There are two new names in Futsal following today's launch of the sport's new brands for the Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

All Waikato futsal teams will now be known as the Waikato Rapids, while all BOP teams will now be known as the Bay of Plenty Surge.

WaiBOP's Communications Manager, Dwayne Barlow, says both new brands should sit well with their respective regions.

"Waikato Rapids ties in nicely with the Waikato River, the region's major geographical feature. It also implies sharp, quick, aggressive movement - perfect for futsal. We’ve worked in a stylised horse motif as well, which is not only a nod to the area’s thoroughbred industry but also a subtle Lord of the Rings reference.

"Across the Kaimai Range, the Bay of Plenty Surge references the sea and its currents, implying strong, confident, unpredictable action, which works well for futsal. A stylised stingray has been built into the logo as a nod to one of the most dynamic creatures found in the ocean."

Futsal White Brayden Lissington, a member of the Rapids squad, is delighted with the new identities. "They've both come up really well. When we put these ideas in front of the players there was an immediate buzz. The players are excited to bring these new brands to life on the futsal court." 

The introduction of the two new identities is timely as the start of the 2019 Men's Futsal SuperLeague is just around the corner.

The Rapids and Surge begin their summer campaign with a doubleheader Home Series on September 28 and 29 at Trustpower Arena in Tauranga. This will be rapidly followed by the Northern Travel Series on October 5 and 6 when our teams welcome the Northern Comets and Auckland to The Peak in Hamilton in hopes of surging to the top of the standings.

Click HERE for full details of the 2019 Men's Futsal SuperLeague.

Thanks to Craig at Evolution Creative for his help developing the Waikato Rapids and Bay of Plenty Surge branding.