German national rugby union team
 |
|
| Emblem | Bundesadler (Federal Eagle) |
|---|---|
| Union | Deutscher Rugby-Verband |
| Head coach | Kobus Potgieter |
| Captain | Carlos Bolts Horn |
| Most caps | Alexander Widiker (40) |
| Top scorer | Raynor Parkinson (143) |
| Top try scorer | Tim Kasten (19) |
| World Rugby ranking | |
| Current | 23 (as of 14 November 2016) |
| Highest | 23 (2016) |
| Lowest | 37 (2011) |
| First international | |
|
France 30 − 5 Germany (17 April 1927) |
|
| Biggest win | |
|
Germany 108 − 0 Serbia and Montenegro (12 November 2005) |
|
| Biggest defeat | |
|
Russia 89 − 6 Germany (16 April 2000) |
|
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 0 |
| Website | www.rugby-verband.de |
Germany is a third-tier rugby union playing nation. Germany currently plays at the second level of European rugby but has never qualified for the Rugby World Cup. The national team first played in 1927, with rugby union in Germany being administered by the German Rugby Federation (Deutscher Rugby-Verband).
The German national team regularly competes in the European Nations Cup, the senior men's rugby tournament for European nations below the Six Nations. Following victory in Division 2A of that tournament in 2007–08, Germany competed in Division One, the top tier of the European Nations Cup, where it suffered defeat in every game and relegation. With the exception of some players who play in France, the German team is still largely an amateur side.
Germany's greatest achievement in men's rugby is arguably the silver medal won at the 1900 Olympic Games.
Germany's declared aim was originally to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England, but it has since lowered this ambition to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Germany recently caused an upset downing the more fancied Uruguay side at home.
The German rugby union team's history began on 17 April 1927, when they played France in Paris, losing 5–30. The team established itself in their early years as number two in continental Europe, behind the French. They played 14 tests against their neighbour before the Second World War, winning two of them. As an indication of the team's strength, they did not lose to any team but France until 1937, when Italy beat them 9–7. Because Germany never played any of the Home nations, it is difficult to judge the true strength of the team from that era.
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