Just found a great example of my point. Here are some Australians discussing hashtags back in May, Quote nko11="nko11"Rugby League and specifically the NRL has a large following on twitter. Many fans spanning across many teams converge to discuss each game. Unfortunately There is no set #tag for each game meaning most tweets either don't use any #tag or use the old worn out #NRL tag. If you sign into twitter during the weekend you will see in the Australian trends many AFL games trending. They use the system effectively and the AFL promote it extremely well. Unfortunately the NRL does not do the same. I have been in contact with the NRL about this, despite getting a reply they still have failed to organize anything. It will give a live forum(esque) type experience and will get Rugby League up in the trending topics where it belongs. I ask anyone who is on twitter to use #tags like these: #NRLDogsRedV, #NRLPenBris and #NRLCowsEels. De-constructed they are basically the Name NRL->Home team->Away team.'" It then had the reply... Quote nko11#RugbyLeague and that way there's even more chance of it trending because it's not just for individual matches but the game in general, English fans use it for Super League and others for different things going on around the world. Could even trend Worldwide one day.'" People underestimate how many people are following our game. It even suggests that twitter blocks #NRL and #rugbyleague from trending because they are ongoing hashtags. Anyone doubting should go to forums.leagueunlimited.com/showt ... tag&page=2 and see the bother that the Australians had in getting it started. Much the same criticisms applied. They even doubted whether they would be able to get rugby league to trend in Australia.

Just found a great example of my point. Here are some Australians discussing hashtags back in May, Quote nko11="nko11"Rugby League and specifically the NRL has a large following on twitter. Many fans spanning across many teams converge to discuss each game. Unfortunately There is no set #tag for each game meaning most tweets either don't use any #tag or use the old worn out #NRL tag. If you sign into twitter during the weekend you will see in the Australian trends many AFL games trending. They use the system effectively and the AFL promote it extremely well. Unfortunately the NRL does not do the same. I have been in contact with the NRL about this, despite getting a reply they still have failed to organize anything. It will give a live forum(esque) type experience and will get Rugby League up in the trending topics where it belongs. I ask anyone who is on twitter to use #tags like these: #NRLDogsRedV, #NRLPenBris and #NRLCowsEels. De-constructed they are basically the Name NRL->Home team->Away team.'" It then had the reply... Quote nko11#RugbyLeague and that way there's even more chance of it trending because it's not just for individual matches but the game in general, English fans use it for Super League and others for different things going on around the world. Could even trend Worldwide one day.'" People underestimate how many people are following our game. It even suggests that twitter blocks #NRL and #rugbyleague from trending because they are ongoing hashtags. Anyone doubting should go to forums.leagueunlimited.com/showt ... tag&page=2 and see the bother that the Australians had in getting it started. Much the same criticisms applied. They even doubted whether they would be able to get rugby league to trend in Australia.

I always finish my Rugby Tweets with #rugbyleague #superleague - simple & to the point, during Challenge Cup game just switch #superleague with #challengecup. Although something like #SLwarlee for the Warrington/Leeds match would be handy

Think this is a good option a collective use of specific tags to promote the game. My suggestion is they get listed here in advance and some of the journos are brought on board as advocates to promote their use. Be good if the rfl took social media more seriously

I'll tell you what, if you get #RLTm1Tm2 trending over the next few years here in the UK, then I'll tell you you're right and tell you I was wrong.

As a web developer, who has strong background in social media, unfortunately, I just can't see it working. I think you'll come to realise this, but you're wasting your time IMO with the unique hashtags over here.

Fair enough.



I'm not deluded enough that I'm convinced it will work but I am optimistic and I think it's certainly worth a shot especially if we get certain people on board. Let's not forget it's sole aim isn't solely to trend but to provide a convenient hashtag for in game discussion. Enough people have expressed a desire for this that it may become the norm.



If it fails miserably, and there is a good chance it will, at least we'll have tried something and we can go back to using only #rugbyleague.







For those interested in the trial for the weekend we conducted a poll on a separate website over which hashtag people would like to use. The winner was #RLWarLee and #RLStsWig, using the Sky abbreviations of clubs. So it you're an in game tweeter why not try adding those tags on and seeing if we can get a good discussion going.

If #rugbyleague doesn't trend then I really don't see the theory in splitting that up even further.

I preferred #RLcatwig personally





Me, I'm happy to use them

It's not all about the trending. Why bother using #WidnesRL or #WiganRL or anything if it seen as splitting up the tweets? If you're talking about the game then it makes sense that you have a game tag. #rugbyleague could take you to a whole host of things unrelated to the game in play.



People don't generally use #rugbyleague for in game comments. Some do but a lot don't. There have been a fair number of people who have liked the idea of using a specific game tag. In fact it was only an off comment on a separate forum that got people interested in the idea.



Like I've said previously there was opposition in Australia to splitting up #rugbyleague and #NRL for the same reasons. However, the in game tags have ended up surpassing the use of both of those tags. If the same happened over here we still might not trend very often but we would have a better in game discussion.



If it's not for your taste then that's fine, I don't want to come across like I'm forcing my opinion on anybody. I just think it's worth a shot.

Try following @internationalrl, my brother is helping to start it up and it is looking good but could do with some more followers. (also at internationalrugbyleague.webs.com/)

Try following @internationalrl, my brother is helping to start it up and it is looking good but could do with some more followers. (also at internationalrugbyleague.webs.com/)

If you want to know about ongoing games then how about using the #liverl tag that Love Rugby League and a few updating services use?

To be honest I always liked the #liverl tag and the way that Love Rugby League used it, it is what I used to update Widnes scores. However, it has not been widely used.



Update on the trial we have had a tweet supporting the use of #RLWarLee and #RLStsWig from RL World, John Drake, Andy Wilson, Gareth Walker, the fake Phil Clarke account and Dave Woods. Touching 10,000 RL followers on twitter. I've also received private e-mails from two other national journalists supporting the idea.

Ditto #rugbyleague