!!!". Kills me every time....