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[mattw]

Worcestershire will now be known as Worcestershire Rapids for the coming T20 Blast Competition and will play in black and aqua. http://myemail.constantcontact.com/NATWEST-T20-BLAST-SEES-THE-EMERGENCE-OF-THE-RAPIDS.html?soid=1100699939055&aid=G1kXuuI9b4A

A friend of mine works for the company called @WeAreBeard who are a local based design company - which they have re-branded Worcestershire for the coming T20 Competition, I saw the logo quite a while ago that they had designed for Worcs and I was impressed after he told me as to why the name and colour change. The company had previously designed new membership cards and posters for the club - due to their successful partnership Worcester they were asked to rebrand the club for T20.

The name Rapids comes from a play on the continuing floods at Worcester and this also comes in with the colours of blue instead of the traditional Worcester Racing Green - unfortunately they couldn't do what they wanted with the kits as that was limited due to the MKK designs. One of the main aspects of the branding is that they wanted to change it to more of a franchise style due to the continued success of the IPL, BBL and other franchise competitions of which I believe the company are due to be put in front of the ECB to help with a re-brand across the board of a franchise style designs to attract more people to the game.

It has also been mentioned that the club will put on different themes for every T20 home game, which includes different culinary delights and a rebrand in the bars for each game I believe.




Also, they've started doing something fresh with cricket clothing as seen below;

[Alvaro]

Good badge, shame about the green.

[Neon Cricket]

Been a Pears fan all my life and never expected them to go away from Green, Blue just doesn't seem right somehow - the idea is great and hopefully it'll bring the punters in just a shame they couldn't have kept it Green

[Red Ink Cricket]

Is this an early April fools?

[mattw]

Is this an early April fools?

Nope, not at all.

The change is big, and has received a mixed response so far - but once other things are released in the future it should all tie in. I have been made aware that it was a good job that @WeAreBeard got involved as Worcester had pretty much agreed to use another design companies badge which apparently was like a fireball - which as no relation to the name rapids.

David Leatherdale and his marketing team were very keen on the 'Rapids' name which has lead to this change in colour, logo and complete rebrand for the T20 format.


I've lived in Worcestershire for most of my life and I've always supported them - it's nice to see them doing something fresh and exciting for a change rather than relying on the history.

[lexx]

I've been a Worcestershire fan all my life and i am a bit gutted about loosing the green as well.I loved what they did a few years ago with the Help For Heroes camo shirts but Blue? Warwick are blue and who wants to be a Bear? I'll rather be a Pear!!! I just hope that it brings money in to the club so we can attract some more decent players and keep the good ones we have like Moeen.

[Twelfth Man]

From an outsiders point of view, I really like the new T20 brand for Worc, and would welcome others to follow in a similar suit. Maybe one day some kind of Franchise-sque competition will follow... eventually.

[Bowlers Name Please]

According to their Twitter feed they are staying in Green for the Royal London cup.

[goodarmcindy]

Not a fan of this at all.

Either do a franchise system, or leave it to the original counties. It feels like this season is some sort of middle-ground and it doesn't sit well. The key is to improve the standard of the cricket being played, not introduce more gimmicks.