Rugby: New Plymouth rugby club change name to resonate with players.

In a groundbreaking move, a New Plymouth rugby club has changed its name and logo.

At Spotswood United Rugby & Sports Club’s AGM last month, an overwhelmingly 100% of the votes were in favour of a name change. The club will officially be called United Rugby & Sports Club.

The club outlined more about its changes below.   

We have a new path forward.

After countless hours of reviews, responding to members feedback and several discussions, the board of management is proud to announce the clubs new image.

Our final branding decisions were shaped extensively by input from our members, whose feedback was invaluable throughout the process. We received an overwhelmingly positive response to the proposed designs, with members’ comments and votes on the logo guiding us to a final brand that truly reflects their vision and values. This new identity is the result of a collaborative effort that our entire club can take pride in.

Key Re-imaging Objectives:

Updated Club Name & Identity: We are moving forward as United Rugby & Sports Club, dropping 'Spotswood' to move away from past stigmas. The rebrand allows us to leave behind associations like “Spotty Dogs” and any unintended connotations with our previous dog logo. This ‘tag line’ originally came from the public and was adopted by both them and then our club.

Honouring Our Legacy:

Our new identity pays tribute to our heritage, incorporating symbols from the Spotswood College Old Boys RFC Lion and the Star RFC’s star emblem, giving a respectful ‘nod’ to our origins. The serif font used is a classic, traditional style that reinforces our commitment to honouring the club's longstanding heritage.

A Fresh, Modern Appeal:

We’re designing a contemporary brand that resonates with today’s players, creating a vibrant, inclusive identity to attract our core players while still holding on to our long-standing traditions.

Consistent Colours for Continuity:

The club’s colours, as stated in our constitution—scarlet, gold, and black—will remain, connecting our past and future visually.

Universal, Multi-Sport Branding:

Our new identity will be versatile and recognisable across all sports under our club, uniting members across different codes and creating a brand everyone can be proud of.

Re-Imaging Direction

From our initial consultations, it was clear that a connection to our past was essential. This rebrand honours that, integrating a lion and star as central symbols. Our palette—scarlet, gold, and black—reflects our proud history and supports a cohesive identity.

The updated United Rugby & Sports Club brand is designed to be modern, inclusive, and adaptable across sports, showing a dynamic new direction that aligns with the values and aspirations of our players and community.

WE ARE UNITED.