Hi guys,

before we start, this isn't any attempt to advertise, I just wanted to get a few people's opinions on a possible new project ive started working on.

I am in the process of developing a brand new social networking website exclusively for rugby league fans which will allow users to keep up with each other, and take advantage of other features similarly to Facebook with 'Status Updates' and the ability to create an album, etc.

I know everybody thinks of Facebook, Twitter and forums when they think of browsing the web, but wouldn't a social network specifically for rugby league fans be a good idea?

At the moment, I am just curious about the interest in this project that I have been working on and if it's something that you would possibly use?

You will be able to fill your very own detailed rugby league profile and keep up with all your closest rugby league friends.

Please do let me know if you think this is an idea that could work, because I am keen on bringing the rugby league community together, ie. fans, players, clubs, officials and coaches in other ways then merely just creating a forum, of which they are plenty!

To clarify...the framework is already in place and has been tested!

I'd be in.

Sorry, I forgot to mention this would also be a free service, that would be quick and easy to join just like Facebook.

Sounds a good idea to me.

So why cant you just use facebook and start up a group?

No reason why I can't, but you're limited with lack of options with a group...but it would be good for rugby league to have its very own unique social network.

I understand that they will be a few who will be fast to put a downer on it.

Well within facebook groups you can post messages, have wall posts, discussions, upload photos, comment on other people photos etc etc

What else could your site offer that facebook can't?

Sounds like a good thing to me, I'd join

As the database builds and users select their favoured team, the site will be able to offer each member relevant news or news feeds for their team. Im hoping to keep away from the forum route but they'll be the option for users to post blogs which will be made public.

Hopefully if I can get the clubs on board slowly, the site could became another way to keep in contact with their dedicated supporters.

I'll always use RLFANS for rugby league. However I’m sure there’s a niche market that your tapping into here. Not every rugby league fan goes on RLFANs or even a forum. But many go on Facebook and would probably prefer a social network that resolves around the rugby league community.

It's only a matter of time before a slicker more innovative social network replaces Facebook anyways. I'm not saying it'll be soon, or even in the next 5 years, but even Facebook isn't safe from the creativity of hopefuls with a bit of venture capital behind them.

Congratulations my friend, you have just invented Facebook.

No offence but your business model seems to consist entirely of "Facebook is cool, I am going to make a website just like that"

Your idea for a peer to peer networking site has already been put into application by other people several years before you. Namely Mark Zuckerberg.


I'm out.

Hi Damo,

You're right about Facebook been on top, it probably is only a matter of time before they are seriously threatened, however it just dawned on me that a lot of users on Facebook complain at the countless amount of changes they always make. I'm not trying to rival Facebook, and I probably won't even be promising things such as user-generated plugins. However, I want it to be a place where all rugby league fans go when they have something to say that's rugby league related.

A lot of people are on Facebook. A lot of people talk about rugby league on Facebook. However, a lot of people have friends on Facebook that couldn't really care if you post about rugby league and it's this bridge that i'll be attempting to fix.

You'll have the ability to create your own groups, search for friends by name, location and then add them, etc and assign yourself a unique url linking to your profile. For the moment though I can't disclose anything else, except that from what ive built, designed and played about with on some test accounts I made, it's got a similar visual 'feel' to Facebook, but everything 'hopefully' on it will be rugby league orientated!

Yeah right, you'll be registering your details on there before long!

im new to this thread and frankly couldnt be d reading it all. but a rugby league social networking sight? tweak RLfans a little bit and youve got one. expand the profiles, allow for live sharing of status posts. and your sorted. than again i know nothing of computers and still live in hope that all Bus and train stations and airports will soon be replaced with Stargates.
knowing full well they dont exist.

I'd be signing up rightaway. Sounds good. Only downer I can think of will be alot of b1cthing would happen between opposing fans.