German Democratic Republic national rugby union team
Encyclopedia
The German Democratic Republic national rugby union team was the representative side of the German Democratic Republic
(East Germany) at rugby union
, during that country's existence from 1949 to 1991.
against the Romanians
, but there was also a game the previous year against the West German DRV. The GDR lost 26-64 to the Romanians. The East Germans played mostly against Eastern Bloc countries, meaning that they often gained respectable scores.
The GDR also played the Netherlands
once, twice against Sweden
and Denmark
, before their dissolution in 1990, with one last test match against Luxembourg
The team did not compete in the European cup but did take part in a number of four-nation tournaments: 1961 in Brno
, 1964 in Malmö
, 1978, 1979 and 1983 in Bulgaria (Varna
and Nesebar
).
German Democratic Republic
The German Democratic Republic , informally called East Germany by West Germany and other countries, was a socialist state established in 1949 in the Soviet zone of occupied Germany, including East Berlin of the Allied-occupied capital city...
(East Germany) at rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, during that country's existence from 1949 to 1991.
GDR internationals
The first international that the East German team played was in 1951 in BucharestBucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
against the Romanians
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
, but there was also a game the previous year against the West German DRV. The GDR lost 26-64 to the Romanians. The East Germans played mostly against Eastern Bloc countries, meaning that they often gained respectable scores.
The GDR also played the Netherlands
Netherlands national rugby union team
The Netherlands national rugby union team are a national sporting side of the Netherlands, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1930.-History:...
once, twice against Sweden
Sweden national rugby union team
The Sweden national rugby union team is a member of the FIRA – Association of European Rugby and plays in the 2010–12 European Nations Cup Second Division. Sweden has been trying to qualify for the Rugby World Cup since the 1991 Rugby World Cup, but has yet to make it to the final competition...
and Denmark
Denmark national rugby union team
The Denmark National Rugby Union Team represents Denmark in the sport of rugby union. They are governed by Dansk Rugby Union and have been playing international rugby since 1949.DRU now has nearly 2,500 members in more than 30 clubs.-History:...
, before their dissolution in 1990, with one last test match against Luxembourg
Luxembourg national rugby union team
The Luxembourg national rugby union team represents Luxembourg at rugby union. Luxembourg is a minor team, and is ranked as a third tier nation. The team participates in the annual FIRA-AER European Cup division 3B....
The team did not compete in the European cup but did take part in a number of four-nation tournaments: 1961 in Brno
Brno
Brno by population and area is the second largest city in the Czech Republic, the largest Moravian city, and the historical capital city of the Margraviate of Moravia. Brno is the administrative centre of the South Moravian Region where it forms a separate district Brno-City District...
, 1964 in Malmö
Malmö
Malmö , in the southernmost province of Scania, is the third most populous city in Sweden, after Stockholm and Gothenburg.Malmö is the seat of Malmö Municipality and the capital of Skåne County...
, 1978, 1979 and 1983 in Bulgaria (Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
and Nesebar
Nesebar
Nesebar is an ancient town and one of the major seaside resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, located in Burgas Province. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous Nesebar Municipality...
).
GDR Coaches
The coaches of the GDR national team were the following:| Zeitraum | Name |
|---|---|
| 1951–1972 | Erwin Thiesies Erwin Thiesies Erwin Thiesies was a German international rugby union player, playing for the Berliner SV 92 Rugby and the German national rugby union team.... |
| 1972–1983 | Dr. Detlef Krüger |
| 1983–1985 | Gerhard Schubert |
| 1985–1990 | Rüdiger Tanke |
| 1990 | Peter Gellert |