GERMAN RUGBY FACTS
Think Germany is way out on a limb of rugby's world-wide tree? Think again. Reports of rugby being played as early as 1865 have been confirmed while the SC 1880 Frankfurt club represented Germany at the 1900 Olympic Games, claiming the silver medal behind France. A national club championship was formed in 1909 and Germany played its first Test match in 1927 losing 5-30 to France in Paris but winning the return game 17-16 in Frankfurt. Germany has hosted the Rugby World Cup Sevens (Europe leg). In 2017 World Rugby said there were 12,072 registered players with the German governing body, the German Rugby Federation.