The game is on for Rugby supporters, who from this week can download a FREE custom application, RaboRugby, designed purely for fans.
Created by RaboDirect (@RaboDirectAU) to enhance the organic social media buzz around the Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels), RaboRugby is a first of its kind in Australia!
RaboRugby uses social media to source the best new content, from every angle, in real-time to bring fans closer the action. There is a Live Stream during each match to get the latest updates, photos and insights from fellow supporters. As well as watching the action inside the stadium, on the television, listening to the radio or online, fans can get involved in the match commentary by using #RaboRugby to interact with other Rebels fans.
RaboRugby includes the exclusive #RaboRugby Leaderboard which ranks the ten most passionate fans with the highest RaboRugby score in the competition and every game. Fans can check their ranking by entering their Twitter username into the "Check Your Ranking" field to see how they stack up against other fans. A team table tracking player popularity will be released later in the competition.
The algorithm used for RaboRugby takes into consideration a number of factors such as time of tweet, location (on-location in the stadium counts for more points), retweets, keywords, use of media (photos and videos) and links, all of which play a part in determining a person’s score. Tweet more, score more. #EASYASTHAT.
While the score takes inspiration from Klout in the sense that they rank people from 1 to 100, that's where the similarities end, the focus instead is on discovering the most passionate fans, those who attend the games regularly, tweet often and update everyone as to what's going on during the game.
RaboDirect Executive General Manager Greg McAweeney (@GregMcAweeney) said they have worked hard to offer a product that gives something back to the Rugby followers.
"The app has been used with great success, as RaboScore, in Ireland, tracking the RaboDirect PRO12 season", said McAweeney.
"In 2011 there was virtually no social media traffic around Irish Rugby and now 12 months on the numbers are impressive with RaboScore generating more than 71,000 followers on Twitter and over a quarter of a million tweets. We're thrilled to be launching RaboRugby for Australians and we can’t wait to find the number one RaboDirect Rebels fan."
Dedicated towards analysing data and deriving insights from social media data, RaboRugby developer Dan Holowack (@dHolowack) from Crowd Riff (@CrowdRiff) has a remarkable CV, creating the social media analytics tool that studied the traffic of Barack Obama's Twitter Town Hall event in July 2011.
"RaboDirect is spearheading an innovative digital experience that aims to engage sporting audiences of real time events and derive real time information from it to encourage further activity and deliver insightful, fun and entertaining fan commentary that everyone will enjoy," said Holowack.
RaboDirect will be able to identify the most active fans and reach out to them by offering tickets and other prizes in a "surprise and delight" strategy. And when the siren sounds at the end of each game there will be a fan of the match awarded for Rebels home and away games. The prize is a limited edition Gilbert (@Gilbert_Union) leather rugby ball signed by RaboDirect's Rugby Ambassador, James O’Connor (@JamesOConnor832). There will also be many other prizes awarded for the best content on a surprise and delight basis!
Former RaboDirect Rebel, Wallaby and now General Manager of Communications Adam Freier (@Adam_Freier) is excited about the opportunity to connect with fans on a new level. "It's not just about the boys on the field; we want to engage a greater community to be even closer to sport. And we want to recognise those that support the Club!"
To download the RaboRugby app, follow the link – RaboRugby and save to your home screen on iPhone and Android phones. Fans can also access RaboRugby on the web at RaboRugby.com.au.