Der Kaiser said:
A number of clubs dont get back to the people running the game of Union in Germany so a guess figure is put in! Thats fact and likely the case in many sports. Who cares if Union has 5000 or 10000 or if League has 10 or 100 Players-As long as people are playing and enjoying their sports what has that got to do with us? If some sports want to make an issue of how many people are playing thats upto them but its not something Rugby League Deutschland are too concerned with more the fact of giving Germans the chance to learn and play our game. We have only been going 18 Months on very little finance and so have done very well all things considered with likely 3 maybe 4 German teams in the Alpine 9s and then Heidelberg Sharks who will play 13 a side friendlies against a couple of English and French teams this year.
Hallo Kaiser,
I am a Kiwi (from New Zealand) living in Eisenach and working at the University in Leipzig (Lecturing in Sports Science - Bio Mechanics and Physiology). The Deutscher Rugby Verband was establish in the early 1900's it is also a member of the IRB (Intertnational Rugby Board), but the reason why Rugby Union was established in Germany at such an early stage, was the English migrants that settled in the southern regions of Germany (Baden Württemberg, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate usw), however, from the 1970's onwards Rugby Union consolidated its presence with Kiwi immigrants who settled around Heidelberg.
The quoted amount of Union players in Germany of 10,000 is a conservative estimation, but lets not forget that the game is also played by the women folk also. The National League has been operating for some years now, with strong clubs spread across the nation. There is a concerted effort to have the top 2 mens clubs in Germany participate at a higher level in the European cup tournaments. Some of the clubs have Kiwi connections in regards to coaching, and there has been in recent times players from across the border (France, The Czech Republic, Slovakia) who have aligned themselves with clubs here in Germany.
Rugby Union will never reach the same heights as Soccer and Handball which are rated Number 1 and 2 respectively for player numbers in Germany, but financially the National Union is in good shape with excellent sponsors like: SAS, Gilbert, Hansa, Erima etc.
The game receives good exposure, and often has commercials run on DSF, years ago, Jonah Lomu and the All Blacks were frequently advertised on DSF.
Rugby Union is played at all levels in Germany from Schools to Gymnasiums to University and also at certain workplaces by Men and Women and students. They have a National Mens and Women's team who participate at International events, the Mens team are currently playing for the right to participate in the 2007 World Cup, the Womens National team have regularly particpated in the Women's World Cup and have acquitted themselves well against the reigning World Champion "Black Ferns" from New Zealand, in previous events.
The Mens participate in the 7's tournament, and were in New Zealand in 2000 with the World 7's circuit.
The All Blacks (New Zealand) when in Europe or Great Britain tour through Germany, this is because Addidas (German Sports Company) is their largest sponsor.
I believe though that over time, Rugby League will make an impact, as you said money and sponsorship deals are critical to the growth of the game, the Eastern ("old" Soviet states) Countries like Estonia, Russia, Lithuania etc Rugby League is making an impact, Russia however has in recent times attracted good growth in Rugby Union, Basketball is the number one sport in Estonia, with yet again Soccer and Handball being the dominant sports in Russia and Lithuania.
