Japanese Rugby
In 2022 Japan will change it’s rubgy league format to an all professional league. The top league used to have a mix of amateur and professional players.
Why did they decide to do this?
On top of that, the team names now have to include their stadium location. Why did they decide this?
Also the league asked teams to drop their corporate sponsors from the team name. Why?
Some companies refused to do this.
These are the names of the 12 teams in the top division.
NEC GREEN ROCKETS TOKATSU
NTTCommunications ShiningArcs TOKYO-BAY URAYASU
NTTdocomo RedHurricanes Osaka
YOKOHAMA CANON EAGLES
Kubota Spears Funabashi TOKYO-BAY
KOBELCO KOBE STEELERS
TOKYO SUNTORY SUNGOLIATH
TOSHIBA BRAVE LUPUS TOKYO
TOYOTA VERBLITZ
SHIZUOKA BlueRevs
RICOH BlackRams Tokyo
SAITAMA Panasonic WILD KNIGHTS
Which names are the worst?
What advice would you give them to improve branding?
What is a GOLIATH?
What is the difference between a KNIGHT and a WILD KNIGHT?
Would it better to call the team Samurai instead?
What is LUPUS? In English it’s a disease (狼瘡). Is it different in Japanese?
Why are they called “Shining Arcs?”
Is it a good name for a rugby team?
sources:
https://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/rest-of-the-world/japan-rugby-league-one-lowdown-128864