German Rugby makes a big step

[blackpudding]

With a 27 : 17 win over the Netherlands, the German Rugby Nationalteam secured their promotion into the ENC Division 1.

 

[Macsen]

Congratulations!

I've always thought that, if Germany took rugby seriously, they'd probably be one of the best in the world at it, with their tutonic love of rules and power. I can imagine them playing a lot of 10 man rugby though.

 

[shtove]

My brother used to play rugby in the Netherlands - lots of drinking and shagging. He said it was a good social scene, so I wonder if the Germans have the same attitude and don't take it that seriously.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

That's great news for German rugby. Hopefully they'll prove more competitive than the Czech Republic when they step up. I know they put it up to Spain in the world cup qualifiers so they shouldn't be completely outclassed.

 

[Steve-o]

With a 27 : 17 win over the Netherlands, the German Rugby Nationalteam secured their promotion into the ENC Division 1.
[/b]

Are their games televised? Or do you watch them live?
Also, what size crowds do these games attract there?

 

[Caledfwlch]

Germany was a threat to France a loooooooong time ago. Maybe they shoud try hard and rise to that position again

 

[Nidhogg]

<div class='quotemain'> With a 27 : 17 win over the Netherlands, the German Rugby Nationalteam secured their promotion into the ENC Division 1.
[/b]

Are their games televised? Or do you watch them live?
Also, what size crowds do these games attract there?[/b][/quote]

The dutch news channel gives small highlights of important matches a few times each year. The game itself, I believe, was played in Amsterdam, a few hundred spectators maybe.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

Rugby used to be one of the most popular sports in Germany prior to world war II then Hitler banned the sport from being played and all of the clubs died. The Allies even banned people from starting clubs shortly after the war was over. he strongholds in Germany for rugby are in Hiedelberg and Hannover and Bavaria. These areas are where the majority of germany's players come from.

 

[Nidhogg]

Question: why did Hitler ban rugby?

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

Question: why did Hitler ban rugby? [/b]

It was considered to be too english a sport by the Nazis and it lost much of its financial support and popularity it had gained in heidelberg, Hannover, and Frankfurt during their Regime.


Also most of the players who had played for the big clubs previously were killed fighting in the Second World War.

 

[el_tk]

I heard somewhere else that Hitler and the Nazis tried to develop rugby and promote it and as a result it suffered after WW2 because no-one wanted anything to do with it due to its Nazi connections

 

[goranski]

Hitler didn't ban rugby...

Germany played internationals throughout the pre-war period of the Third Reich up until 1940 - the last domestic championship was held in 1942...the war put an end to rugby for the remainder of WWII in Germany along with many other sports...

anyway good for German rugby if they can stay up in this higher competition and start competing with the likes of Portugal, Spain, Russia, Ukraine...

 

[Feffo]

It was considered to be too english a sport by the Nazis and it lost much of its financial support and popularity it had gained in heidelberg, Hannover, and Frankfurt during their Regime.
[/b]

Well,Hitler liked England...I don't think that's the reason...Maybe it simply lost popularity during the WWII...

 

[blackpudding]

As far as I know German Rugby Clubs were forbidden by the Hitler Regime, first because of their roots from
english students in Germany and second because lots of Clubs had become a place for workers which were in the socialist worker movement.

 

[goranski]

encore....rugby was not banned in the third reich - take a look at the facts from the German Rugby Union about the championships during the 1930s - the oval game was played up until 1943.

http://www.rugby-verband.de/cms/index.php?id=64

adolf may have been a psychopath but he actually liked british sports and culture...like polo

 

[Prestwick]

<div class='quotemain'> With a 27 : 17 win over the Netherlands, the German Rugby Nationalteam secured their promotion into the ENC Division 1.
[/b]

Are their games televised? Or do you watch them live?
Also, what size crowds do these games attract there?
[/b][/quote]

I swear you can see highlights of Club games there, just don't know where to find them! I think I saw the season final which did look really well attended (for a ground that could hold roughly 12,000 by the looks of it).

 

[Chappy1]

JA!

 

[goranski]

where did you see it, Youtube?

DSF - german sports television occasionally shows national team games and had the World Cup on...that's about it.

I hope rugby does well in Germany, but let's be realistic - it may take another 10-20 years before they even have the chance to qualify as last minnow in for a WC!

 

[Charles]

Yeah, that's a shame really since they are suited for rugby. I think they'do wonders, as would the likes of Sweden or Finland. Physicality, and not afraid of a little brawl.

 

[Prestwick]

Its funny because you sit there in Irish bars or English pubs abroad in Scandinavia and Germany watching the rugby and a family native to the country you are visiting, be it Denmark, Norway or Germany come in and see what is on the television.

They look at it for a long while, looking quite bemused at the whole spectical and at how popular it is (especially if its a big international at Twickenham) before asking "is this..rugby?"

"Yes, it is!" I smile before looking back "great, isn't it? Why haven't you chaps started playing?"

At this point, the usual reaction is to laugh that squeamish laugh that people make to sound polite while really being embarrased and unsure "oh! no no no! We couldn't possibly play, we like football and handball here..."