- What is the purpose of the WRL Communications Team?
- How do I request a job from the WRL Communications Team?
- Squad releases
- General Communications Enquiries
- Graphic Design
- The Wales Rugby League logo
- Social Media
- General Communication
- Feedback
1. What is the purpose of the WRL Communications Team?
The purpose of the Wales Rugby League Communications Team is to promote rugby league in Wales. The members of the Communications team report to the Head of Communications. The team conduct all jobs that have a communications or media aspect to them, such as press releases, social media management and requests for interviews. They should not be doing any jobs that are classed as secretarial or administrative unless it is to promote an aspect of rugby league for all in the general realm.
2. How do I request a job from the WRL Communications Team?
Please go to https://wrl.wales/media-work-request-form to fill in a form to request a job. This includes all squad releases – please see additional notes below in regards to squad releases.
Following the request, a timescale will be given as to when the job will be completed. All details for the job must be provided on the request form. Proofs will be submitted to the person ordering the job and if satisfied, a final submission before the job is declared closed. If the request for a job is not considered to be a media or communications job, then feedback about this will be given.
3. Squad releases
These must be submitted at least 72 hours before intending to release, using the link above. After 72 hours, the communications team will decide an appropriate time to release – the intention will be within 24 hours, but in some exceptional circumstances, this could take longer. Only official Wales Rugby League graphics must be used for releases involving WRL-run sides, including international and origin sides.
When players start to train for their international matches, the team manager may instruct a photographer to take head and shoulders shots of the players. These are to be taken on a blank background and must be supplied to the communications manager by the photographer at a size of no more than 200kb per photograph. The preferred size is 1400×1400 pixels. When completed, these must be labelled corrected and sent to the communications team to upload using a job request form above.
4. General Communications Enquiries
When in tournament, or specifically being asked to speak about Wales Rugby League, all media enquiries for interviews should go through a member of the Wales Rugby League Communications team. If players get asked directly, they are to say that they must refer this to their communications manager before accepting. I’m sure that in 99 per cent of occasions, the answer will be yes, as we need to promote rugby league, but the communications team must know so they are able to verify the source and then promote after the fact.
5. Graphic Design
All graphic design used by Wales Rugby League international and representative sides must be put through on a job request by team managers or head coaches. No designs are to be done by any outside sources if they are being used to promote any Wales Rugby League regional or international representative side.
6. The Wales Rugby League logo
The Wales Rugby League logo and regional logos can only be used by express permission of Wales Rugby League and may not be changed in any way. Permission is automatically granted by clubs if they want to use any Wales Rugby League logos to promote their own events. The logo must not be used on any designs as a prominent logo without the express permission of Wales Rugby League.
7. Social Media
Wales Rugby League has just the one official social media account in each medium. These are designed to publicise Wales Rugby League to the general public to the highest audiences. No other social media accounts should be calling themselves “Wales Rugby League” or “WRL” or be using the official Wales Rugby League logo.
8. General Communication
The Wales Rugby League Communications team is there to communicate with the general public. Communication to individual squads, when selected, should always be done privately through email, WhatsApp or other internal communication methods. Social media posts like “training times tonight” when such sessions are no longer open and players are registered, should not be occurring.
9. Feedback
If you have any feedback or queries on Wales Rugby League communications, please feel free to get in touch. This can be done directly or via a Team Manager, who can provide anonymity if requested. Email us on media@walesrugbyleague.co.uk. Wales Rugby League is growing all the time and sometimes, mistakes in communication may be made. But, like everyone else involved, we do this as we want the best for Wales Rugby League, and achieving that is something requires us all to work together.
