The German Rugby Union Championship was established in 1909 and has since been played, with exceptions, annually. It is the highest competition in Germany in the sport of Rugby Union.

History Men The German Rugby Federation, the DRV was formed on 4 November 1900 in Kassel.Die Gründerjahre des deutschen Rugbysports DRV website - Foundation years, accessed: 27 December 2008

The first final of the German championship was played on 14 November 1909 in Stuttgart.Die Zeit vor den Länderspielen DRV website - History, accessed: 26 december 2008 Originally it was played between the two best teams out of the regional competitions. In 1962, a cup competition, the DRV-Pokal, was introduced,Die DRV-Pokalsieger DRV website, accessed: 27 December 2008 and additionally, a league cup was formed in 1983.Die Deutschen Liga-Pokalsieger DRV website, accessed: 27 December 2008 All competitions are played annually.

In 1971, the Rugby-Bundesliga was established, from then on the two best teams out of this league would play in the final.Wiederaufbau der Vereine und Landesverbände DRV website - History, accessed: 26 december 2008

The TSV Victoria Linden from Hannover is the record champion, having won 20 titles so far.Die Deutschen Meister der Männer DRV website - List of German champions, accessed: 26 December 2008 Until 2006, every final included a team from Hannover. Since then, in 2006, 2007 and 2008, no team from this city has reached the German final.

From 1996, a German championship in sevens rugby has been organised. This competition has been held annually since, except in 2001 and 2002.Die Deutschen Siebener-Meister der Männer DRV website, accessed: 27 December 2008

Women A German women's championship was established in 1988 and has been held annually since.Die Deutschen Meister der Frauen DRV website - List of German women's champions, accessed: 27 December 2008 Since 2000, the women also organise a sevens championship.Die Deutschen Siebener Meister der Frauen DRV website - List of German women's champions, accessed: 27 December 2008

2015–16 season Men

The top two teams in each division of the two divisions of the Bundesliga qualified for the play-offs with the semi-finals held on 30 April and the final on 7 May 2016:Pokal und Finalphase Bundesliga www.rugbyweb.de, accessed: 18 April 2016

Women The 2015–16 women's final was once more contested between Heidelberger RK and SC Neuenheim and held on 14 May 2016 in Heidelberg, with HRK defeating Neuenheim 13–10. Frauenbundesliga www.rugbyweb.de, accessed: 3 May 2016

Men's championship finals Since 1909, the German rugby champions are determined by a final (except in 2001-02), nowadays held between the two top teams of the Rugby-Bundesliga: Championship finals Season Winner Runner-up Result 1908-09 FC 1897 Hannover FV Stuttgart 6-3 1909-10 FC Frankfurt 1880 SV Odin Hannover 3-0 1910-11 not held 1911-12 FC Neuenheim FC 1897 Hannover 13-6 1912-13 FC 1880 Frankfurt DFV 1878 Hannover 3-0 1913-14 SV Odin Hannover FC Neuenheim 3-0 1914-19 not held 1919-20 SV Odin Hannover SC 1880 Frankfurt 3-0 1920-21 FC Neuenheim Hawa-Alexandria Hannover 11-0 1921-22 SC 1880 Frankfurt Hawa-Alexandria Hannover 3-0 1922-23 FC Schwalbe Hannover SC Neuenheim 6-3 1923-24 SC Neuenheim TSV Victoria Linden 8-3 1924-25 SC 1880 Frankfurt SC Linden 33-13 1925-26 FC Schwalbe Hannover SC 1880 Frankfurt 8-0 1926-27 Heidelberger RK TSV Victoria Linden 10-6 1927-28 Heidelberger RK DFV 1878 Hannover 8-0 1928-29 TSV Victoria Linden Heidelberger RK 5-0 1929-30 SV Odin Hannover RG Heidelberg 13-0 1930-31 SV Odin Hannover SC 1880 Frankfurt 38-0 1931-32 FV 1897 Linden RG Heidelberg 6-5 1932-33 VfR Döhren RG Heidelberg 3-0 1933-34 VfR Döhren FV 1897 Linden 8-3 1934-35 not held 1935-36 FC Schwalbe Hannover SC Neuenheim 11-0 1936-37 FV 1897 Linden RG Heidelberg 32-11 1937-38 VfV Hannover RG Heidelberg 14-3 1938-39 VfV Hannover SC Neuenheim 16-0 1939-40 FV 1897 Linden Eintracht Frankfurt 19-6 1940-41 SC Elite Hannover BSC Siemens Berlin 11-3 / 12-8 1941-42 SG Ordnungspolizei Berlin SC Germania List 13-9 1942-47 not held 1947-48 TSV Victoria Linden Berliner SV 92 30-0 1948-49 SC Neuenheim SC Germania List 11-0 1949-50 SV 08 Ricklingen SC Neuenheim 6-0 1950-51 TSV Victoria Linden SC Neuenheim 18-9 1951-52 TSV Victoria Linden SC 1880 Frankfurt 22-3 1952-53 TSV Victoria Linden TSV Handschuhsheim 19-8 1953-54 TSV Victoria Linden SC Neuenheim 23-3 1954-55 TSV Victoria Linden TSV Handschuhsheim 6-3 1955-56 TSV Victoria Linden TSV Handschuhsheim 12-6 1956-57 TSV Handschuhsheim SC Elite Hannover 6-3 1957-58 TSV Victoria Linden SC Neuenheim 21-0 1958-59 VfR Döhren RG Heidelberg 10-5 1959-60 SV 08 Ricklingen TSV Handschuhsheim 17-0 1960-61 SV Odin Hannover SC Neuenheim 5-0 1961-62 TSV Victoria Linden SC Neuenheim 11-3 1962-63 SV Odin Hannover TSV Handschuhsheim 11-3 1963-64 DSV 1878 Hannover FC St. Pauli 11-0 1964-65 TSV Victoria Linden Eintracht Frankfurt 17-12 1965-66 SC Neuenheim DSV 1878 Hannover 9-3 1966-67 SC Neuenheim TSV Victoria Linden 11-9 1967-68 DSV 1878 Hannover TSV Handschuhsheim 8-6 1968-69 TSV Victoria Linden SC 1880 Frankfurt 25-3 1969-70 DSV 1878 Hannover RG Heidelberg 20-6 1970-71 Heidelberger RK DSV 1878 Hannover 14-9 1971-72 TSV Victoria Linden SC Neuenheim 17-16 1972-73 Heidelberger RK SV 08 Ricklingen 3-0 1973-74 SV 08 Ricklingen Heidelberger TV 15-9 1974-75 TSV Victoria Linden Heidelberger RK 12-4 1975-76 Heidelberger RK TSV Victoria Linden 35-0 1976-77 SC Germania List Heidelberger RK 16-9 1977-78 FV 1897 Linden TSV Handschuhsheim 24-16 1978-79 SC Germania List Heidelberger TV 9-0 1979-80 RG Heidelberg FV 1897 Linden 16-10 1980-81 SC Germania List Heidelberger RK 28-19 1981-82 DSV 78 Hannover RG Heidelberg 15-6 1982-83 DSV 78 Hannover RG Heidelberg 16-12 1983-84 DSV 78 Hannover TSV Victoria Linden 27-6 1984-85 DSV 78 Hannover Heidelberger RK 24-9 1985-86 Heidelberger RK DSV 1878 Hannover 15-9 1986-87 TSV Victoria Linden DSV 1878 Hannover 24-0 1987-88 DRC Hannover DSV 1878 Hannover 12-9 1988-89 TSV Victoria Linden Berliner RC 20-6 1989-90 DSV 78 Hannover SC Neuenheim 31-4 1990-91 DSV 78 Hannover TSV Victoria Linden 6-3 1991-92 TSV Victoria Linden SV 08 Ricklingen 59-3 1992-93 TSV Victoria Linden DSV 1878 Hannover 18-14 1993-94 TSV Victoria Linden Heidelberger TV 15-3 1994-95 SC Neuenheim TSV Victoria Linden 14-13 1995-96 TSV Victoria Linden RG Heidelberg 9-8 1996-97 RG Heidelberg TSV Victoria Linden 15-13 1997-98 DRC Hannover TSV Victoria Linden 25-20 1998-99 DRC Hannover RG Heidelberg 24-10 / 11-22 1999–2000 DRC Hannover TSV Victoria Linden 45-12 / 34-3 2000-01 DRC Hannover SC Neuenheim 28-16 / 8-13 2001-02 DRC Hannover not held Rugby Archiv - Rugby Spielpläne - 2001/2002 Results of the 2001-02 season, accessed: 25 December 2008 2002-03 SC Neuenheim DRC Hannover 18-9 2003-04 SC Neuenheim DRC Hannover 23-18 2004-05 DRC Hannover TSV Handschuhsheim 21-9 2005-06 RG Heidelberg SC Neuenheim 13-9 2006-07 RG Heidelberg SC 1880 Frankfurt 23-15 2007-08 SC 1880 Frankfurt RG Heidelberg 28-13 2008-09 SC 1880 Frankfurt Heidelberger RK 11-8 2009-10 Heidelberger RK SC 1880 Frankfurt 39-22 2010-11 Heidelberger RK SC 1880 Frankfurt 12-9 2011-12 Heidelberger RK TV Pforzheim 20-16 2012-13 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 41-10 2013-14 Heidelberger RK TV Pforzheim 43-20 2014-15 Heidelberger RK TV Pforzheim 53-27 2015-16 TV Pforzheim Heidelberger RK 41–36 Source:

Winners & Finalists As of 2016, this is the standing in the all-time winners list of the German championship: Club Championships Finals TSV Victoria Linden 20 30 Heidelberger RK 12 19 DSV 78 Hannover 9 17 SC Neuenheim 9 24 DRC Hannover 7 9 SC 1880 Frankfurt 6 13 SV Odin Hannover 6 7 RG Heidelberg 4 16 FV 1897 Linden 4 6 FC Schwalbe Hannover 3 3 VfR Döhren 3 3 SC Germania List 3 5 SV 08 Ricklingen 3 5 VfV Hannover 2 2 TV Pforzheim 1 4 SG Ordnungspolizei Berlin 1 1 SC Elite Hannover 1 2 FC 1897 Hannover 1 1 TSV Handschuhsheim 1 8 Heidelberger TV 0 3 Eintracht Frankfurt Rugby 0 2 Hawa-Alexandria Hannover 0 2 Berliner RC 0 1 FC St Pauli Rugby 0 1 Berliner SV 92 Rugby 0 1 BSC Siemens Berlin 0 1 SC Linden 0 1 FV Stuttgart 0 1

Winners by city Rugby in Germany is predominantly played in Heidelberg and Hanover, which is reflected in championship wins by city (as of 2015): City Wins Hanover 62 Heidelberg 26 Frankfurt 6 Berlin 1

Sevens rugby championship finals Season Winner Runner-up Result 1995-96 SC Neuenheim RG Heidelberg 23-12 1996-97 RG Heidelberg SC Neuenheim 7-5 1997-98 RG Heidelberg SC Neuenheim 33-5 1998-99 RG Heidelberg DRC Hannover 33-20 1999–2000 TSV Victoria Linden RG Heidelberg 40-12 2000-01 not held 2001-02 not held 2002-03 RG Heidelberg Karlsruher SV 31-7 2003-04 TSV Handschuhsheim RG Heidelberg 20-5 2004-05 RG Heidelberg RK Heusenstamm 36-17 2005-06 RK Heusenstamm Berliner RC 19-14 aet 2006-07 SC 1880 Frankfurt RG Heidelberg 40-26 2007-08 RG Heidelberg SC 1880 Frankfurt 26-24 2008-09 RG Heidelberg RK Heusenstamm 31-19 2009-10 SC 1880 Frankfurt SC Neuenheim 29-12 2010-11 Heidelberger RK RG Heidelberg 25-14 2011-12 TV Pforzheim Heidelberger RK 31-24 2012-13 Heidelberger RK TV Pforzheim 20-19 2013-14 Heidelberger RK TV Pforzheim 24-19 2014–15 RG Heidelberg Heidelberger RK 24–17 Source:

Women's championship finals Since 1988, the German women's rugby champions are determined by a final: Championship finals Season Winner Runner-up Result 1987-88 SC Neuenheim 1988-89 SC Neuenheim 1989-90 SC Neuenheim 1990-91 SC Neuenheim DRC Hannover 30-0 1991-92 SC Neuenheim 1992-93 SC Neuenheim DRC Hannover 22-7 1993-94 RC Rottweil SC Neuenheim 3-0 1994-95 FC St. Pauli SC Neuenheim 23-5 1995-96 SC Neuenheim FC St. Pauli 14-5 1996-97 SC Neuenheim FC St. Pauli 12-8 1997-98 SC Neuenheim FC St. Pauli 26-12 1998-99 SC Neuenheim FC St. Pauli 17-15 1999–2000 FC St. Pauli SC Neuenheim 39-3 2000-01 FC St. Pauli SC Neuenheim 37-8 2001-02 DRC Hannover FC St. Pauli 18-17 2002-03 FC St. Pauli SC Germania List 25-0 2003-04 SC Neuenheim FC St. Pauli 31-5 2004-05 FC St. Pauli SC Neuenheim 15-0 2005-06 FC St. Pauli SC Germania List 17-5 2006-07 FC St. Pauli Heidelberger RK 34-17 2007-08 FC St. Pauli SC Neuenheim 29-7 2008-09 SC Neuenheim Heidelberger RK 24-23 2009-10 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 37-5 2010-11 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 58-5 2011-12 Heidelberger RK FC St. Pauli 27-19 2012-13 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 19-0 2013-14 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 14-7 2014–15 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 10–7 2015–16 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 13–10 Source:

Sevens rugby championship finals Season Winner Runner-up Result 1999–2000 FC St. Pauli 2000-01 FC St. Pauli 2001-02 FC St. Pauli 2002-03 SC Germania List SC Neuenheim 5-0 2003-04 SC Germania List SC Neuenheim 20-0 2004-05 ASV Köln SC Neuenheim 10-5 2005-06 Heidelberger RK SC Germania List 40-0 2006-07 SC Neuenheim FC St. Pauli 22-17 2007-08 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 24-15 2008-09 Heidelberger RK no final 2009-10 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 29-0 2010-11 Heidelberger RK SG Berlin 60-5 2011-12 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 30-7 2012-13 Heidelberger RK SC Neuenheim 37-14 Source:

East Germany

The East German championship was held from 1952 to 1990, with the Stahl Hennigsdorf Rugby as the most successful team, winning 27 championships:Rugby - DDR - Meisterschaften sport-komplett.de, accessed: 10 April 2010