Could IMG’s recommendations lead to Super League changing name?

Today was a significant day in rugby league.

IMG proposed their recommendations for the sport to Super League, Championship and League 1 clubs and there were plenty of talking points.

The biggest was the end of traditional relegation and promotion in Super League with licensing set to return to the sport for the first time since it ended in 2014 with relegation taking over that year.

Meanwhile, a great focus on international rugby has also stolen plenty of the focus as has the decision to cap participation from clubs outside the UK with focus on growing the game domestically.

In a real positive step, IMG are also putting a greater focus on women’s rugby which is a move in the right direction.

However, one thing that has seemingly gone under the radar is a potential rebrand of the sport.

In the report, IMG stated that one of their recommendations was: “A new brand strategy to be introduced and aligned with the above commercial strategy.”

This could see an end to the name Super League which has been going strong for 27 years since 1996 and the arrival of summer rugby league.

Though the name could become a thing of the past, it is unlikely that the calendar will shift back to the days of the winter era with rugby league well and truly a summer sport.

It will be interesting to see what this rebrand entails and whether it will go as far as a name change.

If there was a name change, what could the name be? Perhaps a Premierships or Premier League? We will have to wait and see.