All Six Nations players are set to feature their names on the back of their shirts when the 2024 iteration kicks off on February 2nd.
According to reports in the Daily Telegraph, the move has been reportedly supported by all six members in a bid to appeal to more casual fans of the game.
The jerseys had been trialled in the 2022 Autumn Series by England and Scotland, a trial which continued into the 2023 Six Nations, with Italy joining them.
However, 2024 will see the remaining international sides in Ireland, France and Wales follow suit in a bid to make the game more marketable towards a younger generation.
Maro Itoje. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Union has traditionally steered away from the approaches taken by football clubs – where a player has their name and an assigned shirt number – in favour of players wearing the traditional positional number on the field.
This positional approach is also used in Rugby League, but discussions there have been ongoing as to whether player names should be introduced on NRL and State of Origin jerseys.
In recent years, with the growth in popularity of other sports and a younger generation increasingly being drawn to individual players as much as teams, several of the unions are increasingly conscious of rugby’s need to attract more casual viewers – fans who may not be as familiar with the likes of stars like Maro Itoje, Finn Russell or Louis Rees-Zammit – changing positional numbers every game.
Other reasons also include commercial and merchandising opportunities, as player names can also prove to be a serious money spinner with the likes of football players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo generating hundreds of millions of dollars in merch sales for their clubs.
Rugby has traditionally stayed away from such approaches, and while it is unlikely that a rugby union player would be able to net those sorts of numbers, Bill Sweeney, RFU’s chief executive, has argued such an approach could translate well into rugby.
“We think player names on shirts may 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,” he said, upon announcement of the Autumn series trial in 2022.
Razor announces timeline for All Black skipper selection
Scott Robinson has been hard at work prepping for the All Blacks’ first test matches of the year, the England series in July, and has revealed the three-time world champions are set for the biggest behind-the-scenes shake-up since Sir Graham Henry replaced John Mitchell in 2003.
Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson celebrates his 100th game with a win during the Super Rugby Pacific Semi Final match between the Crusaders and the Chiefs at Orangetheory Stadium on June 10, 2022 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)
Razor welcomed a 22-member squad in Auckland this week, which is reported to have included several players from last year’s World Cup squad. Sam Cane, Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett were all not in attendance, with the trio currently on sabbaticals in Japan.
Cane and Savea, both former captains, will also not be taking part in Super Rugby Pacific this year, which opens the door for several other candidates.
Discussion around who will lead the new-look side has been of intense debate, and Razor played his cards close to his chest when asked who he has in mind.
“I’ll name the captain as we come into the [England] series when we name the squad,” he explained.
“I’ve got to get in front of a few people, have conversations, catch a few eyes, get on the odd knee and have some chats.
“It’s important we do that for all options.”
The good news for Robertson is that there are plenty of great options for him, including Crusaders captain Scott Barrett, Codie Taylor, as well as Blues captain Dalton Papali’i and occasional stand-in captain at the Chiefs, Luke Jacobson.
No West, Waqa!
Following being released from the Parramatta Eels last year, centre Waqa Blake was originally touted as the latest convert to rugby union.
Turns out, he might not be making the move to the 15-man code at all.
The 165 NRL-capped player, previously, had reportedly been in discussions to join an Australian Super Rugby franchise, namely the Western Force, for several months.
According to new reports earlier this week from The League Scene Podcast and Yorkshire Live, Blake will now reportedly stay in the 13-man game and head to England’s Super League to join St Helens.
St Helens are reportedly on the lookout for a new centre, and should Blake fill their final international quota spot, a deal could be finalised by the end of the week, although it is unclear how advanced negotiations are.
Should he end up in Merseyside, Blake should have plenty of company alongside ex-NRL players including Sione Mata’utia, Moses Mbye, Curtis Sironen, Agnatius Paasi and Konrad Hurrell.
The loss however would be the one that got away for the Western Force, who have plenty of depth questions that need to be resolved in the backline and back three: a position Blake could have helped address had he ended up in the West.
Rugbynutter
Roar Rookie
Great that adding players names to jerseys…just surprised not done years ago.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
The Welsh should get some decent economies of scale on shirt printing. Remember years ago Walesonline did a piece where they formed three full sides of Welsh Internationals past and present, either all Jones, Williams or Davies.
fiwiboy7042
Roar Rookie
Love to see how the jersey makers deal with all the ethnic names, especially the Islanders! ????
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
Ok
AndyS
Roar Rookie
I would have thought if the Force has gaps in their roster in the outside backs, some fringe player is hardly the answer. It is not that there is literally no player willing to play, it is that there is no credibility to what they have. If the HP answer to that is "Here, have yet another untested player instead of the untested players that already make up the 'gap' in your backline", then I think it would probably be completely missing the point and just become another part of the problem.
Khun Phil
Roar Rookie
I wouldn't be crying too much, if I was a Force supporter, missing out on Blake.He was very poor in defence,so hardly a great recommendation for being a success in rugby.
jeznez
Roar Guru
G'day Terrence, Wales already have that problem!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
No OS player will be selected for the ABs. Thats the selection rules in NZ and NZR aint changing that. The Captain will be an experienced AB already.
Nick Wasiliev
Editor
Can tell there's a bit of chat on the numbers situation for the Six Nations, while this news piece is more just, yo, here's what's happening, here's my opinion on it. I think this is a good idea. We don't have to go full soccer and assign players a shirt number, positional numbers are a great part of our game. With us having a sport where players can jump around positions, it makes sense to have their name there as a constant for more casual fans. There are merch opportunities, and increased chances to turn rugby stars into household names and get the game out there. A name can be just as valuable as a recognisable team jersey. The key drawback is that such a move, symbolically, flies in the face of rugby being a team sport, no player OWNs a position. I challenge that idea. When we think of great players, we think of the position they played. Any rugby fan could tell you Gregan/Larkham was a 9/10 combo that was legendary, but that ain't a dig on another great 10 like Carter or Wilkinson. Think of a great 7: McCaw, Hooper, Pocock, and Smith come to mind. They also excelled in other positions outside of openside-flanker. A great player can inspire in any position.
Nick Wasiliev
Editor
No, in this instance it would change based on the position of the player every game. Positional numbers still apply. If one player was a 7 in one game and 6 the next game, the jersey would have to change for them. This becomes a bit more complicated if you start factoring in merchandise for certain players, but right now I think this current strategy only applies to match-day shirts.
Mirt
Roar Rookie
I think EJ basically threw it out the window already, didn’t he? Just didn’t have any idea which ones to pick
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Indeed, no idea why they're even speaking to him. He'd be 30 before he even arrived. Also, they only seem to consider the real stars normally, the SOO/Kangaroos level knockouts, as if these are the only NRL players. But to be a decent Super Rugby player for the Western Force you don't always need a superstar. Just a reasonable player but at the right age so they can learn well and provide some good years of return on the investment.
Don
Roar Rookie
Yep. Whilst I can understand chasing Sua'ali'i (but cannot accept the $ negotiated) given he is very young, had some rugby experience, albeit schools, and has also shown that in addition to being a good ball runner, defender and safe receiving kicks, he has a great pass on either side, a big boot, plus can kick goals. But considering a guy who's 30 this season, no rugby background, is purely a ball runner / catcher, and would only suit playing wing, we can find better in the current crop of players, even from those not in the starting SR XVs around the 5 sides.
Mike88
Roar Rookie
Razor has hit the ground running. Exciting to see how he will go internationally. I read previously that he is looking at overseas players. Either the sprinbok model, a Giteau type of especially Japan based. England club rugby is struggling financially. Players will head O/S and Eng will be forced to change their policy. And one day in the future, when we have slipped further down, we will think it's a good idea too.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Instead of 29 year old Blake, they could get a 19 year old Blake.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
When the camera picks up an overhead shot of the scrum up pop all the player names. When it shows the ruck you will see the player number now but you will also see their name. In Rugby they stick advertising on the back of the shorts as its seen alot. Fan could got 10 mins wondering what their favourite player is doing now they will see the players name on the shirt at ruck time, lineout and making tackles. It’s all about making sure the star players get seen by the fans more.
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G’day Brendan. I get why you’re saying what you’re saying. I just don’t see it happening. Refs can’t see what’s happening in rucks. I’m not sure viewers are going to get it. The best I can see is the possible merchandising bonus.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
This is designed to help the 90% who only watch internationals and are wondering how come Carter and Larkham aren't playing anymore. They know the names of players talked about in media but don't know their number or what they look like on the field. It allows them to see a Hooper at rucks rather than having to wait for the commentator to mention him as touching the ball.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
Nice Jacko. Kids love the idea of picking their own number and it helps them feel ownership of the shirt.
Brendan NH Fan
Roar Rookie
for the first year but then it will change. Wasn't to bad the last 2 6Ns it was done.