The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are thrilled to announce players will don their surname on the back of their jerseys when they take the field for the Round 1 Las Vegas extravaganza.
And in an historic first, Members and fans can get in on the action with our Home jersey - sublimated with players’ names and numbers – now available for pre-sale purchase.
That’s right, you too can proudly wear a Crichton, or maybe a Burton or even a Kiraz jersey as the Bulldogs run out at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday, February 28 (local time). Plus, it can be personalised with your favourite number too!
While surnames on the back of player-worn jerseys have featured throughout various rugby league competitions and showpiece events, the Bulldogs are proud to be the first NRL Club to retail personalised jerseys with players’ surnames sublimated on the back.
With the countdown now officially on until Vegas, Bulldogs CEO Aaron Warburton was thrilled to share the news and explained why this initiative is important to not only the Club, but also the wider rugby league community.
“A player's surname represents their family, their heritage and their journey. When our players run out in Vegas, those names should be visible for the world to see,” Mr. Warburton said.
“93% of our fans want to see player names - we've heard them loud and clear. Vegas 2026 gives us the platform to deliver.
“Fans can wear their favourite player's name knowing it's the exact same jersey being worn on rugby league's biggest stage. Whether you're making the trip to Vegas or watching from home, you're connected to that moment.
"We're taking rugby league to America where every major sport uses player names - NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL. We're adapting smartly to present our game properly to a new audience whilst giving our fans what they've been asking for."
Mr. Warburton also credited KFC – the Club’s NRL Upper Back Partner – for their support.
“KFC understood immediately that this was about the fans and players. They've been collaborative from day one and their support of this innovation is another example of why our partnership works so well.”
The initiative has been backed by the Rugby League Players Association with CEO Clint Newton sharing his excitement about how this could unlock further opportunities across the NRL in the future.
“Aaron and the Bulldogs have shown real leadership with an innovative club initiative, and we thank them for their willingness to collaborate with the RLPA on the idea,” Mr. Newton said.
“This partnership shows the value that clubs and players can unlock when they work proactively together.
“Each club has a proud history, and each player has a name that is carried with pride. This initiative creates a unique bond between the two and sets a new benchmark that shows the incredible value of player IP and helps to create new and improved products for fans.”
These one-game limited edition jerseys are available to purchase now – but be quick as pre-sale will only run until Monday 8th Dec – 9am sharp! The first 1,000 Orders will be shipped by Friday 20th of February or can be collected from the Team Store in Belmore.
