| Sport: | Rugby union |
| Founded: | 1909 |
| Pixels: | 200px |
| Champion: | Men: TV PforzheimWomen: Heidelberger RK |
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.
The German Rugby Federation, the DRV was formed on 4 November 1900 in Kassel.[1]
The first final of the German championship was played on 14 November 1909 in Stuttgart.[2] Originally it was played between the two best teams out of the regional competitions. In 1962, a cup competition, the DRV-Pokal, was introduced,[3] and additionally, a league cup was formed in 1983.[4] All competitions are played annually.
In 1971, the Rugby-Bundesliga was established, from then on the two best teams out of this league would play in the final.[5]
The TSV Victoria Linden from Hannover is the record champion, having won 20 titles so far.[6] Until 2006, every final included a team from Hannover. Since then, in 2006, 2007 and 2008, no team from this city has reached the German final.
From 1996, a German championship in sevens rugby has been organised. This competition has been held annually since, except in 2001 and 2002.[7]
A German women's championship was established in 1988 and has been held annually since.[8] Since 2000, the women also organise a sevens championship.[9]
See main article: 2015–16 Rugby-Bundesliga. The top two teams in each division of the two divisions of the Bundesliga qualified for the play-offs with the semi-finals held on 30 April and the final on 7 May 2016:[10]
The 2015–16 women's final was once more contested between Heidelberger RK and SC Neuenheim and held on 14 May 2016 in Heidelberg, with HRK defeating Neuenheim 13–10.[11]
Since 1909, the German rugby champions are determined by a final (except in 2001-02), nowadays held between the two top teams of the Rugby-Bundesliga:
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1908-09 | FC 1897 Hannover | FV Stuttgart | 6-3 | |
| 1909-10 | FC Frankfurt 1880 | SV Odin Hannover | 3-0 | |
| 1910-11 | not held | |||
| 1911-12 | FC Neuenheim | FC 1897 Hannover | 13-6 | |
| 1912-13 | FC 1880 Frankfurt | DFV 1878 Hannover | 3-0 | |
| 1913-14 | SV Odin Hannover | FC Neuenheim | 3-0 | |
| 1914-19 | not held | |||
| 1919-20 | SV Odin Hannover | SC 1880 Frankfurt | 3-0 | |
| 1920-21 | FC Neuenheim | Hawa-Alexandria Hannover | 11-0 | |
| 1921-22 | SC 1880 Frankfurt | Hawa-Alexandria Hannover | 3-0 | |
| 1922-23 | FC Schwalbe Hannover | SC Neuenheim | 6-3 | |
| 1923-24 | SC Neuenheim | TSV Victoria Linden | 8-3 | |
| 1924-25 | SC 1880 Frankfurt | SC Linden | 33-13 | |
| 1925-26 | FC Schwalbe Hannover | SC 1880 Frankfurt | 8-0 | |
| 1926-27 | Heidelberger RK | TSV Victoria Linden | 10-6 | |
| 1927-28 | Heidelberger RK | DFV 1878 Hannover | 8-0 | |
| 1928-29 | TSV Victoria Linden | Heidelberger RK | 5-0 | |
| 1929-30 | SV Odin Hannover | RG Heidelberg | 13-0 | |
| 1930-31 | SV Odin Hannover | SC 1880 Frankfurt | 38-0 | |
| 1931-32 | FV 1897 Linden | RG Heidelberg | 6-5 | |
| 1932-33 | VfR Döhren | RG Heidelberg | 3-0 | |
| 1933-34 | VfR Döhren | FV 1897 Linden | 8-3 | |
| 1934-35 | not held | |||
| 1935-36 | FC Schwalbe Hannover | SC Neuenheim | 11-0 | |
| 1936-37 | FV 1897 Linden | RG Heidelberg | 32-11 | |
| 1937-38 | VfV Hannover | RG Heidelberg | 14-3 | |
| 1938-39 | VfV Hannover | SC Neuenheim | 16-0 | |
| 1939-40 | FV 1897 Linden | Eintracht Frankfurt | 19-6 | |
| 1940-41 | SC Elite Hannover | BSC Siemens Berlin | 11-3 / 12-8 | |
| 1941-42 | SG Ordnungspolizei Berlin | SC Germania List | 13-9 | |
| 1942-47 | not held | |||
| 1947-48 | TSV Victoria Linden | Berliner SV 92 | 30-0 | |
| 1948-49 | SC Neuenheim | SC Germania List | 11-0 | |
| 1949-50 | SV 08 Ricklingen | SC Neuenheim | 6-0 | |
| 1950-51 | TSV Victoria Linden | SC Neuenheim | 18-9 | |
| 1951-52 | TSV Victoria Linden | SC 1880 Frankfurt | 22-3 | |
| 1952-53 | TSV Victoria Linden | TSV Handschuhsheim | 19-8 | |
| 1953-54 | TSV Victoria Linden | SC Neuenheim | 23-3 | |
| 1954-55 | TSV Victoria Linden | TSV Handschuhsheim | 6-3 | |
| 1955-56 | TSV Victoria Linden | TSV Handschuhsheim | 12-6 | |
| 1956-57 | TSV Handschuhsheim | SC Elite Hannover | 6-3 | |
| 1957-58 | TSV Victoria Linden | SC Neuenheim | 21-0 | |
| 1958-59 | VfR Döhren | RG Heidelberg | 10-5 | |
| 1959-60 | SV 08 Ricklingen | TSV Handschuhsheim | 17-0 | |
| 1960-61 | SV Odin Hannover | SC Neuenheim | 5-0 | |
| 1961-62 | TSV Victoria Linden | SC Neuenheim | 11-3 | |
| 1962-63 | SV Odin Hannover | TSV Handschuhsheim | 11-3 | |
| 1963-64 | DSV 1878 Hannover | FC St. Pauli | 11-0 | |
| 1964-65 | TSV Victoria Linden | Eintracht Frankfurt | 17-12 | |
| 1965-66 | SC Neuenheim | DSV 1878 Hannover | 9-3 | |
| 1966-67 | SC Neuenheim | TSV Victoria Linden | 11-9 | |
| 1967-68 | DSV 1878 Hannover | TSV Handschuhsheim | 8-6 | |
| 1968-69 | TSV Victoria Linden | SC 1880 Frankfurt | 25-3 | |
| 1969-70 | DSV 1878 Hannover | RG Heidelberg | 20-6 | |
| 1970-71 | Heidelberger RK | DSV 1878 Hannover | 14-9 | |
| 1971-72 | TSV Victoria Linden | SC Neuenheim | 17-16 | |
| 1972-73 | Heidelberger RK | SV 08 Ricklingen | 3-0 | |
| 1973-74 | SV 08 Ricklingen | Heidelberger TV | 15-9 | |
| 1974-75 | TSV Victoria Linden | Heidelberger RK | 12-4 | |
| 1975-76 | Heidelberger RK | TSV Victoria Linden | 35-0 | |
| 1976-77 | SC Germania List | Heidelberger RK | 16-9 | |
| 1977-78 | FV 1897 Linden | TSV Handschuhsheim | 24-16 | |
| 1978-79 | SC Germania List | Heidelberger TV | 9-0 | |
| 1979-80 | RG Heidelberg | FV 1897 Linden | 16-10 | |
| 1980-81 | SC Germania List | Heidelberger RK | 28-19 | |
| 1981-82 | DSV 78 Hannover | RG Heidelberg | 15-6 | |
| 1982-83 | DSV 78 Hannover | RG Heidelberg | 16-12 | |
| 1983-84 | DSV 78 Hannover | TSV Victoria Linden | 27-6 | |
| 1984-85 | DSV 78 Hannover | Heidelberger RK | 24-9 | |
| 1985-86 | Heidelberger RK | DSV 1878 Hannover | 15-9 | |
| 1986-87 | TSV Victoria Linden | DSV 1878 Hannover | 24-0 | |
| 1987-88 | DRC Hannover | DSV 1878 Hannover | 12-9 | |
| 1988-89 | TSV Victoria Linden | Berliner RC | 20-6 | |
| 1989-90 | DSV 78 Hannover | SC Neuenheim | 31-4 | |
| 1990-91 | DSV 78 Hannover | TSV Victoria Linden | 6-3 | |
| 1991-92 | TSV Victoria Linden | SV 08 Ricklingen | 59-3 | |
| 1992-93 | TSV Victoria Linden | DSV 1878 Hannover | 18-14 | |
| 1993-94 | TSV Victoria Linden | Heidelberger TV | 15-3 | |
| 1994-95 | SC Neuenheim | TSV Victoria Linden | 14-13 | |
| 1995-96 | TSV Victoria Linden | RG Heidelberg | 9-8 | |
| 1996-97 | RG Heidelberg | TSV Victoria Linden | 15-13 | |
| 1997-98 | DRC Hannover | TSV Victoria Linden | 25-20 | |
| 1998-99 | DRC Hannover | RG Heidelberg | 24-10 / 11-22 | |
| 1999–2000 | DRC Hannover | TSV Victoria Linden | 45-12 / 34-3 | |
| 2000-01 | DRC Hannover | SC Neuenheim | 28-16 / 8-13 | |
| 2001-02 | DRC Hannover | not held [12] | ||
| 2002-03 | SC Neuenheim | DRC Hannover | 18-9 | |
| 2003-04 | SC Neuenheim | DRC Hannover | 23-18 | |
| 2004-05 | DRC Hannover | TSV Handschuhsheim | 21-9 | |
| 2005-06 | RG Heidelberg | SC Neuenheim | 13-9 | |
| 2006-07 | RG Heidelberg | SC 1880 Frankfurt | 23-15 | |
| 2007-08 | SC 1880 Frankfurt | RG Heidelberg | 28-13 | |
| 2008-09 | SC 1880 Frankfurt | Heidelberger RK | 11-8 | |
| 2009-10 | Heidelberger RK | SC 1880 Frankfurt | 39-22 | |
| 2010-11 | Heidelberger RK | SC 1880 Frankfurt | 12-9 | |
| 2011-12 | Heidelberger RK | TV Pforzheim | 20-16 | |
| 2012-13 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 41-10 | |
| 2013-14 | Heidelberger RK | TV Pforzheim | 43-20 | |
| 2014-15 | Heidelberger RK | TV Pforzheim | 53-27 | |
| 2015-16 | TV Pforzheim | Heidelberger RK | 41–36 | |
As of 2016, this is the standing in the all-time winners list of the German championship:
| Club | Championships | Finals | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSV Victoria Linden | 20 | 30 | |
| Heidelberger RK | 12 | 19 | |
| DSV 78 Hannover | 9 | 17 | |
| SC Neuenheim | 9 | 24 | |
| DRC Hannover | 7 | 9 | |
| SC 1880 Frankfurt | 6 | 13 | |
| SV Odin Hannover | 6 | 7 | |
| RG Heidelberg | 4 | 16 | |
| FV 1897 Linden | 4 | 6 | |
| FC Schwalbe Hannover | 3 | 3 | |
| VfR Döhren | 3 | 3 | |
| SC Germania List | 3 | 5 | |
| SV 08 Ricklingen | 3 | 5 | |
| VfV Hannover | 2 | 2 | |
| TV Pforzheim | 1 | 4 | |
| SG Ordnungspolizei Berlin | 1 | 1 | |
| SC Elite Hannover | 1 | 2 | |
| FC 1897 Hannover | 1 | 1 | |
| TSV Handschuhsheim | 1 | 8 | |
| Heidelberger TV | 0 | 3 | |
| Eintracht Frankfurt Rugby | 0 | 2 | |
| Hawa-Alexandria Hannover | 0 | 2 | |
| Berliner RC | 0 | 1 | |
| FC St Pauli Rugby | 0 | 1 | |
| Berliner SV 92 Rugby | 0 | 1 | |
| BSC Siemens Berlin | 0 | 1 | |
| SC Linden | 0 | 1 | |
| FV Stuttgart | 0 | 1 |
Rugby in Germany is predominantly played in Heidelberg and Hanover, which is reflected in championship wins by city (as of 2015):
| City | Wins | |
|---|---|---|
| Hanover | 62 | |
| Heidelberg | 26 | |
| Frankfurt | 6 | |
| Berlin | 1 |
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | SC Neuenheim | RG Heidelberg | 23-12 | |
| 1996-97 | RG Heidelberg | SC Neuenheim | 7-5 | |
| 1997-98 | RG Heidelberg | SC Neuenheim | 33-5 | |
| 1998-99 | RG Heidelberg | DRC Hannover | 33-20 | |
| 1999–2000 | TSV Victoria Linden | RG Heidelberg | 40-12 | |
| 2000-01 | not held | |||
| 2001-02 | not held | |||
| 2002-03 | RG Heidelberg | Karlsruher SV | 31-7 | |
| 2003-04 | TSV Handschuhsheim | RG Heidelberg | 20-5 | |
| 2004-05 | RG Heidelberg | RK Heusenstamm | 36-17 | |
| 2005-06 | RK Heusenstamm | Berliner RC | 19-14 aet | |
| 2006-07 | SC 1880 Frankfurt | RG Heidelberg | 40-26 | |
| 2007-08 | RG Heidelberg | SC 1880 Frankfurt | 26-24 | |
| 2008-09 | RG Heidelberg | RK Heusenstamm | 31-19 | |
| 2009-10 | SC 1880 Frankfurt | SC Neuenheim | 29-12 | |
| 2010-11 | Heidelberger RK | RG Heidelberg | 25-14 | |
| 2011-12 | TV Pforzheim | Heidelberger RK | 31-24 | |
| 2012-13 | Heidelberger RK | TV Pforzheim | 20-19 | |
| 2013-14 | Heidelberger RK | TV Pforzheim | 24-19 | |
| 2014–15 | RG Heidelberg | Heidelberger RK | 24–17 | |
Since 1988, the German women's rugby champions are determined by a final:
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-88 | SC Neuenheim | |||
| 1988-89 | SC Neuenheim | |||
| 1989-90 | SC Neuenheim | |||
| 1990-91 | SC Neuenheim | DRC Hannover | 30-0 | |
| 1991-92 | SC Neuenheim | |||
| 1992-93 | SC Neuenheim | DRC Hannover | 22-7 | |
| 1993-94 | RC Rottweil | SC Neuenheim | 3-0 | |
| 1994-95 | FC St. Pauli | SC Neuenheim | 23-5 | |
| 1995-96 | SC Neuenheim | FC St. Pauli | 14-5 | |
| 1996-97 | SC Neuenheim | FC St. Pauli | 12-8 | |
| 1997-98 | SC Neuenheim | FC St. Pauli | 26-12 | |
| 1998-99 | SC Neuenheim | FC St. Pauli | 17-15 | |
| 1999–2000 | FC St. Pauli | SC Neuenheim | 39-3 | |
| 2000-01 | FC St. Pauli | SC Neuenheim | 37-8 | |
| 2001-02 | DRC Hannover | FC St. Pauli | 18-17 | |
| 2002-03 | FC St. Pauli | SC Germania List | 25-0 | |
| 2003-04 | SC Neuenheim | FC St. Pauli | 31-5 | |
| 2004-05 | FC St. Pauli | SC Neuenheim | 15-0 | |
| 2005-06 | FC St. Pauli | SC Germania List | 17-5 | |
| 2006-07 | FC St. Pauli | Heidelberger RK | 34-17 | |
| 2007-08 | FC St. Pauli | SC Neuenheim | 29-7 | |
| 2008-09 | SC Neuenheim | Heidelberger RK | 24-23 | |
| 2009-10 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 37-5 | |
| 2010-11 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 58-5 | |
| 2011-12 | Heidelberger RK | FC St. Pauli | 27-19 | |
| 2012-13 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 19-0 | |
| 2013-14 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 14-7 | |
| 2014–15 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 10–7 | |
| 2015–16 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 13–10 |
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | FC St. Pauli | |||
| 2000-01 | FC St. Pauli | |||
| 2001-02 | FC St. Pauli | |||
| 2002-03 | SC Germania List | SC Neuenheim | 5-0 | |
| 2003-04 | SC Germania List | SC Neuenheim | 20-0 | |
| 2004-05 | ASV Köln | SC Neuenheim | 10-5 | |
| 2005-06 | Heidelberger RK | SC Germania List | 40-0 | |
| 2006-07 | SC Neuenheim | FC St. Pauli | 22-17 | |
| 2007-08 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 24-15 | |
| 2008-09 | Heidelberger RK | no final | ||
| 2009-10 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 29-0 | |
| 2010-11 | Heidelberger RK | SG Berlin | 60-5 | |
| 2011-12 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 30-7 | |
| 2012-13 | Heidelberger RK | SC Neuenheim | 37-14 |
See main article: East German rugby union championship. The East German championship was held from 1952 to 1990, with the Stahl Hennigsdorf Rugby as the most successful team, winning 27 championships:[13]
| Season | Winner | Runner-Up | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1953 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1954 | DHfK Leipzig | ||
| 1955 | DHfK Leipzig | ||
| 1956 | SC Vorwärts Berlin | ||
| 1957 | DHfK Leipzig | ||
| 1958 | DHfK Leipzig | ||
| 1959 | not held | ||
| 1960 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1961 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1962 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1963 | DHfK Leipzig | ||
| 1964 | BSG Lokomotive Wahren Leipzig | ||
| 1965 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1966 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1967 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1968 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1969 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1970 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1971 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1972 | BSG Stahl Leegebruch | ||
| 1973 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1974 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1975 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1976 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1977 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1978 | BSG Lokomotive Wahren Leipzig | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | |
| 1979 | BSG Lokomotive Wahren Leipzig | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | |
| 1980 | BSG Lokomotive Wahren Leipzig | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | |
| 1981 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1982 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1983 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1984 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1985 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1986 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1987 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | ||
| 1988 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | BSG Stahl Brandenburg | |
| 1989 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | BSG Post Berlin | |
| 1990 | BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf | BSG Post Berlin | |