The L word

[billy2]

I think it's clear that it's in the interests of the game to change to reffering to it as Rugby XIII and to totally drop the L word.

Of course many of you won't agree, but for those who do, I say we drop the L word now and see if we can get others to follow.

Remember the original way of reffering to the code was as 'Northern Rules', and 'RL' just happened because that's what they called the code in Sydney.

 

[billy2]

We at XIIIs unlimited should lead the way.

 

[PacificCoastRL]

I like Rugby XIII. I prefer Rugby 13's, but I can live with Rugby XIII. The roman numerals seem a little to gladitorial for me. I know, I know, its a tough sport, but players aren't dying on the field (of battle) on a regular basis.

 

[Indelible]

Thinking globally it is time for a name change. Too much confusion for countries that don't have the history of both codes. Who would drive the change though?

 

[Bombay Devils RLFC]

We should be looking for a word that encompasses our sport rather than 13 or variations of it. Football, basketball, baseball, touch & even Australian rules project what the sport is about.

If we are really serious about this and I doubt there is that much support we would make this one of the best marketing exercises for our sport ever. I will give you an example when Hamilton Island off Queensland advertised for the "greatest job" on earth a few years ago. They paid 150k for a six month contract and got applications from all over the world. In the end it was the best money they ever spent with world wide publicity that they could not have got a 10x the amount.

Why not have a contest for the name that our sport should change to and offer 1M to the winner. Could you image the pubilicity this would generate? Secondly if we were to change the name the costs associated with the rebranding would be next to nil if done correctly.

Again I am against it but when people in Australia & england do not know the difference between the two rugby codes then we do indeed have an issue.

Maybe we can the ball rolling here by looking for a word that encompasses bravery, courage, strength, fair play and great skill.

 

[Evil Homer]

This thread has been done before, and nobody could agree on a suitable name.

 

[Bluebags1908]

The game is officially called Rugby X111 in France, so it's up to individual countries what they want to call it.

 

[Evil Homer]

The game is officially called Rugby X111 in France, so it's up to individual countries what they want to call it.

I believe that is related to when the Nazis outlawed the sport during WW2. A few other European countries use Rugby XIII too, but I think it sounds a bit stupid when said by English speakers. More importantly it sounds like Rugby 7's, which would probably lead people to think it was just a variation of RU and lesser in status.

 

[billy2]

which would probably lead people to think it was just a variation of RU and lesser in status.

Which would play right into our hands in emerging countries.
Tell them after they are adicted to the game that it isn't really Union.

 

[Evil Homer]

Which would play right into our hands in emerging countries.
Tell them after they are adicted to the game that it isn't really Union.

:|

 

[dimitri]

i think we should embrace the fact different countries have different names for the code

each world cup - etc this can be promted when talking about each nation

Northern Union, Rugby League, Rugby X111, Rugby a Treize.....

 

[madunit]

I will need to double check, but I'm pretty sure only France had to use Rugby XIII upon demands from the Vichy government as they didn't want it to be associated with Rugby Union. They believe the words Union and league didn't differentiate the two games enough. As far as I'm aware its a law that they're still stuck with to this day.

France is the only country that I am aware of that has had to use the term Rugby XIII. Every other country used Rugby League.

Name change is a dumb idea imo. People worldwide know of the game as Rugby League. Most countries playing Rugby League also have national Rugby Union teams, with only a very small selection who don't. And even then, they still call the game Rugby League.

 

[langpark]

i think we should embrace the fact different countries have different names for the code

each world cup - etc this can be promted when talking about each nation

Northern Union, Rugby League, Rugby X111, Rugby a Treize.....

I agree, keep it the way it is. It's not like the different names cause mass confusion, league fans across the world know what's what.

I too like the Rugby XIII name, it's biggest advantage I think, is that it automatically distinguishes itself from Union, for those that are only familiar with union...

 

[kiwileaguefan]

Drop the Rugby....and call it just League. Most of us here in nz call it that anyway.

 

[Srbin]

In Serbia official name is ragbi 13 (rugby 13)... it will be crazy if we call it ragbi liga (rugby league)...because rugby league for Serbian Ministry of Youth and Sport is club rugby competition...national league...or domestic competition.

 

[Twizzle]

We at XIIIs unlimited should lead the way.

I'll notify the IT Department asap.

 

[DINGb@T]

Sorry but calling it rugby XIII makes it a derivative of rugby 'normal'. And you'd still confuse people who don't know what the difference between 13 players and 15 players is. If you want to use a 'derivative' name then use a quality of the sport that brings immediate recognition from the audience who've just stumbled onto the game on their television station wanderings. Rugby (enter number here) wont do that.

 

[Parra Pride]

What do lesbians have to do with changing the name of our great code?

 

[Twizzle]

rather watch the L Word than Manly

 

[Jankuloski]

Just calling it "league" is problematic as that word means other things. Aus and Kiwis are used to referring to it that way, but the sport is huge over there. As Srbin pointed out it would backfire completely anywhere else.

But it does need to be one word.. Kill off union, call it rugby