Rugby union in Switzerland
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in Switzerland
is a minor but growing sport.
However, Swiss rugby continued at a very low key for over a hundred years. The World Wars and other global upheavals hindered the game, and it was really the presence of a number of ex-patriates working in the banking industry, or as tax exile
s, who helped keep the game going.
In 1974, a side from Basel
toured France and were on the end of record breaking defeats. They lost 127-0 to Grenoble
, 104-3 to Thonon and 116-0 to Annecy
. The captain of the Basel team, Pierre Langlois said, "We conceded 73 tries, I think. We even had a penalty try given against us when we were losing by 100 points."
Swiss rugby continued in a haphazard manner during the 1970s and 80s, for example, when was due to play Bellinzona
RFC in Italy, two of their players were delayed by a landslide. In order to make up numbers, a journalist and their coach driver were added to the squad. They did so well in the game that they were invited to subsequent training sessions.
The Swiss Federation undertook an intensive development programme in the 1980s, under Eveline Obersson, and managed to gain a number of new native players.
In 1989, Chris Thau claimed that Switzerland had around 1,000 players (a number which has increased somewhat since then).
There are at least thirty Swiss clubs at present.
Swiss rugby is now dominated by home grown players, and for some the bright lights of French and Italian rugby might be a draw.
More recently, 2006-07 Heineken Cup
clash between the French side Bourgoin
and Irish rugby's Munster
was moved from Bourgoin's home ground
, to the Stade de Genève
(Geneva
Stadium). The stadium's capacity is 30,000, and attendance on the day was 16,255.
Notable Swiss players include:
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...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
is a minor but growing sport.
History
Like neighbouring Germany, Austria and France, Swiss rugby is actually amongst the oldest in the world. The earliest recorded match in Switzerland was in 1869, and Lausanne RFC can claim to be as old as Blackheath.However, Swiss rugby continued at a very low key for over a hundred years. The World Wars and other global upheavals hindered the game, and it was really the presence of a number of ex-patriates working in the banking industry, or as tax exile
Tax exile
A tax exile is one who chooses to leave a country with a high tax burden and instead to reside in a foreign nation or jurisdiction which takes a lower portion of earnings. Going into tax exile is a means of tax mitigation or avoidance.-Legal status:...
s, who helped keep the game going.
In 1974, a side from Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
toured France and were on the end of record breaking defeats. They lost 127-0 to Grenoble
Grenoble
Grenoble is a city in southeastern France, at the foot of the French Alps where the river Drac joins the Isère. Located in the Rhône-Alpes region, Grenoble is the capital of the department of Isère...
, 104-3 to Thonon and 116-0 to Annecy
Annecy
Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
. The captain of the Basel team, Pierre Langlois said, "We conceded 73 tries, I think. We even had a penalty try given against us when we were losing by 100 points."
Swiss rugby continued in a haphazard manner during the 1970s and 80s, for example, when was due to play Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Bellinzona is the administrative capital of the canton Ticino in Switzerland. The city is famous for its three castles that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2000....
RFC in Italy, two of their players were delayed by a landslide. In order to make up numbers, a journalist and their coach driver were added to the squad. They did so well in the game that they were invited to subsequent training sessions.
The Swiss Federation undertook an intensive development programme in the 1980s, under Eveline Obersson, and managed to gain a number of new native players.
In 1989, Chris Thau claimed that Switzerland had around 1,000 players (a number which has increased somewhat since then).
There are at least thirty Swiss clubs at present.
Swiss rugby is now dominated by home grown players, and for some the bright lights of French and Italian rugby might be a draw.
More recently, 2006-07 Heineken Cup
2006-07 Heineken Cup
The 2006–07 Heineken Cup was the 12th edition of the European Heineken Cup rugby union club tournament. The pool draw took place on 21 June at Twickenham. The pool stages started on 20 October and concluded in January, going for six rounds...
clash between the French side Bourgoin
CS Bourgoin-Jallieu
CS Bourgoin-Jallieu is a French rugby union club currently competing in the second level of the French league system in the Pro D2. The club have been runners-up in the French championship and the Challenge Yves du Manoir competitions, and have won the Challenge Cup.Founded in 1906 as "Club...
and Irish rugby's Munster
Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Munster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro12 and Heineken Cup.The team represents the Irish Rugby Football Union Munster Branch which is one of four primary branches of the IRFU, and is responsible for rugby union in the Irish...
was moved from Bourgoin's home ground
Stade Pierre Rajon
Stade Pierre Rajon is a multi-purpose stadium in Bourgoin-Jallieu, France.It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of CS Bourgoin-Jallieu. The stadium can hold 10,000 people....
, to the Stade de Genève
Stade de Genève
Stade de Genève is a stadium in the greater Geneva, Switzerland area . It has a capacity of 30,084.-Overview:The stadium was completed in 2003 by Zschokke Construction S.A. after nearly three years of construction...
(Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
Stadium). The stadium's capacity is 30,000, and attendance on the day was 16,255.
Notable Swiss players include:
- Eric Planes, scrum half
- Jean-Marc Morand, no 8
- Victor van Berg, captain.