‘Hungry’ Germany eye historic Rugby World Cup chance

HEIDELBERG, Germany: Mike Ford, a former British and Irish Lions defence coach, admits it’s humbling to help Germany’s parttimers prepare for their once-in-alifetime chance to qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Ford, who has also worked with the England and Ireland national teams, has been brought in as Germany’s head coach for the repechage tournament in Marseille against Canada, Kenya and Hong Kong which starts on Sunday.

The tournament will decide the last remaining berth for the 2019 World Cup and the repechage winner will join powerhouses New Zealand and South Africa, plus Italy and Namibia, in Group B in Japan.

This is the closest Germany have ever come to Rugby World Cup qualification and Ford, the Lions’ defence coach in New Zealand in 2005, is putting together their game plan for the one- off tournament.

Much is at stake for the German Rugby Union.

Having already pumped in millions of euros, their wealthy backer Hans- Peter Wild, the owner of Stade Francais in Paris, has only promised to financially support the national XV team until the Marseille tournament.

Geography is also an issue as Ford, England’s defence coach when they lost the 2007 World Cup final to South Africa, is working with a squad of semi-pro players scattered across clubs in Germany, France and Britain. — AFP