President of GRFU, Herbert Mensah
World Rugby announced on Tuesday that, it “has made history by launching the rugby internet domain name, kicking-off a digital revolution that will deliver multiple promotional benefits to the global rugby community.”
According to World Rugby, the innovation opens up multiple promotional benefits to the global rugby community.
The step by World Rugby was summed up in its media release as follows:
. World.Rugby seamlessly replacing WorldRugby.org
. World Rugby unions and regions can avail of exclusive first-chance period
. Revenue opportunity for unions who choose to join the revolution
. Domain secured to protect and promote the global rugby community
. Commercial entities will have access to the domain
The President of Ghana Rugby, Mr. Herbert Mensah, congratulated World Rugby with this innovation and said that Ghana Rugby will definitely join its governing body by embracing this opportunity and investigating the opportunities it provides.
“Ghana Rugby decided to be a pioneer since ?the ?first mention of the dot.rugby domain was made in November last year at World Rugby’s AGA in London. We are in fact live as www.Ghana.Rugby, and although we are in the process of full transition, we hope to have completed the transition within the next 30 days,” Mensah said.
World Rugby’s website has become www.World.Rugby, and all of the international federation’s digital properties, including email addresses, are being seamlessly transitioned as part of a phased major digital re-brand.
With competition for a share of the youth audience in the digital space, .rugby is a major digital pillar of World Rugby’s fan-engagement strategy, supporting the visibility, accessibility and engagement of a sport that has 9.1 million players and 338 million fans worldwide.
From today, unions and regions are invited to join the revolution within an exclusive first-chance period.
World Rugby’s strategy partners in this ground-breaking project are Roar.Rugby, a field-leader in domain technology and marketing, who share World Rugby’s vision for the domain’s potential to grow the globality of the sport for the benefit of the sport.
World Rugby Vice-chair Agustin Pichot said: “Building a deeper connection with the youth audience is critical to the relevance and sustainability of sport and rugby is no different. The .rugby domain is an important fan-engagement enabler for rugby, a community promoter and protector and a potential new revenue stream for unions.”
World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper added: “The .rugby domain reflects that mission and will provide the digital environment for a truly global community with one identity and we are already seeing significant excitement and interest across the game.
“Ensuring that .rugby was kept within the sport for the benefit of global rugby is in line with our strategic mission to protect and promote the sport, uniting the community and furthering our audience reach and therefore we are underwriting the provision of a package of .rugby domains for our unions, should they wish to embrace this exciting opportunity.”
ROAR Founder and Chairman and former professional football player, Ryan Nelsen congratulated World Rugby on securing the domain. “Since World Rugby announced this program in March we have seen tremendous excitement from Unions, clubs, players and fans wanting to get into the new digital era of .rugby for their internet identity. A number of unions are ready to launch alongside World Rugby, keen to get the benefits of consistent branding, a safer internet space, and revenue opportunities.”
World Rugby believes the global rugby community will embrace .rugby and is offering priority access to domain names to its six regional associations, 121 national member unions and key stakeholders. The general public will have the chance to use the trusted and secure domain later in 2018.
