Campaign, created by Clemenger BBDO, Sydney, champions up and coming rugby stars.
The Rugby League World Cup 2017 (RLWC2017) has unveiled its campaign created by Clemenger BBDO Sydney, for this year's marquee international sporting event.
Stemming from the insight that most Aussies and Kiwis think international rugby league begins and ends with them, the campaign kicks off with a film that seeks to reframe the unknown players of the Rugby League World Cup from easily ignored to must-see threats who have the potential to re- shape the tournament.
Says Ben Clare, creative director, Clemenger BBDO Sydney: "The truth is: every single world class athlete on the planet was, at one time or another, a nobody. The 'Nobodies' campaign champions these players who, despite their unrecognisability, have the potential to surprise and upset the historically dominant countries."
The film features up-and-coming international stars such as Kaysa Pritchard (Samoa) and Casey Clark (USA) alongside NRL superstars in Johnathan Thurston (Australia) and Sam Burgess (England).
Says Clare: "The idea that sport, by its ethos, is democratic, and the world is full of unknowns just one game away from stardom, provides the dramatic crux of this film."
The Rugby League World Cup 2017 will be the fifteenth staging of the sport's pinnacle international event. Hosted across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea between 27 October and 2 December 2017, participating nations include Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Lebanon, Samoa, Scotland, Tonga, Wales, and the USA.
Says Rohan Sawyer, general manager commercial and marketing, RLWC2017: "The 2017 Rugby League World Cup will be played in 13 cities across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, taking International Rugby League to all corners of the hosting nations. With recent changes in the eligibility rules, the world's best players are coming, and this will be the most competitive Rugby League World Cup ever - and as such the teams you wouldn't traditionally expect to be a threat, could surprise you."
The campaign will kick off during this weekend's international test matches where seven of the 14 teams participating in RLWC2017 will be in action.
Client: Rugby League World Cup 2017 Chief Executive Officer: Andrew Hill Chief Operating Officer: Maria Sykes General Manager Commercial & Marketing: Rohan Sawyer Marketing Manager: Kate Dalwood Digital & Social Manager: Sara Piper
Agency: Clemenger BBDO Sydney Executive Creative Director: Paul Nagy Managing Director: Emily Perrett Creative Director: Ben Clare Planning Director: Rob Dougan Creatives: Willy Maitland, Zander Williment, Dan White, Simon Gibson Senior Producer: Steve Tindall, Kirstin Lees Senior Account Director: Smaran Jworchan Account Coordinator: Alicia Zerella Senior Sound Engineer: Anthony Tiernan Editor: Alex Guterres, Jess Morgan
Production Company: Buddy Films Director: Harry Sanna Executive Producer: Sue Walker DOP: Jordan Maddocks