The SC Neuenheim is a German rugby union club from Heidelberg, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga. Having won nine men's and twelve women's German championships as of 2013, the club is one of the most accomplished in Germany.
History Formed in 1902, the club is the second-oldest rugby club in Heidelberg, one of the two centres of German rugby (the other being Hannover). Fußballclub Heidelberg-Neuenheim, the club's original name, was formed in the Neuenheim suburb of Heidelberg. Their first two titles were achieved still under this name, including winning its first German championship in 1912.Über den Sportclub Neuenheim SCN website - History, accessed: 13 January 2009
In 1923, the club changed its name to SC Neuenheim since the term football club did not reflect its orientation any more.
The club developed to become the most victorious rugby club in Heidelberg, collecting a large number of titles in men's and women's rugby. It prides itself as the biggest rugby club in Germany in regards to membership.Sportclub Neuenheim SCN website - front page, accessed: 13 January 2009
With the interception of the Rugby-Bundesliga in 1971, SCN fell behind other clubs, especially the strong clubs from Hannover. After 28 years without a championship, the club pulled off a surprise win over TSV Victoria Linden in the 1995 final, beating the favourite 14-13 in extra time.1.Mannschaft des SCN, mehrfacher Deutscher Meister und Pokalsieger SCN website - Bundesliga history, accessed: 13 January 2009
Another surprise championship came in 2003, when DRC Hannover, winner of the previous five championships, could be beaten 18-6. The year after the club won its last men's championship to date, defeating DRC once more.
In 2006, in the first ever all-Heidelberg final, it lost to RG Heidelberg 9-13.
In 2007, it finished fourth in the league, three points outside the finals ranks. The season after, only a fifth place could be achieved and the SCN was well clear of the top-two positions in points.
The club improved in 2008-09, having hired a new coach for this purpose, finishing third in the league and reaching the semi-finals in the championship, where it went out to Heidelberger RK in extra time. It took until 2011-12 to finish in the top four again and reach the post season. The club was however outclassed in its semi-final and lost 71-21 to regular season champions Heidelberger RK.Rugby-Bundesliga 2011-12 rugbyweb.de, accessed: 3 May 2012 At the end of the season the contract with coach Mark Kuhlmann was not extended.TotalRugby Wechselbörse 2012/2013 totalrugby.de, accessed: 25 June 2012
SCN finished first in their group in the 2012-13 season and qualified for the south/west division of the championship round, where it also came first. The club advanced to the German championship final where it lost 41-10 to Heidelberger RK. In 2013–14 the team qualified for the championship and the play-offs once more, losing to DSV 78 Hannover in the quarter-finals.
In the 2014–15 season the club finished third in the south-west championship group and was knocked out by TV Pforzheim in the semi-finals of the play-offs after a victories over Hamburger RC and DSV 78 Hannover.
Its reserve side joint with Heidelberger TV in the 2nd Bundesliga to form SG Heidelberger TV/SC Neuenheim II for 2008-09. Since 2009-10 the reserve side played in the Regional League.
Club honours
Men German rugby union championship Champions: 1912, 1921, 1924, 1949, 1966, 1967, 1995, 2003, 2004 Runners up: 1914, 1923, 1936, 1939, 1950, 1951, 1954, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1972, 1990, 2001, 2006, 2013 German rugby union cup Winner: 1964, 1975, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2001, 2016 Runners up: 1991, 1992, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2010 German sevens championship Champions: 1996 Runners up: 1997, 1998, 2010
Women German rugby union championship Champions: 1988, 1989, 1990 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 2009 Runners up: 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 German sevens championship Champions: 2007, 2014 Runners up: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013
Men - Recent seasons Recent seasons of the club:RugbyWeb Ergebnisarchiv rugbyweb.de - Results archive, accessed: 24 July 2012 Year Division Position 1997-98 Rugby-Bundesliga (I) 2nd 1998-99 Rugby-Bundesliga South/West 2nd Bundesliga championship round 3rd 1999–2000 Rugby-Bundesliga South/West 2nd Bundesliga championship round 3rd 2000-01 Rugby-Bundesliga South/West 2nd Bundesliga championship round 1st — Runners up 2001-02 Rugby-Bundesliga 3rd 2002-03 Rugby-Bundesliga 2nd — Champions 2003-04 Rugby-Bundesliga 1st — Champions 2004-05 Rugby-Bundesliga 4th 2005-06 Rugby-Bundesliga 2nd — Runners up 2006-07 Rugby-Bundesliga 4th 2007-08 Rugby-Bundesliga 5th 2008-09 Rugby-Bundesliga 3rd — Semi-finals 2009–10 Rugby-Bundesliga 5th 2010–11 Rugby-Bundesliga 5th 2011–12 Rugby-Bundesliga 4th — Semi-finals 2012–13 Rugby-Bundesliga qualification round – South 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga championship round – South-West 2nd — Runners up 2013–14 Rugby-Bundesliga qualification round – South 5th Rugby-Bundesliga championship round – South-West 3rd — Quarter finals 2014–15 Rugby-Bundesliga qualification round – South 4th Rugby-Bundesliga championship round – South-West 3rd — Semi finals 2015–16 Rugby-Bundesliga South-West 4th Until 2001, when the single-division Bundesliga was established, the season was divided in autumn and spring, a Vorrunde and Endrunde, whereby the top teams of the Rugby-Bundesliga would play out the championship while the bottom teams together with the autumn 2nd Bundesliga champion would play for Bundesliga qualification. The remainder of the 2nd Bundesliga teams would play a spring round to determine the relegated clubs. Where two placing's are shown, the first is autumn, the second spring. In 2012 the Bundesliga was expanded from ten to 24 teams and the 2nd Bundesliga from 20 to 24 with the leagues divided into four regional divisions.
Rugby internationals In Germany's 2006–08 European Nations Cup campaign, Lars Eckert, Marten Strauch, Klaus Mainzer, Marcus Trick, Steve Williams, Christian Hug and Michael Kerr were called up for the national team.
In the 2008–10 campaign, Eckert, Strauch and Trick all appeared for the SCN and Germany again, while Udo Schwarz, Shalva Didebashvili and Christian Baracat were new additions to the club's list of internationals.
In the 2010–12 campaign, only Marten Strauch and Lars Eckert were selected to play for Germany.
For the opening match of the 2012–14 edition of the ENC against Ukraine the club had only Lars Eckert re-selected for the team while Pascal Drügemöller was a new edition to the club's list of German internationals.DRV XV: Kader für EM-Auftakt gegen Ukraine fast komplett totalrugby.de, published: 16 October 2012, accessed: 17 October 2012
The club had one player selected for the German under-18 team at the 2009 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship, Pascal Drügemöller.U18-EM: Deutschland feiert klaren Auftaktsieg Rugby-Journal - 2009 squad, published: 4 April 2009, accessed: 30 April 2010 Drügemöller also played at the 2010 tournament.U18 in Bestbesetzung zur EM nach Italien totalrugby.de, published: 23 March 2010, accessed: 30 April 2010
Women - Recent seasons Year Division Position 2000-01 Women's Rugby Bundesliga (I) 2nd — Runners up 2001-02 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 2nd 2002-03 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 3rd 2003-04 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 1st — Champions 2004-05 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 2nd — Runners up 2005-06 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 4th 2006-07 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 4th 2007-08 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 2nd — Runners up 2008-09 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 1st — Champions 2009-10 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 2nd — Runners up 2010–11 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 2nd — Runners up 2011–12 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 2nd 2012–13 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 2nd — Runners up 2013–14 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 1st — Runners up 2014–15 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 2nd — Runners up 2015–16 Women's Rugby Bundesliga 1st — Runners up
References
External links Official website SC Neuenheim team info at totalrugby.de Tables and results of German rugby on rugbyweb.de SC Neuenheim at totalrugby.de