Fax announce name change to Halifax Panthers

The club say the move is "a show of ambition" and that they have "grasped the desire for a more modern look and feel as we continue to attract more and more fans to the game".

The club, which has produced a new badge to accompany the new name, has also confirmed that the Halifax Big Cat story that has gone viral online over the past few days was part of the pre-publicity for the announcement.

Fax had to drop out of the application process for the 12th Super League spot as they did not meet criteria around average attendances, but say the name change is a way to try and attract a new, younger generation of fans to the club.

An addition to the Halifax RLFC name was required upon the formation of Super League in 1996, so the club was renamed Halifax Blue Sox.

But the name was unpopular with most supporters and was dropped at the start of 2003.