A small revolution is coming in the world of rugby. Until now simply adorned with a number ranging from 1 to 23, the jerseys worn by all the players could also be adorned with their name for the first time in the history of rugby, starting with the Sixes Tournament. Nations scheduled for February 2 to March 16, 2024.
Indeed, The Telegraph announces that this decision was widely supported by the six countries participating in the tournament: England, Scotland, France, Wales, Ireland and Italy. The British news daily also indicates that this measure should be ratified during a final meeting of the board of directors before the start of the competition.
Rejected by traditionalists who do not wish to see rugby become individualized, this decision would have been motivated by the desire to popularize the sport among a wider and younger audience so that they can easily identify players that they do not do not know.
“We believe that player names on jerseys can 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,” Bill Sweeney, chief executive of the Federation, previously said. English rugby union, in 2022.
The first selection to have crossed this Rubicon of rugby fashion in October 2022 during an autumn tour, the England team was followed by Scotland and Italy during the 2023 World Cup in France . The French XV also experimented with this novelty last summer during their preparation matches.
Like football where merchandising plays an important role, rugby also wishes to develop, among other things, with the sales of jerseys in order to provide an additional source of income for the federations.
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