SC 1880 Frankfurt
Encyclopedia
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
.
The club is one of only two professional rugby clubs in Germany, the other being Heidelberger RK
. The turn to professionalism in a sport otherwise fully amateur in Germany was made possible through the support of Uli Byszio, who owns a gold- and silver trading business.
Rugby quickly gained in popularity at that time and Frankfurt managed to became the first German team to travel to England, playing the Blackheath Football Club in 1894. Blackheath awarded the club the right to adopt its club colours of red and black, which are still the colours SC 1880 plays in today. In 1905, a field hockey département was established, and in 1914 the club changed its name to the current SC 1880 Frankfurt. Before that, in 1910, the club won its first national rugby title, winning the second edition of the German rugby union championship
. In 1913, it repeated this achievement. The club also represented Germany at the 1900 World Expo
in Paris
, which was part of the rugby tournament of the 1900 Summer Olympics
. The club thereby achieved Germany's only rugby medal at olympic games to date.
In 1922–23, the club moved to its current home ground. In this era, two more national titles followed, in 1922 and 1925. In 1926 and 1931, the SC 1880 reached the final but lost. Before and after the war, the club played regular friendlies with the Oxford Greyhounds and after the Second World War the club travelled to Oxford
in 1951 and had the English team return the visit in 1953.
Success on the rugby field was limited after this and a losing appearances in the 1952 and 1969 finals was all it had to show for.
With the establishment of the Rugby-Bundesliga
in 1971, SC 1880 seems to have lost completely in importance and the new millennium found the club as a struggling second division outfit, having been relegated from the Rugby-Bundesliga in 1999. After suffering relegation from the second division in 2004, the club quickly rebounded and returned to this level the season after. With the help of foreign players and coaches, the fortunes of the club turned after this. A large part of the success of the club hailes from the financial support of Uli Byszio, a former player, who led the way in professionalising the club.
In the 2005–06 season, the club earned promotion to the Rugby-Bundesliga by winning the 2nd Bundesliga South/West and then defeating RK 03 Berlin
, the North/East champion, 39-5.
Upon return to the Bundesliga, the club performed impressivley, finishing the 2006–07 season with twelve wins, one draw and one loss on top of the table. In the final however, played at home, the team slipped up and lost to the RG Heidelberg
15–23.
The following season, 2007–08, the team finished on top again and this time it fared better in the final, beating RG Heidelberg
28-13 to win its fifth German title and its first in 83 years, having last won it in 1925. With Villiame Gadolo, the club had a player with rugby world cup
experience in its ranks. Due to the large amount of New Zealanders in the side, the team actually performed the Haka
before the match.
Shortly before winning the title, coach George Simpkin left the club and was replaced by Phil "Lofty" Stevenson, who was also, at the time, Germanys sevens coach. The team nevertheless continued in 2008–09 as it had finished the previous season, dominating the league and finishing on top, with 14 wins and two loses, while its reserve side won the 2nd Bundesliga South/West title. The senior team then moved on to beat Berliner Rugby Club in the semi-finals of the German championship, to reach the national title game against Heidelberger RK
. A narrow 11-8 victory over HRK earned the club its sixth German championship.
Throughout its history, the SC 1880 provided 36 players to the German national rugby union team who won 142 caps between them. In 2008, the club had players from more than 20 different nations in its ranks and its first three teams play at first, second and third level in the German league system. While the club only provided one player to the German team in 2008, Rolf Wacha
, it is expected that Frankfurts professional approach to rugby will improve this situation; great progress has been made in the youth département of the club in this regard. The clubs concept envisions that by 2014 the whole first team will hail from the youth département and replace the need for foreign top-players.
In the 2009-10 season, Frankfurt took out the minor premiership once more, for a fourth time in a row, but lost the final in extra time to Heidelberger RK. The following year, Frankfurt reached the final for a fifth consecutive time but lost 9-12 in a close game. After two lost finals in a row, the club decided to replace its coach, with Sam Alatini taking over from Aaron Satchwell for 2011-12.
In 2011-12, the club will also take part in the North Sea Cup, a European Cup competition made up of two clubs each from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
The clubs reserve side has played for many years in the league below, the 2nd Bundesliga South/West.
's 2006–08 European Nations Cup campaign
, Christian Baracat
and Rolf Wacha
were called up for the national team.
In the 2008–10 campaign
, Wacha appeared for 80 and Germany again, while Benjamin Brierley
, Jamie Houston
, Daniel Preussner
, Alexander Hauck
and Mark Sztyndera
were new additions to the clubs list of internationals.
In the 2010–12 campaign
, Mark Sztyndera and Alexander Hauck were re-selected for the German team while Jannis Läpple and Sam Henderson made their debut.
The club had no player selected for the German under-18 team
at the 2009 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
, but three for the 2010
tournament, Lukas Deichmann, Jens Listmann and Adam Howes.
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 Frankfurt am Main, 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 other sports like lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
and field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
.
The club is one of only two professional rugby clubs in Germany, the other being Heidelberger RK
Heidelberger RK
The Heidelberger Ruderklub is a German rowing club and rugby union club from Heidelberg, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga....
. The turn to professionalism in a sport otherwise fully amateur in Germany was made possible through the support of Uli Byszio, who owns a gold- and silver trading business.
History
The SC 1880 was formed in 1880 as a rugby club through the merger of two local rugby sides, Germania and Franconia. It was formed as FC 1880 Frankfurt as a distinction between rugby and football was not made in Germany at that time.Rugby quickly gained in popularity at that time and Frankfurt managed to became the first German team to travel to England, playing the Blackheath Football Club in 1894. Blackheath awarded the club the right to adopt its club colours of red and black, which are still the colours SC 1880 plays in today. In 1905, a field hockey département was established, and in 1914 the club changed its name to the current SC 1880 Frankfurt. Before that, in 1910, the club won its first national rugby title, winning the second edition of the 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:...
. In 1913, it repeated this achievement. The club also represented Germany at the 1900 World Expo
Exposition Universelle (1900)
The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from April 15 to November 12, 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, which was part of the rugby tournament of the 1900 Summer Olympics
Rugby union at the 1900 Summer Olympics
Rugby union was played at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris. Matches were held on 14 October and 28 October. 47 athletes from three nations competed....
. The club thereby achieved Germany's only rugby medal at olympic games to date.
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1951 and had the English team return the visit in 1953.
Success on the rugby field was limited after this and a losing appearances in the 1952 and 1969 finals was all it had to show for.
With the establishment 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, SC 1880 seems to have lost completely in importance and the new millennium found the club as a struggling second division outfit, having been relegated from the Rugby-Bundesliga in 1999. After suffering relegation from the second division in 2004, the club quickly rebounded and returned to this level the season after. With the help of foreign players and coaches, the fortunes of the club turned after this. A large part of the success of the club hailes from the financial support of Uli Byszio, a former player, who led the way in professionalising the club.
In the 2005–06 season, the club earned promotion to the Rugby-Bundesliga by winning the 2nd Bundesliga South/West and then defeating RK 03 Berlin
RK 03 Berlin
The RK 03 Berlin is a German rugby union club from Berlin, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga.The club was formed in 2003, when the rugby department of the Post SV Berlin left the club...
, the North/East champion, 39-5.
Upon return to the Bundesliga, the club performed impressivley, finishing the 2006–07 season with twelve wins, one draw and one loss on top of the table. In the final however, played at home, the team slipped up and lost to the RG Heidelberg
RG Heidelberg
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.-History:The club was formed on 4 June 1898 as a rowing club...
15–23.
The following season, 2007–08, the team finished on top again and this time it fared better in the final, beating RG Heidelberg
RG Heidelberg
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.-History:The club was formed on 4 June 1898 as a rowing club...
28-13 to win its fifth German title and its first in 83 years, having last won it in 1925. With Villiame Gadolo, the club had a player with rugby world cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
experience in its ranks. Due to the large amount of New Zealanders in the side, the team actually performed the Haka
Haka
Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...
before the match.
Shortly before winning the title, coach George Simpkin left the club and was replaced by Phil "Lofty" Stevenson, who was also, at the time, Germanys sevens coach. The team nevertheless continued in 2008–09 as it had finished the previous season, dominating the league and finishing on top, with 14 wins and two loses, while its reserve side won the 2nd Bundesliga South/West title. The senior team then moved on to beat Berliner Rugby Club in the semi-finals of the German championship, to reach the national title game against Heidelberger RK
Heidelberger RK
The Heidelberger Ruderklub is a German rowing club and rugby union club from Heidelberg, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga....
. A narrow 11-8 victory over HRK earned the club its sixth German championship.
Throughout its history, the SC 1880 provided 36 players to the German national rugby union team who won 142 caps between them. In 2008, the club had players from more than 20 different nations in its ranks and its first three teams play at first, second and third level in the German league system. While the club only provided one player to the German team in 2008, Rolf Wacha
Rolf Wacha
Rolf Wacha is a German international rugby union player, playing for the SC 1880 Frankfurt in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He plays rugby since 1999....
, it is expected that Frankfurts professional approach to rugby will improve this situation; great progress has been made in the youth département of the club in this regard. The clubs concept envisions that by 2014 the whole first team will hail from the youth département and replace the need for foreign top-players.
In the 2009-10 season, Frankfurt took out the minor premiership once more, for a fourth time in a row, but lost the final in extra time to Heidelberger RK. The following year, Frankfurt reached the final for a fifth consecutive time but lost 9-12 in a close game. After two lost finals in a row, the club decided to replace its coach, with Sam Alatini taking over from Aaron Satchwell for 2011-12.
In 2011-12, the club will also take part in the North Sea Cup, a European Cup competition made up of two clubs each from Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
The clubs reserve side has played for many years in the league below, the 2nd Bundesliga South/West.
Current squad
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: 1910, 1913, 1922, 1925, 2008, 2009
- Runners up: 1920, 1926, 1931, 1952, 1969, 2007, 2010, 2011
- 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: 2007, 2009, 2010
- Runners up: 2011
- German sevens championship
- Champions: 2007, 2010
- Runners up: 2008
- 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga
- Champions: 2009
First team
| Year | Division | Position |
| 1998–99 | ||
| Bundesliga qualification round | 6th | |
| 1999–2000 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West (II) | 6th |
| 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West qualification round | 3rd | |
| 2000–01 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 5th |
| 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West qualification round | 2nd | |
| 2001–02 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 4th |
| 2002–03 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 6th |
| 2003–04 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 8th — Relegated |
| 2004–05 | Rugby-Regionalliga Hesse 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) |
Promoted |
| 2005–06 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West (II) | 1st — Promoted |
| 2006–07 | 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) |
1st — Runners up |
| 2007–08 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 1st — Champions |
| 2008–09 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 1st — Champions |
| 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 | 1st — Runners up |
| 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 | 2nd — Runners up |
| 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.
Reserve team
| Year | Division | Position |
| 2001–02 | Rugby-Regionalliga Hesse 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 Hesse | 7th |
| 2003–04 | Rugby-Regionalliga Hesse | 4th |
| 2004–05 | ||
| 2005–06 | Rugby-Regionalliga Hesse | 1st — Promoted |
| 2006–07 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West (II) | 3rd |
| 2007–08 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 4th |
| 2008–09 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 1st |
| 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 | 5th |
| 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 | 7th |
| 2011–12 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West |
Rugby internationals
In GermanyGermany 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....
, Christian Baracat
Christian Baracat
Christian Baracat is a German international rugby union player, having played for the SC Neuenheim in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
and Rolf Wacha
Rolf Wacha
Rolf Wacha is a German international rugby union player, playing for the SC 1880 Frankfurt in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He plays rugby since 1999....
were called up for the national team.
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....
, Wacha appeared for 80 and Germany again, while Benjamin Brierley
Benjamin Brierley (rugby player)
Benjamin Brierley is a German international rugby union player, having last played for the Ampthill RUFC in the National League 3 Midlands and the German national rugby union team....
, Jamie Houston
Jamie 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...
, Daniel Preussner
Daniel Preussner
Daniel Preussner is a German international rugby union player, playing for the SC 1880 Frankfurt in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
, Alexander Hauck
Alexander Hauck
Alexander Hauck is a German international rugby union player, playing for the SC 1880 Frankfurt in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
and Mark Sztyndera
Mark Sztyndera
Mark Sztyndera is a German international rugby union player, playing for the SC 1880 Frankfurt in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
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...
, Mark Sztyndera and Alexander Hauck were re-selected for the German team while Jannis Läpple and Sam Henderson made their debut.
The club had no player 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:...
, but three for 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, Lukas Deichmann, Jens Listmann and Adam Howes.
Coaches
Recent coaches of the club:| Name | Period |
| Lofty Stevenson | –2009 |
| Aaron Satchwell | 2009–2011 |
 Sam Alatini |
2011–present |