Wild Rugby Academy
Encyclopedia
The Wild Rugby Academy is a German
rugby union
institution in Heidelberg
, focused on the development of the sport in the region and Germany. One of its main aims is to develop players for Germany
to be able to participate in the 2015 Rugby World Cup
, as well as to establish a German team in the European Challenge Cup
, the Wild Titans by 2010. The later plan was delayed but a German team is now scheduled to enter the competition from 2011, alongside other academy teams from Russia, Spain and Georgia.
Hans Peter Wild. He originally conceived the idea in May 2007 and the academy was established in October of the same year.
The academy aims to import expertise from the more developed rugby nations in order to improve the game in Germany. It started out with an under-19 group which was later followed by an under-21 group, and draws young players from the Frankfurt
, Heusenstamm
and Heidelberg
area, targeting clubs and schools. In 2008, the academy "decided to become more professional" and employed a new manager and coach.
In November 2008, the academy embarked on its first tour, traveling to England
to play two matches. In March 2009, an academy team, the Wild Titans, will be traveling to Hong Kong
for a tournament. Mustafa Güngör
and Benjamin Danso
, two current German internationals, are part of the 15 selected players for the tournament.
Christopher Liebig
was the first player trained with the academy to make a debut for Germany, in its game against Portugal
in February 2009.
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...
institution in 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...
, focused on the development of the sport in the region and Germany. One of its main aims is to develop players for 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...
to be able to participate in the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2015 Rugby World Cup
The 2015 Rugby World Cup is scheduled to be the eighth Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial rugby union world championship. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted by England from 4 September to 17 October 2015. In addition, Cardiff's 74,500-seater Millennium Stadium in Wales will also be used...
, as well as to establish a German team in the European Challenge Cup
European Challenge Cup
The European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
, the Wild Titans by 2010. The later plan was delayed but a German team is now scheduled to enter the competition from 2011, alongside other academy teams from Russia, Spain and Georgia.
History
The academy was named after its founder, the German entrepreneurEntrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
Hans Peter Wild. He originally conceived the idea in May 2007 and the academy was established in October of the same year.
The academy aims to import expertise from the more developed rugby nations in order to improve the game in Germany. It started out with an under-19 group which was later followed by an under-21 group, and draws young players from the Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Heusenstamm
Heusenstamm
Heusenstamm is a town of over 18,000 in the Offenbach district in the Regierungsbezirk of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany.- Geography :- Location :The town lies on the river Bieber. Heusenstamm is one of 13 towns and communities in the Offenbach district...
and 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...
area, targeting clubs and schools. In 2008, the academy "decided to become more professional" and employed a new manager and coach.
In November 2008, the academy embarked on its first tour, traveling to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to play two matches. In March 2009, an academy team, the Wild Titans, will be traveling to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
for a tournament. 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....
and Benjamin Danso
Benjamin Danso
Benjamin Danso is a German international rugby union player, playing for the Heidelberger RK in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
, two current German internationals, are part of the 15 selected players for the tournament.
Aims and achievements
The academy aims to develop the game of rugby union in Germany, by awarding scholarships to young and senior players. It also plans to assist in the development of coaches and referees. The main goals of the academy are:- to establish a German team in the European Challenge CupEuropean Challenge CupThe European Challenge Cup, currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Amlin Challenge Cup, is one of two annual rugby union competitions organised by European Rugby Cup. The cup was known as the Parker Pen Shield from 2001 to 2003 and Parker Pen Challenge Cup from 2003 to 2005. The European...
, the Wild Titans. It hopes to achieve this by 2010. This is now scheduled to happen in 2011. - to develop players for Germany to be able to participate in the 2015 Rugby World Cup2015 Rugby World CupThe 2015 Rugby World Cup is scheduled to be the eighth Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial rugby union world championship. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted by England from 4 September to 17 October 2015. In addition, Cardiff's 74,500-seater Millennium Stadium in Wales will also be used...
. The academy has the support of the German Rugby Federation, which hopes to establish a similar institution in the north of Germany.
Christopher Liebig
Christopher Liebig
Christopher Liebig is a German international rugby union player, playing for the Heidelberger RK in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
was the first player trained with the academy to make a debut for Germany, in its game against Portugal
Portugal national rugby union team
The Portugal national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union side representing Portugal. They first played in 1935 and now compete in the European Nations Cup. Rugby union in Portugal is administered by the Federação Portuguesa de Rugby. Portugal qualified for their first Rugby World Cup in...
in February 2009.