RG Heidelberg
Encyclopedia
The RG Heidelberg is a German
rugby union
club from Heidelberg
, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga
. Apart from rugby, the club also offers the sport of rowing
.
The RGH was the third rugby club to be formed in Heidelberg, after the Heidelberger RK
and the SC Neuenheim
, making it easy for the new team to find opposition to play against. The SC 1880 Frankfurt
and the rugby department of the VfB Stuttgart
were also teams the club played in its early years.
Due to many South Africans who were studying in Heidelberg, the club developed a good relationship with Dutch
teams and eventually, the Dutch national colours, orange, became RGH's team colours, which they still are today.
In 1930, the club played in its first German rugby union championship
final but lost to SV Odin Hannover
0-13. In 1932, 1933, 1937 and 1938 the RGH made four more losing appearances in the German championship final.
In 1959, the club appeared in another final, losing once more but in 1967 it finally won its first national title, winning the German rugby union cup
. After another finals defeat in 1970 and the introduction of the Rugby-Bundesliga
in 1971, the club formed its very successful youth department in 1972.
In 1980, the team finally won its first German title, followed by another three in 1997, 2006 and 2007
. The 2006 final, the 86th in the competitions history, produced a novelty in the history of the game in Germany, with RGH and SC Neuenheim two clubs from Heidelberg competed for the title, for the first time. It was also the first time that no club from Hannover stood in the final.
In 1996, the club moved to its current home ground, the Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark.
While the club managed to upset SC 1880 Frankfurt in the 2007 German final, a repeat in the following season was not possible and the favorites from Frankfurt took out the title that year. After this, the club was unable to advance past the semi-final stage of the German championship.
On 22 August 2011, five days before the start of the season, the club withdrew its reserve team from the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West, citing inablility to guarantee a full player squad for the whole season. Shortly after, the club announced that the team would instead compete in the tier-three 3rd Liga South/West
in 2011-12.
RG Heidelberg is the only club to have belonged to the Rugby-Bundesliga in every season since its interception.
international Phil Christophers
who made his debuet in 2002 started his rugby career with RG Heidelberg, being the son of a German mother and English father.
In Germany
's 2006–08 European Nations Cup campaign
, Mustafa Güngör
, Christopher Weselek
, Edmoore Takaendesa
, Tim Coly
, Manuel Wilhelm
, Sebastian Werle
, Kehoma Brenner
, Tim Kasten
and Steffen Thier
were called up for the national team while being on the clubs roster.
In the 2008–10 campaign
, Güngör, Weselek, Takaendesa, Coly, Wilhelm and Brenner all appeared for the RGH and Germany again, while Pierre Faber
and Fabian Heimpel
were new additions to the clubs list of internationals.
In the 2010–12 campaign
, Manuel Wilhelm, Mustafa Güngör and Fabian Heimpel were re-selected for Germany, with Güngör leaving RGH at the end of the 2010-11 season, while Bastian Himmer was a new selection.
The club had four players selected for the German under-18 team
at the 2009 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
, these being Elmar Heimpel, Nicolas Kurzer, Bastian Himmer and Raffael Ruck . Of these, Elmar Heimpel also played at the 2010
tournament, as did Nicolas Kurzer, who was then with the Heidelberger TV
while Luis Becker was a new addition to the German squad from the RGH.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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...
club from Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga
Rugby-Bundesliga
The Rugby-Bundesliga is the highest level of Germany's rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation.The league is predominantly amateur, with only two of the ten clubs in the league being professional outfits,the SC 1880 Frankfurt and Heidelberger RK.-History:The German rugby...
. Apart from rugby, the club also offers the sport of rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
.
History
The club was formed on 4 June 1898 as a rowing club. Out of necessity to have an alternative sport in winter, forzen rivers made rowing naturally impossible, the rugby department of the club was formed in 1919.The RGH was the third rugby club to be formed in Heidelberg, after the Heidelberger RK
Heidelberger RK
The Heidelberger Ruderklub is a German rowing club and rugby union club from Heidelberg, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga....
and the SC Neuenheim
SC Neuenheim
The SC Neuenheim is a German rugby union club from Heidelberg, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga. Having won nine men's and twelve women's German championships as of 2004, the club is one of the most accomplished in Germany.-History:...
, making it easy for the new team to find opposition to play against. The SC 1880 Frankfurt
SC 1880 Frankfurt
The SC 1880 Frankfurt is a German rugby union club from Frankfurt am Main, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga. Apart from rugby, the club also offers other sports like lacrosse, tennis and field hockey....
and the rugby department of the VfB Stuttgart
VfB Stuttgart
Verein für Bewegungsspiele Stuttgart 1893 e. V., commonly known as VfB Stuttgart, is a German sports club based in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg. The club is best known for its football team, which has participated in all but two Bundesliga seasons...
were also teams the club played in its early years.
Due to many South Africans who were studying in Heidelberg, the club developed a good relationship with Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
teams and eventually, the Dutch national colours, orange, became RGH's team colours, which they still are today.
In 1930, the club played in its first German rugby union championship
German rugby union championship
The German rugby union championship was established in 1909 and has since been played, with exceptions, annually. It is the highest competition in Germany in the sport of Rugby Union.-Men:...
final but lost to SV Odin Hannover
SV Odin Hannover
The SV Odin Hannover is a German rugby union club from Hanover, currently playing in the Regionalliga North. Apart from rugby, the club also offers other sports like association football, gymnastics and handball....
0-13. In 1932, 1933, 1937 and 1938 the RGH made four more losing appearances in the German championship final.
In 1959, the club appeared in another final, losing once more but in 1967 it finally won its first national title, winning the German rugby union cup
German rugby union cup
The German rugby union cup is the premier cup competition for men in the sport of Rugby Union in Germany.In October 2009, it was proposed to discontinue both men's cup competitions after 2010, meaning, both the DRV-Pokal and the league cup will not be played anymore after this season...
. After another finals defeat in 1970 and the introduction of the Rugby-Bundesliga
Rugby-Bundesliga
The Rugby-Bundesliga is the highest level of Germany's rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation.The league is predominantly amateur, with only two of the ten clubs in the league being professional outfits,the SC 1880 Frankfurt and Heidelberger RK.-History:The German rugby...
in 1971, the club formed its very successful youth department in 1972.
In 1980, the team finally won its first German title, followed by another three in 1997, 2006 and 2007
Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07
The Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07 was the 36th edition of this competition and the 87th edition of the German rugby union championship. The season went from 26 August 2006 to 12 May 2007, ending with the championship final.-Overview:...
. The 2006 final, the 86th in the competitions history, produced a novelty in the history of the game in Germany, with RGH and SC Neuenheim two clubs from Heidelberg competed for the title, for the first time. It was also the first time that no club from Hannover stood in the final.
In 1996, the club moved to its current home ground, the Fritz-Grunebaum-Sportpark.
While the club managed to upset SC 1880 Frankfurt in the 2007 German final, a repeat in the following season was not possible and the favorites from Frankfurt took out the title that year. After this, the club was unable to advance past the semi-final stage of the German championship.
On 22 August 2011, five days before the start of the season, the club withdrew its reserve team from the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West, citing inablility to guarantee a full player squad for the whole season. Shortly after, the club announced that the team would instead compete in the tier-three 3rd Liga South/West
3rd Liga South/West
The 3rd Liga South/West is the third-highest level of Germany's Rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation. It is set below the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West, the second tier of rugby in Southern Germany, and above the Rugby-Regionalliga, the fourth tier.The league...
in 2011-12.
RG Heidelberg is the only club to have belonged to the Rugby-Bundesliga in every season since its interception.
Club honours
- German rugby union championshipGerman rugby union championshipThe German rugby union championship was established in 1909 and has since been played, with exceptions, annually. It is the highest competition in Germany in the sport of Rugby Union.-Men:...
- Champions: 1980, 1997, 2006, 2007Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07The Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07 was the 36th edition of this competition and the 87th edition of the German rugby union championship. The season went from 26 August 2006 to 12 May 2007, ending with the championship final.-Overview:...
- Runners up: 1930, 1932, 1933, 1937, 1938, 1959, 1970, 1982, 1983, 1996, 1999, 2008Rugby-Bundesliga 2007-08The Rugby-Bundesliga 2007-08 was the 37th edition of this competition and the 88th edition of the German rugby union championship. The season went from 25 August 2007 to 31 May 2008, ending with the relegation final.-Overview:...
- Champions: 1980, 1997, 2006, 2007
- German rugby union cupGerman rugby union cupThe German rugby union cup is the premier cup competition for men in the sport of Rugby Union in Germany.In October 2009, it was proposed to discontinue both men's cup competitions after 2010, meaning, both the DRV-Pokal and the league cup will not be played anymore after this season...
- Winner: 1967, 1986, 1995, 1997, 2004
- Runners up: 1974, 1975, 1977, 1980, 1982, 1990, 1996, 2006, 2007, 2008
- German sevens championship
- Champions: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009
- Runners up: 1996, 2000, 2004, 2007, 2011
Men: First team
| Year | Division | Position |
| 1997-98 | Rugby-Bundesliga Rugby-Bundesliga The Rugby-Bundesliga is the highest level of Germany's rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation.The league is predominantly amateur, with only two of the ten clubs in the league being professional outfits,the SC 1880 Frankfurt and Heidelberger RK.-History:The German rugby... (I) |
5th |
| 1998-99 | Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 3rd |
| Bundesliga championship round | 2nd | |
| 1999-2000 | Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 3rd |
| Bundesliga championship round | 5th | |
| 2000-01 | Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 3rd |
| Bundesliga championship round | 3rd | |
| 2001-02 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 2nd |
| 2002-03 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 4th |
| 2003-04 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 3rd |
| 2004-05 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 3rd |
| 2005-06 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 1st — Champions |
| 2006-07 Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07 The Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07 was the 36th edition of this competition and the 87th edition of the German rugby union championship. The season went from 26 August 2006 to 12 May 2007, ending with the championship final.-Overview:... |
Rugby-Bundesliga | 2nd — Champions |
| 2007-08 Rugby-Bundesliga 2007-08 The Rugby-Bundesliga 2007-08 was the 37th edition of this competition and the 88th edition of the German rugby union championship. The season went from 25 August 2007 to 31 May 2008, ending with the relegation final.-Overview:... |
Rugby-Bundesliga | 2nd — Runners up |
| 2008-09 Rugby-Bundesliga 2008-09 -Overview:The 2008-09 modus was somewhat different from the previous season. The competition had been expanded from eight to nine teams. The final, which used to be determined by the top-two teams of the regular season was now played by the two winners of the semi-finals which pair the first placed... |
Rugby-Bundesliga | 5th |
| 2009–10 Rugby-Bundesliga 2009–10 -Overview:The 2009-10 modus was somewhat different from the previous season. The competition had been expanded from nine to ten teams. It marks the first time since introduction of the single-division Bundesliga in 2001, that ten teams competed in the league. This change of modus was decided upon... |
Rugby-Bundesliga | 2nd |
| 2010–11 Rugby-Bundesliga 2010–11 -Overview:The 2009-10 modus is identical to the previous season. However, the competition had been reduced from ten to nine teams, after the withdrawal of the ASV Köln Rugby during last season and no team from the 2nd Bundesliga accepting promotion. Like in 2008-09, the top four teams qualify for... |
Rugby-Bundesliga | 4th |
| 2011–12 | Rugby-Bundesliga |
- Until 2001, when the single-division Bundesliga was established, the season was divided in autumn and spring, a Vorrunde and Endrunde, whereby the top teams of the Rugby-Bundesliga would play out the championship while the bottom teams together with the autumn 2nd Bundesliga champion would play for Bundesliga qualification. The remainder of the 2nd Bundesliga teams would play a spring round to determine the relegated clubs. Where two placing's are shown, the first is autumn, the second spring.
Men: Reserve team
| Year | Division | Position |
| 2001-02 | Rugby-Regionalliga Rugby-Regionalliga The Rugby-Regionalliga is the third-highest level of Germany's Rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation. Its set below the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga... (III) |
3rd |
| 2002-03 | Rugby-Regionalliga | 2nd |
| 2003-04 | Rugby-Regionalliga | 1st — Promoted |
| 2004-05 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West (II) | 5th |
| 2005-06 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 6th |
| 2006-07 Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07 The Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07 was the 36th edition of this competition and the 87th edition of the German rugby union championship. The season went from 26 August 2006 to 12 May 2007, ending with the championship final.-Overview:... |
2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 7th |
| 2007–08 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 8th |
| 2008–09 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 3rd |
| 2009–10 Rugby-Bundesliga 2009–10 -Overview:The 2009-10 modus was somewhat different from the previous season. The competition had been expanded from nine to ten teams. It marks the first time since introduction of the single-division Bundesliga in 2001, that ten teams competed in the league. This change of modus was decided upon... |
2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 4th |
| 2010–11 Rugby-Bundesliga 2010–11 -Overview:The 2009-10 modus is identical to the previous season. However, the competition had been reduced from ten to nine teams, after the withdrawal of the ASV Köln Rugby during last season and no team from the 2nd Bundesliga accepting promotion. Like in 2008-09, the top four teams qualify for... |
2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 8th — Withdrawn |
| 2011–12 | 3rd Liga South/West 3rd Liga South/West The 3rd Liga South/West is the third-highest level of Germany's Rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation. It is set below the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West, the second tier of rugby in Southern Germany, and above the Rugby-Regionalliga, the fourth tier.The league... (III) |
Rugby internationals
The former EnglandEngland national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
international Phil Christophers
Phil Christophers
Philip Derek Christophers is a rugby union footballer who plays on the wing for Castres and has previously played for England.Christophers was born and raised in Germany with an English father and a German mother...
who made his debuet in 2002 started his rugby career with RG Heidelberg, being the son of a German mother and English father.
In Germany
Germany national rugby union team
Germany is a third-tier Rugby Union playing nation. Germany currently plays at the second level of European rugby but has never managed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup...
's 2006–08 European Nations Cup campaign
Germany at the 2006–08 European Nations Cup
Germany at the 2006–08 European Nations Cup was the first time since 1981 that the German national rugby union team reached highest level of FIRA rugby, the European Nations Cup, by winning its group, the Division 2A in 2006–08....
, Mustafa Güngör
Mustafa Güngör
Mustafa Güngör is a German international rugby union player, playing for the TV Pforzheim in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team. He is the current captain of the German Sevens team, and, in 2009–10, he was also the German XV captain....
, Christopher Weselek
Christopher Weselek
Christopher Weselek is a retired German international rugby union player, having last played for the RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
, Edmoore Takaendesa
Edmoore Takaendesa
Edmoore Takaendesa is a German international rugby union player, playing for the RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He made his debut for Germany on 19 April 2008 against the Ukraine....
, Tim Coly
Tim Coly
Tim Coly is a German international rugby union player, playing for the RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
, Manuel Wilhelm
Manuel Wilhelm
Manuel Wilhelm is a German international rugby union player, playing for the RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
, Sebastian Werle
Sebastian Werle
Sebastian Werle is a German international rugby union player, playing for the RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He plays rugby since 1988....
, Kehoma Brenner
Kehoma Brenner
Kehoma Brenner is a German international rugby union player, playing for the Heidelberger RK in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
, Tim Kasten
Tim Kasten
Tim Kasten is a German international rugby union player, playing for the Heidelberger RK in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He plays rugby since 1986....
and Steffen Thier
Steffen Thier
Steffen Thier is a German international rugby union player, playing for the RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He played his last game for Germany on 24 November 2007 against Moldova....
were called up for the national team while being on the clubs roster.
In the 2008–10 campaign
Germany at the 2008–10 European Nations Cup
Germany at the 2008–10 European Nations Cup was the first time since 1981 that the German national rugby union team competed at the highest level of FIRA rugby, the European Nations Cup, during 2008-10....
, Güngör, Weselek, Takaendesa, Coly, Wilhelm and Brenner all appeared for the RGH and Germany again, while Pierre Faber
Pierre Faber
Pierre Faber is a retired German international rugby union player, playing for the RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.His last game for Germany was against Russia on 2 May 2009...
and Fabian Heimpel
Fabian Heimpel
Fabian Heimpel is a German international rugby union player, playing for the University of Cape Town RFC and the German national rugby union team.He made his debut for Germany against Portugal on 27 February 2010....
were new additions to the clubs list of internationals.
In the 2010–12 campaign
Germany at the 2010–12 European Nations Cup
Germany at the 2010–12 European Nations Cup sees a return of the German national rugby union team to the ENC Second Division, having been relegated without a win from the First Division in 2008–10...
, Manuel Wilhelm, Mustafa Güngör and Fabian Heimpel were re-selected for Germany, with Güngör leaving RGH at the end of the 2010-11 season, while Bastian Himmer was a new selection.
The club had four players selected for the German under-18 team
Germany national under-18 rugby union team
The Germany national under-18 rugby union team is the under-18 team of the Germany national rugby union team in the sport of rugby union.-Overview:...
at the 2009 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
2009 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
-Relegation:-Championship:-Relegation:-Championship:* The Hungary Sweden semi final was decided on number of tries scored, which Sweden won 3-2.-Relegation:-Championship:-Relegation:...
, these being Elmar Heimpel, Nicolas Kurzer, Bastian Himmer and Raffael Ruck . Of these, Elmar Heimpel also played at the 2010
2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
-Relegation:-Championship:-Relegation:The Switzerland versus Ukraine game was tied after regular time and was decided by penalty kicks.-Championship:-Relegation:...
tournament, as did Nicolas Kurzer, who was then with the Heidelberger TV
Heidelberger TV
The Heidelberger TV is a German rugby union club from Heidelberg, currently playing in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West. Apart from rugby, the club also offers other sports like basketball, tennis and badminton....
while Luis Becker was a new addition to the German squad from the RGH.
Coaches
Recent coaches of the club:| Name | Period |
| Rudolf Finsterer Rudolf Finsterer Rudolf Finsterer is a retired German international rugby union player and coach, formerly coaching the RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga and, until the 20 March 2010, the German national rugby union team.... |
2002 - 2008 |
| Thomas Kurzer | 2008 - 2009 |
| Rudolf Finsterer | 2009 - 2011 |
 Jamie HoustonJamie Houston Jamie Ben Houston is a retired German international rugby union player, having played for the SC 1880 Frankfurt in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team. He is the current coach of RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga.He made his debut for Germany in a friendly versus Hong... |
2011 - |