Germany National Rugby Union Team

The Germany national rugby union team (German: Deutsche Rugby-Union-Nationalmannschaft) represents Germany in men's international competitions. It 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, 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.

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.

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.

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