Is there anything more exciting than an international federation rebranding? We had a brief think about it in the Balls office and could only come up with 6,397 things that got our motors running hotter.
In the most exciting sports rebranding news since WWF became WWE, the IRB announced today that from November 19th it will become known as 'World Rugby'.
The IRB is to become WORLD RUGBY in November as part of an exciting major rebrand for the international federation http://t.co/vBh2RaC8sp
— IRB (@IRBMedia) August 28, 2014
Explaining the decision, IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper said:
World Rugby clearly aligns our name with our mission and allows us to organise new and existing consumer facing properties in a way that they will be more impactful and more appealing to the sport's growing global fan base.
Here's some of the Twitter reaction to the news so far.
As @DavieDuck points out, we now face the snappy "2015 World Rugby Rugby World Cup". Some rebranding guru is cashing in here ...
— ESPN Scrum.com (@espnscrum) August 28, 2014
Looking forward to the @Rugbyworldmag #RWC2015 mag.
"Welcome to the Rugby World World Rugby Rugby World Cup 2015 preview issue"
— Andy McGeady (@andymcgeady) August 28, 2014
@Andywildig Presumably the 'World Rugby Junior World Cup' - really rolls off the tongue...
— Alex Shaw (@alexshawsport) August 28, 2014
World Rugby is an awkward new name for the governing body when there's 2 different rugbys (union/league) & it only has jurisdiction over one
— Matt Cutler (@mattycutler) August 28, 2014
Have a feeling IRB are alienating themselves with the rebranding to World Rugby. Should be open to rugby on all planets. Intergalactic Rugby
— Haydn Davies (@haydn_davies) August 28, 2014
Starting to regret the 'Heineken Cup' and 'IRB' tattoos now.
— Russ Petty (@rpetty80) August 28, 2014
May I never have to type rebranding again.
Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
