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RFU statement: England player names on shirts versus Argentina

(Photo by Alex Davidson/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

England are set to break the mould at Test level next month after deciding to put the names of players on the back of shirts for the duration of the four-game Autumn Nations Series. Amid the recent chaos in the Gallagher Premiership where the league’s precarious finances have seen the tournament reduced from 13 to eleven clubs, there has been much debate about marketing ploys that can potentially enhance the sport.

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Only a few weeks ago, England back-rower Lewis Ludlam spoke passionately to RugbyPass about the need to do things that make rugby more accessible. “You can walk into the club shop at Tottenham Hotspur and get Harry Kane printed on the back of your shirt,” he said. “The same sort of culture doesn’t really exist in rugby.

“We need to do more to grow the game to make sure we are getting to those people that wouldn’t necessarily have rugby in their lives. For example, I played football and turned up to a rugby trial at my high school and just six people turned up because people weren’t interested in rugby.

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“That is on us to get the product to people who wouldn’t necessarily watch it and show this is a great game with great values and it is exciting. It’s important. Rugby is definitely at a crossroads in that respect and as players, we are trying to do more in that area.”

The marketing department at England Rugby HQ in Twickenham must have been listening as all 23 match day shirts for the upcoming games against Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa will see player names on the back.

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An RFU statement read: “England will have names on their shirts in their upcoming Autumn Nations Series fixtures. The 23-player men’s squad will all wear their names on the backs of their shirts from their opening game against Argentina at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday, November 6. Ellis Genge, Jack Nowell and Marcus Smith posed with their new shirts at their training camp in Jersey where England are preparing for the four games.”

RFU CEO Bill Sweeney said: “We are delighted to be featuring player names on the back of England shirts for our men’s international Test matches this autumn. We hope this will lead the way for us to consider names on shirts to further promote our world-class England international players participating in other international tournaments across the men’s and women’s game.

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“While fans and players will always take ultimate pride in flying the flag and wearing the rose to support England rugby teams, 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.”

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CG Ah Black 737 days ago

i love rugby, played 2nd row in secondary school back in 1978, enjoyed getting smashed by the elite school teams then. I continue to love rugby because i have many friends in UK, i spent 2yrs in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
When i tell my friends here that i stayed up late to watch rugby, they thought i was mad ..what rugby? football, keegan, beckham, messi, what rugby?
when i asked my UK buddy Andrew to get me a rugby shirt with Gavin Henson name on it, he laughed at me, we in rugby just don't do such things...
the decline of rugby will continue if we don't change the old ways....

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CG Ah Black 737 days ago

such fixated views residing in many are one of the reasons for rugby union popularity decline...

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Alex 738 days ago

Dislike. I don't even like them on the back of Premiership shirts either. I get a new Quins shirt every 1-2 seasons and always get it with just a number on the back no name. I understand in other sports in which numbers aren't tied to positions. But in rugby, you know who everyone is definitively just by the number.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
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CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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