Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, commonly abbreviated as Union SG or RUSG, is a Belgian football club based in Saint-Gilles, Brussels. Founded on 1 November 1897, the club has played at Joseph Marien Stadium since 1920 and is affiliated with the Royal Belgian Football Association under matricule number 10. The club’s official colours are yellow and blue.[1]
Design and History
The club’s visual identity has undergone documented changes throughout its history. One notable period occurred during the 1970s, when financial difficulties led the club’s owners to seek support from the municipality of Saint-Gilles. When that request was refused, the club temporarily dropped “Saint-Gilloise” from its name. The name change was first reflected in the logo by removing the letters “SG” and filling the two circles with an “R” and a “U”. Initially, the centre where the circles crossed was left empty, before a small football was drawn there. The name “Royale Union” was approved by the football federation on 13 May 1973.[2]
Later, under ambitious businessman and future president Ghislain Bayet, the club sought to modernise its image. The circular logo design was abandoned entirely, replaced by a “RU” monogram with a ball attached to the second leg of the “R”, or a ball in the background giving the logo its round shape. This logo first appeared on season tickets in 1975 and on shirts in 1976. The “new” logo began to disappear from the 1977-78 season onward, and in 1983 the club officially readopted its full name, Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.[2]
In July 2023, the club announced it would not change its official club logo, which had already undergone many changes over its nearly 126-year history. Instead, the club introduced a separate digital logo for use on its own online channels and digital platforms. The official club logo continues to be used on shirts, training outfits, official printed communication, external partners, the Pro League and the media.[3]
In 2025, the club worked with Brussels-based design studio Studio Fiftyfifty on a strategic project around the coherence and evolution of its graphic identity. According to the studio, the Union logo was considered “untouchable” and sacred to supporters, so the work focused on structuring and completing the existing visual identity rather than modifying the logo itself.[4]
Meaning and Symbolism
According to the club’s July 2023 announcement, the digital logo draws on elements from the club’s visual heritage: interlocking rings, the crown and the star for 11 national titles play a primary role. Yellow and blue alternate as primary colours, but the digital logo can sometimes appear all yellow, blue, white or gold, colours linked to the club’s shirts and logos throughout its history.[3]
The club’s official crest features a crown, which reflects the “Royale” designation in the club’s name. The club’s official website offers the official club logo for download for external communication purposes, while noting that the digital logo is used only by the club itself.[1]
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