The Germany national rugby union team() currently plays at the second level of European rugby but is yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. The national team first played in 1927, with rugby union in Germany being administered by the German Rugby Federation (Deutscher Rugby-Verband).
Germany competes in the Trophy Division, the second tier of the Rugby Europe International Championships, the senior men's rugby tournament for European nations below the Six Nations.Deutschland steigt ab / Finsterer tritt zurück Rugby-Journal, published: 20 March 2010. Retrieved: 20 March 2010
Germany's greatest achievement in men's rugby is arguably the silver medal won at the 1900 Olympic Games.
Germany's declared aim was originally to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England,Germany launch quest to reach 2015 World cup worldcupweb.com, published: 15 April 2008. Retrieved: 27 December 2008 but then lowered this ambition to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan,Der DRV-Arbeitsplan "Rugby auf dem Weg nach Olympia 2016" totalrugby.de, author: Claus-Peter Bach, published: 19 October 2009. Retrieved: 27 March 2010 for which it also failed to qualify. The national side is ranked 30th in the world (as of 26 April 2021).
History
Beginnings
The German rugby union team's history began on 17 April 1927, when they played France in Paris, losing 5–30. The team established itself in their early years as number two in continental Europe, behind the French. They played 14 tests against their neighbour before the Second World War, winning two of them. As an indication of the team's strength, they did not lose to any team but France until 1937, when Italy beat them 9–7. Because Germany never played any of the Home nations, it is difficult to judge the true strength of the team from that era.
With the outbreak of the war in 1939, rugby came to a halt and Germany only played one more game, against Italy, in 1940. Germany lost almost a complete first XV in the war, and thus came out of it as a much weaker side, never able to repeat its pre-war successes.Rugby zwischen den beiden Weltkriegen DRV website – History between the wars. Retrieved: 26 December 2008
Post-Second World War After an absence of 12 years, Germany, now considerably reduced in size and under the name of Federal Republic of Germany, played its first post-war international in 1952, beating Belgium 16–9. At the same time, in the Eastern part of the country, the German Democratic Republic, the German Democratic Republic national rugby union team was formed. The DRV continued to offer the East German DTSB to play a rugby friendly, but this was always declined by the East.Post SV Berlin Rugby – Archiv Chronik 30 Jahre – History of Post SV Berlin Rugby. Retrieved: 11 April 2010
Until 1965, Germany played friendlies only as there was no European rugby competition it could take part in.
The team also made an appearance at England's home ground, Twickenham Stadium, in 1956, losing 8–26 to Harlequin F.C. on 8 September of that year.Take a trip down memory lane courtesy of our historian John Griffiths scrum.com. Retrieved: 27 December 2008
From 1965, it became part of the second tier of FIRA rugby, effectively the third tier of European rugby, the Five nations tournament being outside the FIRA structure. In 1975, it played its first international against a non-European nation, beating Morocco in Hannover.
The team's greatest success in the second half of the 20th century was promotion to the A group of FIRA rugby in 1981. From 1981 to 1983, Germany played ten games at this level, but won just one and were relegated back to the B level. After this, the team dropped briefly to the C level in 1985 but promptly returned to the second tier.
German reunification With the German reunification, in 1991, the German Democratic Republic national rugby union team was dissolved and became part of the Federal Republic's team. In 1994, Horst Kemmling, Germany's long-standing captain, ended his international career, having played a record number of 50 games for Germany from 1976 onwards.100 Jahre Endspiel der deutschen Rugby-Meisterschaft: Stuttgart – Hannover totalrugby.de, published: 9 August 2009. Retrieved: 9 March 2010
With the reorganisation of the European Nations Cup (ENC) in 2000, Germany became part of the second division.
Centenary and Barbarians tour In 2000 the German Rugby Federation celebrated its centenary. Centenary celebrations included a banquet in the Heidelberg Castle and the hosting of the European leg of the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Heidelberg, in which the German team came close to upsetting Ireland, who had Gordon D'Arcy in their line-up. The tournament was won by the Welsh team, which featured Andy Marinos and Arwel Thomas.
The highlight of the Centenary season was the Centenary Match against the famous Barbarians. The Barbarians included a host of internationals including Scott Hastings, Peter Stringer, Shaun Longstaff, Jeff Probyn, Frankie Sheahan, Russell Earnshaw, Shaun Connor, John Langford and Derwyn Jones and won 47-19 against a determined German team.
Germany remained in the second division of the European Nations Cup until 2008, when it achieved promotion to the top level, facing Europe's number 7 to 11 teams in 2009 and 2010. Its declared aim at this level was to avoid relegation; qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup was not really expected from the team.Finsterer: "Werden andere deutsche Mannschaft sehen" Rugby Journal – Preview for the 2009–10 season. Retrieved: 9 January 2009
With over 8,000 spectators, Germany's home game against the Netherlands in Hanover, at the Rudolf-Kalweit-Stadion in April 2007, achieved the best crowd figures for a rugby match in Germany since the pre-Second World War days.Germany – Netherlands report totalrugby.de. Retrieved: 28 March 2010
Germany was unbeaten at home from 12 November 2000, when it lost to Ukraine, until 8 November 2008, when it lost to a Welsh selection.Deutschland vor Rückkehr in Division 1 Rugby Journal – Match report. Retrieved: 7 January 2009
ENC 2008–10
In March 2009, coach Mark Kuhlmann stepped down after three and a half years in office, while the other two coaches Rudolf Finsterer and Bruno Stolorz, remained in the job. Stolorz was seconded to the German team by the Fédération française de rugby to improve Germany's performance in the sport.Mark Kuhlmann nicht mehr DRV-Nationaltrainer Rugby-Journal, published: 9 March 2009. Retrieved: 25 February 2010
After five losses in the European Nations Cup in 2009, Germany achieved a win in a friendly against Hong Kong late in the year. Germany also managed a 15–12 victory over Switzerland but, as the German team had only one regular player in its side, captain Kehoma Brenner, the team was referred to as Germany A.Nationalteams holten den Alpencup zurück , Rugby-Journal, published: 27 September 2009. Retrieved: 21 February 2010 Mustafa Güngör became Germany's new captain on 8 December 2009, after the retirement of the previous captain Jens Schmidt, and played his first game in this role four days later, against Hong Kong.Güngör neuer Kapitän der National-XV Rugby-Journal, published: 8 December 2009. Retrieved: 21 February 2010 Germany fielded eight uncapped players in this game.Deutschland besiegt Hongkong mit 24:14 (16:0) Rugby-Journal, published: 12 December 2009. Retrieved: 21 February 2010 A planned game against the British Forces in Germany in January 2010 had to be called off twice because of bad weather.
Despite disappointing results on the field and the distinct possibility of Germany being relegated, the sport made some progress in the country in 2009–10. With the admittance of sevens rugby to the Olympic Games, rugby in Germany is now eligible for federal grants. Additionally, the Bundeswehr, the German army, has agreed to admit eight to ten players per year to its sports program, making those players effectively professionals.DRV XV: Bundeswehr löst die großen Rugby-Probleme Interview with Claus-Peter Bach, totalrugby.de, published: 26 February 2010. Retrieved: 26 February 2010
In October 2009, the DRV decided to set its aim at playing two friendlies every year in November at home and two in January abroad. It also plans to organise a 10-day tour in Europe every year from 2013.German champagne on ice IRB website – Report after the Netherlands game (2008). Retrieved: 10 January 2009
After disappointing results against Georgia, Portugal and Romania in spring 2010, the team's performance improved against Russia. In its final ENC game against Spain, where a victory by eleven points was needed, Germany played their best game in the campaign yet but nevertheless lost and was relegated. As a consequence, coach Rudolf Finsterer resigned after ten years of service. He was replaced by Torsten Schippe in July 2010,Torsten Schippe wird Trainer des 15er-Nationalteams Rugby-Journal, published: 11 July 2010. Retrieved: 26 July 2010 with South African Jakobus Potgieter as Schippes assistant.Kobus Potgieter neuer Co-Trainer der Nationalmannschaft Rugby-Journal, published: 16 July 2010. Retrieved: 26 July 2010
ENC 2010–12
Germany suffered a defeat in its opening game of the 2010–2012 European Nations Cup First Division B, losing to Poland 17–22 after leading 17–9 at half time. The defeat was seen as unnecessary by the President of the German Rugby Federation, Claus-Peter Bach, but he also considered Poland's victory as deserved. Germany went into the match with a new coach and assistant, a new captain, Alexander Widiker and five uncapped players.DRV XV: Unnötige Auftaktniederlage gegen Polen Rugby-Journal, published: 21 November 2010. Retrieved: 21 November 2010
Germany finally achieved its first win in the ENC since 26 April 2008, when it beat the Netherlands in Amsterdam on 27 November 2010. Its last victory in the European competition had come at the same place against the same opposition, just over 31-month earlier.DRV XV: Verdienter Sieg in Amsterdam Rugby-Journal, published: 28 November 2010. Retrieved: 28 November 2010
After a disappointing first half of the campaign, where Germany only won one of its five games, the team improved and won three in the second half, consequently finishing fourth overall out of six teams. With the final game against Moldova, Germany's captain Alexander Widiker played his 50th game for his country, thereby equaling Horst Kemmling's record.Rekord für Snakko DRV website. Retrieved: 7 April 2012
ENC 2012–14 Germany again competed in the European Nations Cup First Division B in 2012–2014, once more facing Poland, Moldova and the Czech Republic. Additionally, it also competed against Ukraine, relegated from the A group, and Sweden, promoted from the Second Division. Germany's first match was on 27 October when it played Ukraine at home.Ausschreibung ENC DRV website. Retrieved: 22 July 2012 Before that the team played an unofficial warm up match against the New Zealand Ambassador's XV on 13 October 2012, a team that featured former All Black Keith Lowen in its ranks,New Zealand Ambassador's mit ehemaligem All Black gegen Deutschland totalrugby.de, published: 26 September 2012. Retrieved: 1 October 2012 and ended in a 22–20 victory for Germany.Deutsche Rugby-Herren besiegen Neuseeland-Auswahl totalrugby.de, published: 13 October 2012, Retrieved: 17 October 2012