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Quins & Broncos form exciting new partnership

SalfordRedsWA

Juniors
Messages
735
Quins & Broncos form exciting new partnership

Tuesday 26 July, 2005

quinslogo2.gif
NEC Harlequins and the London Broncos are both delighted to announce that they are to form an exciting new partnership.


From 2006, the top-flight team representing London in the engage Super League and Powergen Challenge Cup, will be called Harlequins Rugby League club.

Furthermore, the team will play all of their home games at the Twickenham Stoop.

The Harlequins RL logo will become the famous jester and their kit will comprise the world renowned four-quartered shirt. Both codes will share several key resources and work closely together marketing the Harlequins brand and developing the matchday experience.

Ultimately, both clubs go into this partnership with the intent that they will be one club playing both codes of rugby.

The Harlequins RL office staff will be based full-time in their own offices in the new Lexus stand at the Stoop, while the football staff will be based at NEC Harlequins new training ground in Roehampton Vale. All rugby sides will share best practice and resources whenever appropriate, giving both operations a better chance of success.

“The key, long-term priority for London Broncos has always been to find a place called ‘home’,” said Nic Cartwright, London Broncos Chief Executive.

“The very future of the club, and the professional game in London, depended on this. And now we have found a true home."

"In short, this partnership provides our club and rugby league in London with a stable and progressive environment for success and growth.”

“Everyone at NEC Harlequins is very excited by this partnership and determined that this venture will be a successful one,” said Mark Evans, NEC Harlequins Chief Executive.

“Although we’re steeped in tradition, Quins is also a club with some very progressive and dynamic ideas. This partnership is another proactive step in the evolution of the Harlequin brand and club.”

“Each club’s owners, Board of Directors and staff have one common goal; to make Harlequins the number one rugby club in the country. Both clubs believe that through this partnership, this goal is achievable.”

The partnership will combine NEC Harlequins rich history and proud tradition, with London Broncos’ unique blend of resilience and passion acquired through a 25-year fight for rugby league in the capital.

As sporting organisations, NEC Harlequins and London Broncos share a common vision and boast very similar core values.

At the heart of what the two codes does together will be a strong community focus, with ambitious goals for the future of top flight rugby in London.

The partnership is based on an initial five year period, but it is expected that at the end of this the two clubs will solidify the relationship further.

The name change to Harlequins Rugby League club will begin in earnest at the end of the current Super League season, when the Broncos name and crest will be retired.

I know its been mentioned, but what do you Aussie's think?

Imagine Randwick RUFC took over the Roosters and they had to become Randwick RLFC?
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
The Randwick comparison is probably not quite the same, as club rugby in Australia has nowhere near the money of club league, since Super 12/14 came into being.

Perhaps a better way of thinking of it is if the NSW Waratahs took over the Roosters and they became Sydney Waratahs RL...
 

SalfordRedsWA

Juniors
Messages
735
bartman said:
The Randwick comparison is probably not quite the same, as club rugby in Australia has nowhere near the money of club league, since Super 12/14 came into being.

Perhaps a better way of thinking of it is if the NSW Waratahs took over the Roosters and they became Sydney Waratahs RL...

True, but Harlequins are not even in the top flight of rah rah over there.
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
Yeah, fair enough. I think though Quins own their resources (ground etc) which is the key difference to Randwick (who are tenants of a smaller ground than the Roosters are tennants of). *shrugs*

Will be interesting to see what people think anyway...
 

iggy plop

First Grade
Messages
5,293
Will London's RL crowds instantly grow because of this?

If they could average, say 6,000, in their first year I'd say it would be success.
 

bender

Juniors
Messages
2,231
SalfordRedsWA said:
I know its been mentioned, but what do you Aussie's think?

Imagine Randwick RUFC took over the Roosters and they had to become Randwick RLFC?
It would probably be more like Collingwood taking over the Melbourne Storm and changing their name to Collingwood magpies.
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
Playdaball - I don't think anyone of the status Mertens will swap to league because of these arrangements.

Iggy Plop - I don't think there'll be an instant crowd increase. First they have to fight any discontent from their existing supporters, and hope to retain the same base in a different location. Then any increase in the first year would be a bonus. I'd say a three year plan to reach 6K is realistic?

Bender - That's the best comparison yet...
 

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