2012–13 Rugby-Bundesliga

2012–13 Rugby-Bundesliga
Countries	Germany  Luxembourg
Champions	Heidelberger RK (9th title)
← 2011–12 2013–14 →

The 2012–13 Rugby-Bundesliga was the 42nd edition of this competition and the 93rd edition of the German rugby union championship. In the Rugby-Bundesliga, twenty-two teams played in, initially, four regional divisions, the first stage of the competition. The season started on 25 August 2012 and finished with the championship final on 15 June 2013, interrupted by a winter break from 25 November to 3 March.^[1][2] The regular season finished on Wednesday 1 May and the play-offs started on the following weekend, 4 May, and the German championship final was held on 15 June 2013.^[3]

The defending champions were Heidelberger RK who defeated TV Pforzheim in the 2012 final to take out its eights championship and third in a row. Heidelberger RK took out the national championship once more, remaining unbeaten all season and defeating local rival SC Neuenheim 41–10 in the final.

Overview

HRC
St. Pauli

DSV 78
Victoria
Germania

BRC
RK 03
BSV 92

RGH
HRK
HTV
SCN
TSV H

RKH

SC 1880

TV Pforzheim

Luxembourg

Mainz

Aachen

Köln

Potsdam

Leipzig

Location of teams in the Rugby-Bundesliga 2012-13

The league has been radically modified from the 2011–12 season. In 2011–12 the league operated with ten teams playing in a single division in a home-and-away format with semi-finals and a final at the end.^[4] In 2012–13 the league has been expanded, initially to twenty-four teams, which were to play in four regional divisions of six teams each. In those each team would play the others in its division just once. However, two teams resigned from the league before the start of the season, reducing the number of clubs to twenty-two. The Berlin Grizzlies of the eastern division opted to form a team with the reserve side of USV Potsdam Rugby and play in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga instead.^[5] DRC Hannover withdrew from the northern division just before the first game of the season, suffering from a lack of first team players and entered the tier three Rugby-Regionalliga instead for 2012–13.^[6]

The first stage of the competition, the Vorrunde, will finish on 3 October 2012 after which the second stage will start, the Qualifikationsphase, in which the top four teams each from the southern and the western group play each other in one group while the top teams from the north and east play each other in another.^[7] The finals series will be expanded from four to eight teams. The six teams not qualified for the Qualifikationsphase will enter the DRV-Pokal, the German rugby union cup, together with the top eight teams of the 2nd Bundesliga.^[8] The 2nd Bundesliga teams not qualified for the DRV-Pokal will play for the Liga Pokal.^[9]

In the second stage the teams within a group will play each other in a home-and-away format, with the teams that already played each other in the first stage carrying over those results. All sixteen clubs will qualify for the knock-out stage.^[9]

One of the main aims of the reform was to reduce the number of kilometres traveled by individual teams and therefore reduce the travel expenses. Additionally, the 2nd Bundesliga was also expanded to 24 teams.^[10][11][12]

Because of the enlargement of the league from ten to twenty-two (initially twenty-four) teams no club was relegated after the 2011–12 season but twelve clubs promoted:

• Promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga South/West: Heidelberger TV, RC Luxembourg, ASV Köln Rugby, RC Mainz, RC Aachen
• Promoted from the 2nd Bundesliga North/East: FC St. Pauli Rugby, SC Germania List, TSV Victoria Linden, Hamburger RC, Berliner SV 92, USV Potsdam Rugby (DRC Hannover withdrew before the first round due to a lack of players)
• Promoted from the Rugby-Regionalliga: RC Leipzig (Berlin Grizzlies withdrew before the start of the season)

Two clubs finished the regular season unbeaten, DSV 78 Hannover and Heidelberger RK. Of the sixteen clubs qualified for the play-offs three decided to cancel their first round match, the three bottom placed clubs in the north east, Berliner SV 92, Victoria Linden and USV Potsdam, with all three games awarded 50-0 to the opposition.^[13] The quarter finals saw the south western clubs dominate with all four advancing teams being from that division and all north eastern clubs being knocked out.^[14] The semi finals were heavily affected by bad weather, with both games, to be held in Heidelberg, being canceled and rescheduled.^[15] The final saw Heidelberger RK defeat SC Neuenheim 41–10 to take out its ninth national championship and fourth consecutive one.

Bundesliga tables & results

First stage

In the first stage twenty-two clubs played in four groups. Within each group each team played the other just once. The best four teams in each group advanced to the second stage.^[9]

North

The table and results of the division:^[16][17]

Club Played W D L PF PA Diff BP Points 1 DSV 78 Hannover 4 4 0 0 319 8 311 4 20 2 FC St. Pauli Rugby 4 3 0 1 146 102 44 3 15 3 SC Germania List 4 2 0 1 81 142 –61 1 9 4 TSV Victoria Linden 4 1 0 2 44 138 –94 1 5 5 Hamburger RC 4 0 0 4 27 227 –200 0 0 Relegated: None Promoted: 08 Ricklingen/Wunstorf

Club DSV STP GER VIC HRC DSV 78 Hannover — 62–5 65–0 106–0 FC St. Pauli Rugby — 43–10 SC Germania List 3–86 — 34–0 TSV Victoria Linden 22–33 — 22–6 Hamburger RC 8–65 13–34 —

East

The table and results of the division:^[18][19]

Club Played W D L PF PA Diff BP Points 1 Berliner Rugby Club 4 4 0 0 317 25 292 4 20 2 RK 03 Berlin 4 3 0 1 258 76 182 3 15 3 USV Potsdam Rugby 4 2 0 2 137 121 16 2 10 4 Berliner SV 92 Rugby 4 1 0 3 76 289 –213 1 5 5 RC Leipzig 4 0 0 4 16 293 –277 0 0 Relegated: None Promoted: Veltener RC

Club BRC RKB USV BSV RCL Berliner Rugby Club — 61–10 138–7 RK 03 Berlin — 42–7 116–0 USV Potsdam Rugby 5–42 — 58–27 Berliner SV 92 Rugby 8–90 — 34–3 RC Leipzig 3–76 10–67 —

West

The table and results of the division:^[20][21]

Club Played W D L PF PA Diff BP Points 1 SC 1880 Frankfurt 5 5 0 0 264 47 217 5 25 2 RK Heusenstamm 5 4 0 1 290 43 247 5 21 3 RC Mainz 5 2 0 3 127 156 –29 2 10 4 ASV Köln Rugby 5 2 0 2 72 251 –179 2 8 5 RC Luxembourg 5 1 0 3 68 248 –180 0 2 6 RC Aachen 5 0 0 5 29 205 –176 1 1 Relegated: RC Luxembourg (withdrawn) Promoted: TuS 95 Düsseldorf

Club SCF RKH ASV RCM RCL RCA SC 1880 Frankfurt — 22–20 81–0 62–15 RK Heusenstamm — 93–5 73–6 62–10 ASV Köln Rugby — 38–22 0–0 29–5 RC Mainz 0–42 — 77–7 RC Luxembourg 5–48 — 50–0 RC Aachen 7–51 7–13 —

• The game between RC Luxembourg and RC Aachen initially ended in a 21–0 win for Aachen but was later changed to a 50–0 victory for Luxembourg because RCA fielded two underaged players.^[22]
• The game between RC Luxembourg and ASV Köln Rugby was cancelled by both teams with both clubs being deducted two points.^[23]

South

The table and results of the division:^[24][25]

Club Played W D L PF PA Diff BP Points 1 Heidelberger RK 5 5 0 0 338 41 297 5 25 2 SC Neuenheim 5 3 1 1 130 109 21 1 16 3 RG Heidelberg 5 2 1 2 166 153 13 3 13 4 TV Pforzheim 5 2 0 3 195 137 22 4 12 5 TSV Handschuhsheim 5 2 0 3 104 136 –32 1 9 6 Heidelberger TV 5 0 0 5 41 362 –321 0 0 Relegated: None Promoted: None

Club HRK RGH TVP SCN TSV HTV Heidelberger RK — 66–22 42–0 61–7 RG Heidelberg — 23–23 11–15 71–17 TV Pforzheim 12–72 32–39 — 28–41 SC Neuenheim — 27–13 39–3 TSV Handschuhsheim 13–24 — 56–13 Heidelberger TV 0–97 8–99 —

Second stage

In the second stage sixteen clubs played in two groups of eight clubs each. Within each group each team played the others home and away except for the match-ups that already had been played in the first round. The results of those were carried over. All teams in this stage qualified for the play-offs and were seeded according to the final standings.^[9]

North-East

The table and results of the division:^[26]

Club Played W D L PF PA Diff BP Points 1 DSV 78 Hannover 14 14 0 0 1040 89 951 13 69 2 Berliner Rugby Club 14 12 0 2 771 137 634 11 59 3 RK 03 Berlin 14 9 0 5 459 317 142 8 44 4 FC St. Pauli Rugby 14 8 0 6 382 361 21 9 41 5 SC Germania List 14 6 0 8 449 442 7 4 28 6 USV Potsdam Rugby 14 3 0 11 243 747 –504 5 19 7 TSV Victoria Linden 14 2 0 12 179 592 –413 5 13 8 Berliner SV 92 Rugby 14 2 0 12 147 985 –838 0 8

Club DSV STP GER VIC BRC RKB USV BSV DSV 78 Hannover — 62–5 74–11 65–0 24–10 32–14 168–0 119–5 FC St. Pauli Rugby 3–32 — 43–10 42–10 10–47 15–20 25–24 70–7 SC Germania List 3–86 16–32 — 34–0 16–50 46–31 101–3 83–5 TSV Victoria Linden 0–102 22–33 0–13 — 14–36 26–46 28–24 41–10 Berliner Rugby Club 16–30 62–0 52–5 67–0 — 61–10 94–0 138–7 RK 03 Berlin 13–33 22–19 36–13 54–5 11–28 — 42–7 46–13 USV Potsdam Rugby 6–99 20–49 20–8 47–19 5–42 11–24 — 58–27 Berliner SV 92 Rugby 3–114 7–36 10–90 19–14 5–68 8–90 21–18 —

South-West

The table and results of the division:^[27]

Club Played W D L PF PA Diff BP Points 1 Heidelberger RK 14 14 0 0 1100 104 996 13 65 2 SC Neuenheim 14 10 1 3 709 221 488 9 51 3 TV Pforzheim 14 10 0 4 944 290 654 11 47 4 RG Heidelberg 14 8 1 5 555 401 154 9 43 5 SC 1880 Frankfurt 14 7 0 7 408 506 –98 7 35 6 RK Heusenstamm 14 4 0 10 361 695 –334 9 25 7 ASV Köln Rugby 14 2 0 12 133 998 –865 1 9 8 RC Mainz 14 0 0 14 106 1101 –995 2 2

Club SCF RKH ASV RCM HRK RGH TVP SCN SC 1880 Frankfurt — 22–20 81–0 62–15 3–57 36–31 17–37 15–59 RK Heusenstamm 24–40 — 93–5 58–10 12–76 28–32 5–123 0–81 ASV Köln Rugby 0–27 17–38 — 38–22 8–95 12–64 5–109 9–60 RC Mainz 6–60 0–42 16–22 — 6–90 0–91 0–149 10–69 Heidelberger RK 97–0 74–7 129–0 161–0 — 66–22 40–22 42–0 RG Heidelberg 57–16 72–27 52–12 50–0 5–64 — 12–63 23–23 TV Pforzheim 48–22 64–7 131–0 93–15 12–72 32–39 — 28–41 SC Neuenheim 55–7 79–0 81–5 116–6 7–38 22–5 16–33 —

Denotes results carried over from first stage

• Heusenstamm's home game against Mainz was played in Mainz as Heusenstamm's home ground was unfit to be played on due to weather conditions.^[28]
• Both games between Heusenstamm and Heidelberger RK were played at Heusenstamm.
• TV Pforzheim deducted four points for insufficient number of youth teams.^[29]
• SC 1880 Frankfurt's home game against SC Neuenheim, originally ending 15–59, was awarded 50–0 to Frankfurt because Neuenheim fielded two inelegible players.^[30] This decision was later reversed and the original result restored.^[31]
• RG Heidelberg's home game against RC Mainz was not played as Mainz canceled because of a lack of players. Game awarded 50–0 to Heidelberg.

Play-off stage

In the play-offs the sixteen qualified clubs play a knock-out competition in single game format with the winner moving on to the next round. In the first round of the play-off the north-east division clubs play against the south-west division clubs.^[9] The play-offs began on 4 May with the round of sixteen, followed by the quarter finals on 25 May, semi finals on 1 June and the German championship final on 15 June 2013.^[3] However, both semi final games, to be held in Heidelberg, had to be postponed because of bad weather,^[15] and rescheduled for 12 June.

Round of 16

Quarter finals

Semi finals

Final

S1

Heidelberger RK

50

N8

Berliner SV 92 Rugby

0

S1

Heidelberger RK

66

S5

SC 1880 Frankfurt

0

N4

FC St. Pauli Rugby

13

S5

SC 1880 Frankfurt

30

S1

Heidelberger RK

51

S3

TV Pforzheim

9

N2

Berliner Rugby Club

84

S7

ASV Köln Rugby

7

N2

Berliner Rugby Club

7

S3

TV Pforzheim

49

S3

TV Pforzheim

50

N6

USV Potsdam Rugby

0

S1

Heidelberger RK

41

S2

SC Neuenheim

10

N1

DSV 78 Hannover

131

S8

RC Mainz

3

N1

DSV 78 Hannover

7

S4

RG Heidelberg

13

S4

RG Heidelberg

103

N5

SC Germania List

10

S4

RG Heidelberg

18

S2

SC Neuenheim

32

S2

SC Neuenheim

50

N7

TSV Victoria Linden

0

S2

SC Neuenheim

36

N3

RK 03 Berlin

10

N3

RK 03 Berlin

45

S6

RK Heusenstamm

34

• The Berliner SV 92, Victoria Linden and USV Potsdam all cancelled their first round play-off games, citing a lack of players, with all three games awarded 50-0 to the opposition.^[13]

References

1. Rugby Spielpläne - 2012/2013 (German) www.rugbyweb.de, accessed: 16 September 2012
2. 1. Bundesliga (German) totalrugby.de, accessed: 16 September 2012
3. Rugby Spielpläne - 2012/2013: BL Meisterrunde (German) rugbyweb.de, accessed: 2 May 2013
4. Rugby Spielpläne - Archiv 2011/2012 – 1. Bundesliga (German) www.rugbyweb.de, accessed: 16 September 2012
5. DRV veröffentlicht Vorrunden-Spielpläne für 1. und 2. Bundeslig (German) totalrugby.de, published: 7 August 2012, accessed: 16 September 2012
6. DRC Hannover vor Neuanfang in der Regionalliga Nord (German) totalrugby.de, published: 5 September 2012, accessed: 16 September 2012
7. Bundesligaausschusssitzung bestätigt Bundesliga-Gruppen (German) totalrugby.de, published: 4 August 2012, accessed: 16 September 2012
8. TotalRugby Review: 1. Bundesliga - 4. Spieltag (German) totalrugby.de, published: 16 September 2012, accessed: 17 September 2012
9. Rugby-Bundesliga: Wie geht es nach der Vorrunde weiter? (German) totalrugby.de, published: 19 September 2012, accessed: 20 September 2012
10. DRT 2012: Ligareform kommt / Vertrag mit DRV-Vermarkter wird überprüft (German) totalrugby.de, published: 16 July 2012, accessed: 24 July 2012
11. [http://www.rugby-verband.de/?data[pageid]=12&data[newsid]=68p39g DRT] (German) DRV website, published: 16 July 2012, accessed: 24 July 2012
12. Rugby-Vizemeister TV Pforzheim will 2013 den Titel holen (German) Pforzheimer Zeitung, published: 9 May 2012, accessed: 24 July 2012
13. Bundesliga-Achtelfinals: Spielabsagen in Meisterrunde und DRV-Pokal (German) totalrugby.de, published: 2 May 2013, accessed: 5 May 2013
14. TotalRugby Review: Meisterrunde - Viertelfinale (German) totalrugby.de, published: 26 May 2013, accessed: 7 June 2013
15. UNWETTER: Alle Rasenplätze in Heidelberg gesperrt / Halbfinalspiele fallen aus! (German) totalrugby.de, published: 31 May 2013, accessed: 2 June 2013
16. Rugby Spielpläne - 2012/2013 – 1. Bundesliga Nord (German) www.rugbyweb.de, accessed: 16 September 2012
17. [http://www.rugby-verband.de/?data[pageid]=73&data[subpage]=BL1N&data[tabelle]=1 Herren: Bundesliga Nord] (German) DRV website, accessed: 16 September 2012
18. Rugby Spielpläne - 2012/2013 – 1. Bundesliga Ost (German) www.rugbyweb.de, accessed: 16 September 2012
19. [http://www.rugby-verband.de/?data[pageid]=73&data[subpage]=BL1O&data[tabelle]=1 Herren: Bundesliga Ost] (German) DRV website, accessed: 16 September 2012
20. Rugby Spielpläne - 2012/2013 – 1. Bundesliga West (German) www.rugbyweb.de, accessed: 16 September 2012
21. [http://www.rugby-verband.de/?data[pageid]=73&data[subpage]=BL1W&data[tabelle]=1 Herren: Bundesliga West] (German) DRV website, accessed: 16 September 2012
22. TotalRugby Vorschau: 1. Bundesliga - 4. Spieltag (German) totalrugby.de, published: 13 September 2012, accessed: 16 September 2012
23. TotalRugby Review: 1. Bundesliga - 5. Spieltag (German) totalrugby.de, published: 23 September 2012, accessed: 29 September 2012
24. Rugby Spielpläne - 2012/2013 – 1. Bundesliga Süd (German) www.rugbyweb.de, accessed: 16 September 2012
25. [http://www.rugby-verband.de/?data[pageid]=73&data[subpage]=BL1S&data[tabelle]=1 Herren: Bundesliga Süd] (German) DRV website, accessed: 16 September 2012
26. Rugby Spielpläne - 2012/2013 – BL Meisterrunde Nord/Ost (German) www.rugbyweb.de, accessed: 29 September 2012
27. Rugby Spielpläne - 2012/2013 – BL Meisterrunde Süd/West (German) www.rugbyweb.de, accessed: 29 September 2012
28. TotalRugby Review: Meisterrunde - 6. Spieltag (German) totalrugby.de, published: 3 March 2013, accessed: 5 March 2013
29. Sportgericht: Pforzheim verliert 4 Punkte am Grünen Tisch (German) totalrugby.de, published: 12 March 2013, accessed: 22 April 2013
30. +++ UPDATE +++ TotalRugby Review: Meisterrunde (10. Spieltag) (German) totalrugby.de, published: 22 April 2013, accessed: 24 April 2013
31. Erfolg für den SC Neuenheim, Schiedsgericht kassiert Urteil des Sportgerichts (German) totalrugby.de, published: 30 April 2013, accessed: 2 May 2013

External links

• rugbyweb.de - Rugby-Bundesliga table & results (German)
• Totalrugby.de - Bundesliga table & results (German)
• Rugby-Bundesliga at scoresway.com