Exactly. Plus as the franchise system still showed most clubs would probably just take the extra cash down under to throw at someone.

You'd certainly think the Stobart deal has more potential for further partnership developments on coming years too.

So if each club gets 6 lorries each who decides which route each lorry takes?, and will it be on rota system so each club gets a chance to advertise their truck through an area of possible opportunities?.

Could there be a fall out if clubs get get preferential routes over others?. I'm guessing the London Broncos trucks would get the south east corner of the country...would the Hull clubs get the East coast etc?

Not to mention how the trucks will actually look...going to be interesting, who will start the first truck spotting thread?

The trucks will cause havoc on the cobbled streets of Lancashire.

No doubt it'll be the RFL's fault if one is involved in a pile-up.

The RFL response would include something along the lines of RL being a "collision sport"...

Stobart Group secures titles rights to Super League

Stobart Group, the UK leader in transport and distribution, has partnered with Super League in a cross-marketing deal to secure title naming rights to Rugby League’s elite club competition.

The new agreement, which will run until the end of the 2014 season, will see the competition become the Stobart Super League with the Stobart brand featuring prominently across all 14 clubs.

In a pioneering new partnership focusing on exposure and promoting greater awareness of the game, the newly-designed Stobart Super League artwork will adorn 100 trailers of the company’s famous red and green trucks, with an Eddie Stobart vehicle passed, on average, every 4.5 minutes when driving on the UK’s major roads.

Each of the 14 clubs will have trailers branded with images of their players and team colours.

Commenting on the new partnership, Super League Chairman Richard Lewis said: “The deal with Stobart is excellent for the Super League clubs and the competition as a whole.

“The Super League clubs turned down other offers and took a strategic view that the brand values of Stobart are closely matched to those of Rugby League.

“The Super League clubs are excited by the multi-layered sponsorship that services the game and the competition on a number of levels in a way never seen before.”

Stobart Chief Executive Andrew Tinkler said: “Eddie Stobart has become a Superbrand due to the public exposure of our 2,250 trucks, driving millions of miles each week.

“Now we can help build the Super League brand and promote Rugby League and its brilliant clubs through the exposure our fleet and Superbrand status offers.”

He added: “We have a successful history with the game through our relationship with Widnes Vikings, and believe there is a strong affiliation between the Stobart brand and the army of Rugby League fans. We can’t wait for the Stobart Super League to get started and for our new branded trailers to hit the road.”

The partnership will dovetail alongside a new five-year television contract with leading broadcaster Sky Sports, which will see up to 70 televised games each season, starting with Widnes Vikings versus Wakefield Trinity Wildcats on Friday February 3 2012.

Rugby League continues to be a major feature in the Sky Sports portfolio as the most watched domestic league outside of football, and the fourth most popular televised sport in Britain.



The Stobart Super League is launched on Wednesday February 1 with a convoy of branded Eddie Stobart trucks driving from Widnes to Old Trafford.

The first televised game of the new season will take place on Friday February 3 at Stobart Stadium, between Widnes Vikings and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats (8.00pm).

The lorries look brilliant. Publicity the length and breadth of Britain.

Superb.

They do. It's a fantastic idea.


Hopefully! I just hope the clubs send them south and to the far north so that the sport gets maximum exposure for its 100 lorries.

I notice how crafty Stobart have been. My guess is that the advertising from Sky and Heinz probably paid for the livery, leaving Stobart with sod all cost!

My first thoughts on seeing the pics of the trailers were that if I didn't know about this deal then I would think they were in fact adverts for Sky Sports..........

Also, slightly disappointing to see that out of 2,250 trucks in their fleet only 100 will be involved in this deal.

Not really. There is a massive picture of a rugby player which kind of gives the game away!


That is disappointing. A couple of hundred would have been good. Maybe they will increase the numbers if the idea boosts their profile? A person can live in hope I guess ...

Still, 100 is better than 0.

me too, I though I'd read somewhere it was 300 trucks that were going to have branding. I'd have hoped for at least 10% of their trucks to have the branding. But what a fantastic novel idea to try. Well done RFL. Hopefully the clubs will now have to become more proactive in raising their own cash and becoming self sufficient.

The mind boggles it really does. When I look at the photos of the lorries I see the superleague website and live game time advertised. I see each club and its brand advertised on the side if a great big trailer. Yes Sky Sports features on there too, but we want folk to know where they can watch the greatest game of all, don't we?
It's now the turn if the individual clubs to push themselves in their region and strengthen on the back if this fantastic new initiative.