2008 Centenary Season Launched

[Grimmace]

Centenary Season Launched
Monday, November 27, 2006 - 2:24 PM

With the 2006 Rugby League season still fresh in our minds following the thrilling Gillette Tri Nations final leading officials and players, past and present, have assembled in Canberra to plan the future of the game by celebrating the past.



Prime Minister John Howard has helped Rugby League take the first steps in unveiling plans for the game?s official Centenary in 2008.



A Centenary Logo symbolising the traditions of the game has been revealed along with an insight into just some of the events before and during the Centenary Year itself.



The Centenary Celebrations bring together the ARL, the NRL, NSWRL, QRL and CRL in a rich calendar of events that will bring together all levels of the game.



To mark the social significance of the occasion, the National Museum of Australia has revealed its commitment to an exhibition that will not only showcase the game in Canberra but which will later take the history of Rugby League throughout NSW and Queensland in 2008 .



The museum already houses such artifacts as the ?Agricultural Shield? the game?s first major trophy in Australia.



The Agricultural Shield was won for the first time by South Sydney in 1908 and 1909, Newtown in 1910 and Eastern Suburbs 1911-13.

After winning the competition in 1913, Eastern Suburbs were presented the Shield permanently. Eastern Suburbs then presented the Shield to their star captain, Dally Messenger.



The exhibition will provide the most comprehensive ?living history? ever built around Rugby League and its impact on the Australian Community.



?The recognition by the National Museum underlines the importance of the Centenary year and reflects the fact that the Centenary is something to be shared by fans and participants across Australia,? ARL Chairman, Mr. Colin Love, said today.



NRL Chief Executive Mr. David Gallop said that the Centenary season would celebrate both the past and the present:



?The extraordinary competition and the level of talent we see today is the result of the foundations laid by generations of athletes and dedicated fans and officials.



?The Centenary is recognition of what the game and its participants have achieved and it provides a launch-pad for the next 100 years.?



Centenary events and commemorative products will feature throughout 2008 which will mark 100 years since the first NSWRL Premiership commenced on April 20, 1908.



The full calendar will be unveiled in Sydney on Wednesday August 8, 2007, a date that marks the 100th anniversary of the first (and what was at the time highly secret meeting) of the NSWRL.



?The 2008 season will feature not only the Centenary Premiership but a World Cup that in turn marks 100 years of the Kangaroos,? Mr. Love said.



?It is a year that will require enormous planning but it is one that will allow everyone to share in the achievements of Rugby League.?

Source: NRL

[Grimmace]

Here is the 2008 Centenary Logo:

[Future Star]

oohh - Fancy..

i gotta check out the exhibition once its done.

[Grimmace]

Here is another pic of the trophy that will be on display:

[DIEHARD]

That Premiership trophy is amazing.

I love the logo, it is very old school, very 1900s.

I look forward to the embracement and injection of rugby league history.

Over recent decades we have got too caught up in innovation and business. But we need to remember our business is rugby league and we should explore and embrace our history and educate the new fans. The result will be more passionate fans who will hold on and cherish rugby league all the more.

I hope we see a nation wide celebration and that festivities are not just confined to the NRL. I want to see QRL and NSWRL celebrations.

[Steelers]

I love the logo, except for the big A in the middle.

[DIEHARD]

I like the A. The A is a central part of it.

The old Kangaroos used to wear A's on their jersey. I think it's a nice touch and the logo is very 1900s.

[DIEHARD]

The plans for the centenary are truly all encompassing and amazing.

But the celebrations will be weaved into every area and level of the game!

From juniors to Origin to the Kangaroos to the NRL to the foundation clubs to the NSWRL and QRL....

Im starting to fully appreciate the significance of this, this will be a once in a 100 years party.

The logo itself is planned to grace many jerseys and the logo is deeply significant and connected to rugby league's past.

[Dimitri]

so far there has been very little mentioned about SA and WA

it would be dissappointing if they were left out