German Rugby

[RoosTah]

I've a couple of users in this thread blocked so apologies if i'm repeating anything, but I always thought the growth of rugby Union in the south of France was down to industrialisation coupled with the knowledge flow from the Paris education system.

Rugby League was very popular but almost wiped out due to the vichy.

League was very poorly treated by the Vichy, who saw it as a left wing sport which was excessively anti-establishment. After the war, this attitude somehow seemed to be retained by the power structure, who refused to lift a number of bans on the sport, including the ban on even having the name "rugby" in the sport's ***le.

I honestly don't understand what it was they were so terrified of, but the French establishment really seemed to have seen Rugby League as a major social threat.

 

[ratsapprentice]

In response to Conrad: Yes, at international level Union absolutely dominates League - they aren't even on the same page at that level.

At club level, as has been said - they are much more comparable.
For all of the PRL's complaints about the Unions limiting their growth they do a really ****ty job in marketing the game to the wider public when compared to the RFU.

English domestic rugby has virtually zero terrestrial television presence.

 

[Patchey]

Not just virtually zero, there is actually nothing involving English teams live on terrestrial TV as far as I know. I think the BBC had some coverage in the mid 2000s but its all been Sky (and now BT) since then.

ITV still has a Premiership highlights programme (on very late I belive) but I don't think it has European highlights anymore which it used to.

 

[SimonG]

Nah no beef with AFL itself, just steroid usage. I recall the international rules games (mismatch physically as the Gaelic players are amateurs...farmers, accountants, construction workers by trade). One AFL fella in particular was quite a character...Barry Hall iirc. Gets a bit wild as there doesn't appear to be any rules.

 

[SimonG]

In response to Conrad: Yes, at international level Union absolutely dominates League - they aren't even on the same page at that level.

At club level, as has been said - they are much more comparable.
For all of the PRL's complaints about the Unions limiting their growth they do a really ****ty job in marketing the game to the wider public when compared to the RFU.

English domestic rugby has virtually zero terrestrial television presence.

Pretty much how I see it too. I can't honesty tell you who are the current English club champions. The Heinekin Cup does pretty well though..again i think this is due to the international aspect.

 

[McTallshort]

So German rugby.....

 

[germanbullsfan]

super luxury problems from the german perspective , i have to say!

 

[welshglory]

Double post

 

[welshglory]

I

League was very poorly treated by the Vichy, who saw it as a left wing sport which was excessively anti-establishment. After the war, this attitude somehow seemed to be retained by the power structure, who refused to lift a number of bans on the sport, including the ban on even having the name "rugby" in the sport's ***le.

I honestly don't understand what it was they were so terrified of, but the French establishment really seemed to have seen Rugby League as a major social threat.

I thought they banned all pro sports...

This vichy league conspiracy is ****ing crazy

Edit.
My bad i'm wrong about the pro sports.
I still don't believe in the conspiracy though.
I have never seen any evidence to support it. Just links between some officials in the vichy government and suddenly they banned it because it was left wing and the unionists wanted to erase them from existance.

 

[goodNumber10]

I

I thought they banned all pro sports...

This vichy league conspiracy is ****ing crazy

Edit.
My bad i'm wrong about the pro sports.
I still don't believe in the conspiracy though.
I have never seen any evidence to support it. Just links between some officials in the vichy government and suddenly they banned it because it was left wing and the unionists wanted to erase them from existance.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2307043.stm

 

[SimonG]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/2307043.stm

Had heard about this before but didn't realise it was as bad as that. Pretty disgraceful. Shame because Rugby League is much more French with its emphasis on running and being creative. Amazing that in the present day it's still feeling the effects of being eradicated from the far right establishment. A stain that still exists. It's rebirth would be seen as some kind of victory for democracy.

 

[germanbullsfan]

Heres some footage from total rugby about the german XV!
http://youtu.be/1KoFIe73Pyw

 

[MunichRugger]

Believe it or not, it seems like rugby finally is taking off in Germany.

Number of clubs in Bavaria 1960: 0
Number of clubs in Bavaria 1999: 2
Number of clubs in Bavaria 2014: 29

This incredible grassroots-development combined with the knowledge of over 130 year old rugby clubs in Heidelberg and Hannover will be interesting too watch in the future.

We started our club in 2012. Not even two years later we have 80 members with most of them being german born.

 

[Big Ewis]

Germany to win 2019.

 

[ratsapprentice]

This incredible grassroots-development combined with the knowledge of over 130 year old rugby clubs in Heidelberg and Hannover will be interesting too watch in the future.

We started our club in 2012. Not even two years later we have 80 members with most of them being german born.

Congratulations - fantastic to see the game being grown organically!
Long may it continue.

 

[McTallshort]

Believe it or not, it seems like rugby finally is taking off in Germany.

Number of clubs in Bavaria 1960: 0
Number of clubs in Bavaria 1999: 2
Number of clubs in Bavaria 2014: 29

This incredible grassroots-development combined with the knowledge of over 130 year old rugby clubs in Heidelberg and Hannover will be interesting too watch in the future.

We started our club in 2012. Not even two years later we have 80 members with most of them being german born.

Lets see how Hannover get on now all the British forces have left Deutschland (sad day) but 2 - 29 clubs in one area of Germany is pretty good going.

 

[MunichRugger]

Most of the old Hannover clubs forgot about youth development and paid some foreign players in the early 2000s, so they already are in consolidation or even out of that. Especially Germany's oldest "rugby only" club Hannover 1878.

Heidelberg is Germany's rugby hub for some time now with 5 clubs playing in the first Bundesliga. From my point of view the most important thing in German rugby is the engagement of the Wild Academy. Wild is the owner of "Capri Sun" and he not only sponsors a nearly professional site (Heidelberger RK) but an academy to coach rugby in all of Germany.

The head coach of the wild academy, south-african born Kobus Potgieter, is now Germany's 15s coach and he's doing a great job.

 

[profitius]

Good to see progress being made. It won't happen overnight but if they start to produce quality players then you'd be surprised how fast things can happen.

 

[bakakumon]

Germany defeats Sweden 45-20
promotion to division 1A and chance to qualify for world cup 2015
congrats

 

[germanbullsfan]

Does this much needed victory has an impact in the irb rankings?