Badminton: Hi, we're the Black Cocks

Sara Runesten-Petersen could be known as a Black Cock. Picture / Martin Sykes

The Black Cocks. That's the name Badminton New Zealand is considering taking as a quirky, marketing-friendly moniker for its representative team.

Now don't laugh, this is serious. The Black Cocks is the most popular suggestion so far in a competition being run by the organisation.

Despite what you might be thinking, the Black Cocks is actually derived - innocently - from the shuttlecock used to play the game.

And it follows the general trend for naming New Zealand sports teams, such as the Black Sticks for hockey and softball's Black Sox.

But will it get the feathers flying?

"I don't know, but some of the leading players don't seem to mind," Badminton New Zealand chief executive Peter Dunne laughed.

"Why not? leading New Zealand player Dan Shirley said.

New Zealand internationals Sara Runesten-Petersen and Rebecca Bellingham have said they don't mind the name either.

Badminton NZ may be playing along with Black Cocks at present as it is attracting much-needed publicity after the national team beat Australia 5-0 in the first test of the Whyte Trophy series.

But Dunne can envisage the headline "Black Cocks win Whyte Trophy" in the future if the national body adopts the most popular name suggested so far. "I know some people won't like it, I guess there will be players who will mind as the sport is being played by a lot of Asians and Polynesians or Maori as well as white players. There will be some who will be offended - maybe.

"We haven't decided yet, though we have been thinking about a name for a few years.

"We're quite happy with the Black Cocks if everyone thinks it's a good name."

Badminton is undoubtedly testing the waters and the name has marketing appeal.

Dunne is aware it could be attractive to big sponsors such as condom companies or even impotence drugs, one of which was an America's Cup sponsor in Auckland.

A sport such as badminton is struggling at the bottom of the sponsorship chain in New Zealand, where rugby dominates.

There were a few chuckles and raised eyebrows when New Zealand Hockey announced their men's team would adopt the same name as their women's team - Black Sticks.

Dunne doesn't doubt Black Cocks will attract publicity. It already has.

"You wouldn't be ringing me if it wasn't for the name, would you?" he said.

- NZPA