Harlequins re-branded back to London Broncos

Harlequins Rugby League have rebranded back to London Broncos Rugby League.

The club, which began life as Fulham Rugby League in 1980, first used the Broncos name in 1994 when they were bought by the Brisbane Broncos club in Australia.

The club kept the name until 2006 when, after falling into financial difficulty, they formed a partnership with Harlequins Rugby Union and moved back to The Twickenham Stoop. The deal included changing the name from London Broncos to Harlequins RL.

Chief executive Gus Mackay said: “It took a lot of work to get to where we are, but we are really happy with the results and are all excited about the future as London Broncos.

“We engaged with fans and stakeholders and included as many people as possible in the rebrand process. The fans and players mostly pointed towards a return to the London Broncos and their ideas are reflected within the brand concept.

“This re-launch provides us with a unique opportunity to target a new audience and raise awareness of our club as well as that of Super League in London. We are committed to making Super League a success story in London and this is a key part of that campaign.”

London Broncos will remain at the Twickenham Stoop for the 2012 period, but will attempt to showcase a selection of home games elsewhere in the capital.

Head coach Rob Powell said: “Going back to being the London Broncos is a great move. The players and playing staff are all behind it and it’s an opportunity for a new start for this club albeit under an old name.

“We have invested heavily in the team over the off-season and we are all really excited about pre-season and getting ready for next year.”

The club will engage with fans and supporters on Facebook and Twitter. Fans can do that by ‘liking’ www.londonbroncos.com/facebook and following @londonbroncos.

For more information visit the club’s new official website, www.londonbroncosrl.com.