Rugby union in Switzerland is a minor but growing sport.
Governing body The Swiss Rugby Federation was founded in 1972 and joined the IRFB in 1988.Bath, p75
History Like neighbouring Germany, Austria and France, Swiss rugby is actually amongst the oldest in the world. The earliest recorded match in Switzerland was in 1869, and Lausanne RFC can claim to be as old as Blackheath.
However, Swiss rugby continued at a very low key for over a hundred years. The World Wars and other global upheavals hindered the game, and it was really the presence of a number of ex-patriates working in the banking industry, or as tax exiles, who helped keep the game going.
In 1974, a side from Basel toured France and were on the end of record breaking defeats. They lost 127-0 to Grenoble, 104-3 to Thonon and 116-0 to Annecy.Cotton, p47 The captain of the Basel team, Pierre Langlois said, "We conceded 73 tries, I think. We even had a penalty try given against us when we were losing by 100 points."Cotton, p47
Swiss rugby continued in a haphazard manner during the 1970s and 80s, for example, when was due to play Bellinzona RFC in Italy, two of their players were delayed by a landslide.Cotton, p86 In order to make up numbers, a journalist and their coach driver were added to the squad. They did so well in the game that they were invited to subsequent training sessions.Cotton, p86
Under the leadership of Evelyne Oberson in the 1980s, the Swiss Federation implemented a development program that resulted in an increase in native players. Working independently as a volunteer in Lausanne, Oberson was a central figure in Swiss rugby. Her organizational and administrative contributions were a foundation to the management of the Federation from the 1980s through its transition into its current structure.
In 1989, Chris Thau claimed that Switzerland had around 1,000 players (a number which has increased somewhat since then).Thau, p75
There are at least thirty Swiss clubs at present.
Home grown players now dominate Swiss rugby, and it could be considered at a similar level to that of Italy or France.
More recently, 2006-07 Heineken Cup clash between the French side Bourgoin and Irish rugby's Munster was moved from Bourgoin's home ground, to the Stade de Genève (Geneva Stadium). The stadium's capacity is 30,000, and attendance on the day was 16,255.
Notable Swiss players include:
Eric Planes, scrum half Jean-Marc Morand, no 8 Viktor von Burg, captain.
Local clubs Grasshopper Club Zürich Hermance Région Rugby Club Lausanne Université Club Rugby Nyon Rugby Club Rugby Club Avusy Rugby Club CERN Meyrin-St.Genis Rugby Club Genève Plan-les-Ouates Rugby Club Yverdon-les-Bains Rugby Football Club Basel Rugby Club Lucerne Zug Rugby Club Rugby Club Würenlos Rugby Club Bern Rugby Club Palezieux (formerly Haute-Broye) Stade Lausanne Rugby Club Rugby Club Schaffhausen Rugby Club Winterthur Neuchâtel-Sports Rugby Club RC Bagnes (Val de Bagnes-Verbier)
See also Switzerland national rugby union team
References Cotton, Fran (Ed.) (1984) The Book of Rugby Disasters & Bizarre Records. Compiled by Chris Rhys. London. Century Publishing. Richards, Huw A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union (Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 2007, ) Thau, Chris World Cup Preliminaries in Starmer-Smith, Nigel & Robertson, Ian (eds) The Whitbread Rugby World '90 (Lennard Books, 1989)
External links Federation Suisse du Rugby Archives du Rugby: Suisse Rugby Schweiz Le Rugby Suisse depuis 1972