New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has revealed the new identities for two of its national teams, the Black Ferns and All Blacks, designed to capitalise on growth in women’s rugby and strengthen both teams’ global appeal, developed by Re, part of M&C Saactchi Group.
The agency is in close collaboration with NZR. Each of the identities has elements in common, allowing the brands to stand seamlessly side-by-side, as well as individual elements that allow the teams to maintain their distinct voices. The refresh represents the next evolution for the All Black and the Black Ferns while respecting the unique heritage of both.
The strategic rebranding comes at a pivotal moment for women’s rugby in New Zealand, which has experienced extraordinary growth following the Black Ferns’ triumph at the 2022 Rugby World Cup on home soil and the explosive growth in the women’s game. Black Ferns video views on NZ Rugby digital platforms have increased by 300% year-on-year in 2024.
“This work comes off the back of a large discovery phase. Input was sought from current and former players, coaching staff and cultural advisors to make sure we truly understood and represented the needs of the All Blacks and the Black Ferns. We ended up with a brand that allows them both to shine,” said Kerry McKenzie, general manager brand and marketing, New Zealand Rugby.
“Both teams have their own powerful legacies, and this refresh allows us to respect where we came from while moving into a new era.”
Enhancing digital engagement
The brands have been designed for both teams to stand out in an ever-complex sport and entertainment landscape. They have been optimised for digital platforms; from stadium screens to social media.
The digital strategy includes: enhanced cross-promotion between team channels, a shared visual language, expanded behind-the-scenes content with the boost of the channel NZR+, and interactive digital experiences that connect players with fans.
“We’ve had a great relationship with New Zealand Rugby,” said Re managing director Ben Harrison.
“We are proud to have helped design and launch the NZR+ platform, and it’s a privilege now to be able to give the Black Ferns and the All Blacks the brand tools to set them up well for the future.”
Converting followers into fans
A key objective of the M&C Saactchi led rebrand is converting an audience of international followers into more deeply engaged fans of both teams. Research shows over 100 million people worldwide were open to following the All Blacks and Black Ferns, identifying a huge potential market of new fans. The rebrand helps international audiences connect with both the men’s and women’s programs more seamlessly, and create an engaged fan base across the world, all while keeping Aotearoa/New Zealand at the heart of the identity.
Social media following (including Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, TikTok, and YouTube) of the All Blacks has grown steadily from approximately 8.7M followers in 2021 to approximately 11.8M followers today. While starting from a lower base, the Black Ferns following is growing significantly faster. Their followership has grown from approximately 237,000 followers in 2021 to over 880,000 followers today.