I'll add another piece of annecdotal reasoning too Alex. I work in the music industry and a couple of years ago was working with a German production team. When they found out where I was from they asked did I support Wigan to which I, of course, replied yes. The response was 'must be good to have a team in the Premiership!'... The point is we live in a very rugby-centric community and it's very easy to think that the rest of the country/world follows suit. That's simply not the case. The Warriors tag gives us an extra level of branding that further differentiates us from the football team. Let's face it, if someone says they support the Yankies, The 49ers or the Redskins no one is in any doubt which team they're on about!

The simple fact is that no-one, including those voting to drop the tag, even thinks twice about using the Kangaroos, Kiwis or Lions tags; neither do they think twice about wearing gear emblazoned with the names and logos of American football/baseball teams that use branded nicknames. Hell, we don't even think twice about refering to the NRL teams as the Bulldogs, Sharks etc. It may take a couple generations but the same will be true of the Warriors tag.

The simple fact is that I know, from my own experience of introducing 2 new fans last season, that the Warriors tag does capture the imagination of new fans. I come from the Central Park era of Wigan R.L. but am not blind enough to see that things have changed since those days. As older fans we can choose to use the Warriors or not as personal taste dictates, but with so much more now vying for the attention of new/potential fans, anything that helps promote the club to this group is to be welcomed. After all, just like the younger players we are all currently getting behind, they are the future of our club!

I'm not bothered either way. My lad knows us as Wigan Warriors but I know us as Wigan. The fact that we're called Wigan Warriors doesn't mean I have to refer to us as that.

It's doing no harm at all.

Get it dropped ASAP in my opinion, its cheesy and pointless. We are Wigan R.L.F.C

I share this view, i over heard some young lads chatting at the bus stop last week "are you going watching the warriors on saturday".

To the younger generation (our future) we are known as the Warriors, we shouldn't just change the name back just because the older generation want to or dont see it as tradition. We have moved on just as the game has.

We incorporated the design into the finest shirt we have hever had!

When you look at Wigan in pre-1996, two major trophies in 13 years is a lack of silverware, is it not? An appearence in a Grand Final is not silveware.

If you ask anybody in NZ and Australia who the 'Warriors' are they'll tell you New Zealand Warriors. They see Wigan as 'Wigan' mainly because we made headlines when we were just 'Wigan'. Also, look at the following random Australian articles where not one of them mentions the name 'Warriors'. They simply do not relate us to the tag.

Nail and head Hogan!

Any merchandise sold to younger fans for whom the Warriors tag is part of their club identity, Alex. You can't take things in isolation. The Warriors name is part of a greater whole. In fact I'll counter your argument by asking what merchandise does the 'Warrior' prevent from selling? It's a complete non-question.

Btw I'm not having a go at you...just answering your question.

Yes - you still see people walking round in Ellgren gear, presumably because of the tat that has been on offer in recent years.

Nor me Robinson. But then people didn't used to realise that they needed cars to get around. What's wrong with the good old horse n cart!

Things move on. There is far more vying for children's attention today, whether that be a premiership football team in the town or the latest computer game. Anything that gives an extra edge, whether that be a major one like the recent low season ticket prices at the Giants ( ), or new approaches to marketing and branding is to be applauded. It all adds up.

Lasy years merchandise out sold anything previous.

"Recent years" means further back than last year. No point being selective. The Kooga stuff is reasonable. The Patrick and JJB stuff WAS complete tat.