Rugby Club Luxembourg
 | ||
| Full name | Rugby Club Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Luxembourg Rugby Federation | |
| Founded | 1973 | |
| Location | Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | |
| Ground(s) | Stade Boy Konen | |
| President | Fred Gabriel | |
| Coach(es) | Alex Van Zeeland, James Kent, William Browne | |
| Captain(s) | Guillaume Thevenot | |
| League(s) | Rugby-Bundesliga [1] | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
|
www | ||
Rugby Club Luxembourg, abbreviated to RCL, is a rugby union club, based in Cessange, Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. Luxembourg has no domestic league of its own, so RCL plays in neighbouring countries' leagues; they currently play in the German Rugby-Bundesliga, having previously competed in the Belgian and French National Leagues.
The club has grown rapidly in recent years, and now has over 500 members. Based at Stade Boy Konen, in Cessange, the club is looking to expand to two or three pitches to relieve excessive usage of Boy Konen. The club is widely held in regard as the premier club in Luxembourg having never lost the Luxembourg Cup, and continues to be the primary source of players for the Luxembourg national rugby union team.
History
Founded in May 1973, RCL was the first Luxembourgian rugby club, established by a group of British expatriates working in Luxembourg City. The club consisted then and still does today of a mixture of nationalities, cultures, creeds, languages : Belgian, French, English, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, Australian, South African, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian, Fijian, Norwegian, Luxembourgish, American, New Zealander, Venezuelan and Argentinian.[2]
The club played its first competitive game against US Castillionnaise in September 1973. Up until 1995, the club played in the Alsace-Lorraine regional league and won the Alsace-Lorraine Cup in 1994. In that year, the team joined the Belgian second division, which it belonged to until 1998, when it earned promotion to the first division.[3]
In 2001, the club decided to return to the French league system, again playing regionally in Alsace-Lorraine. It won its division in 2008 but, after an invitation to play in Germany, decided to join the German league system in 2009.[3]
The inclusion of RCL in the 2009 promotion round to the 2nd Bundesliga caused some debate in regards to its legality, as the club had not qualified through the German league system and was not a member of any of the German regional rugby federations. However, RC Luxembourg's application was declared valid in regards to the German rugby federations rules and regulations and the team finished second in the promotion round, earning a place in the 2nd Bundesliga for 2009-10.[4]
The club has in the past recruited several local sportsmen from other sports, including Stéphane Gillet, former Luxembourg national football team goalkeeper, as a back row.[5] Prince Sébastien played for the club's under-20 team, and Grand Duke Henri visited the club to watch his youngest son play.[6]
A league reform in 2012 allowed the club promotion to the Bundesliga after the league was expanded from ten to 24 teams. RCL finished fifth in their group in the 2012-13 season and failed to qualify for the championship round, instead entering the second tier DRV-Pokal, but eventually withdrawing from the competition in October 2012. The club's reserve team however continued to play in Germany, competing in the fourth tier Regionalliga.[7] The team competed in the tier three 3. Liga in 2013–14 and won its division and the competition with a finals victory over TGS Hausen, earning promotion to the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga.
In the 2014–15 season the club finished first in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga qualification round – West & 3rd in the south-west DRV-Pokal group and was knocked out by RC Leipzig in the quarter finals of the play-offs after a first round victory over Veltener RC. The club won the western division of the 2. Bundesliga in 2015–16 and, after play-off victories over StuSta Munchen and München RFC, won its division and the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga Championship for the first time in the clubs history, securing promotion to the Rugby-Bundesliga.
In the 2016-2017 season the club played in the Rugby-Bundesliga but was relegated and for the 2017-2018 season will be playing in the 2. Rugby-Bundesliga with the aim of being promoted. After winning the Bundesliga 2 division West, RCL faced Rugby Club Rottweil, runners-up from Bundesliga 2 division South, in the semifinals of the promotion play-offs. RCL won the game 35-19 in front of a large crowd at Cessange, reaching the promotion final against StuSta Munich. RCL beat Munich 18-12, after leading 18-0 at half time,gaining promotion to Bundesliga 1 and now hopes to establish itself in the German topflight for the 2018-2019 season.
In July 2018, the construction of covered spectator stands began and was completed by September 2018, now offering seating opportunities and shelter to the fans and improving the atmosphere at home games. Plans for a much required club house also exist and await permission to be constructed by the city of Luxembourg, the owner of the ground. The club will also receive a second pitch at Boy Konen, which has become necessary due to the rising numbers of players. This pitch will be shared with a local football club.
Results in the German League
Recent seasons of the club:[8]
| Year | Division | Tier | Position |
| 2009–10 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | II | 3rd |
| 2010–11 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | II | 2nd |
| 2011–12 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | II | 3rd — Promoted |
| 2012–13 | Rugby-Bundesliga qualification round – South | I | 6th |
| DRV-Pokal – South-West | II | withdrawn | |
| 2013–14 | 3rd Liga South/West — West division | III | Champions |
| 2014–15 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga qualification round – West | II | 1st |
| DRV-Pokal – South-West | 3rd — Quarter finals | ||
| 2015–16 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga | II | Champions – Promoted |
| 2016–17 | Rugby-Bundesliga | I | Relegated |
- In 2012 the Bundesliga was expanded from ten to 24 teams and the 2nd Bundesliga from 20 to 24 with the leagues divided into four regional divisions.
Honours
Alsace-Lorraine Cup 1994
2012-13 Squad
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
|
|
.svg.png){kind=small}
2017-18 Squad
Note: Players in Bold are internationally capped. Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
|
.svg.png){kind=small}
Past Seasons
2018-19 Season
RCL won its season opener at home 37-14 against Neckersulm SU.
2017-18 Season
In the 2016-2017 season the club played in the Rugby-Bundesliga but was relegated to the second division. The clubs 1st 15 played the 2017-2018 season in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga with the aim of being promoted. After winning the Bundesliga 2 division West dominantly, RCL faced Rugby Club Rottweil, runners-up from Bundesliga 2 division South, in the semifinals of the promotion play-offs. RCL won the game 35-19 in front of a large crowd at Stade Boy Konen in Cessange, reaching the promotion final against StuSta Munich. RCL beat Munich 18-12, after leading 18-0 at half time, gaining promotion to Bundesliga 1 and now hopes to establish itself in the German topflight for the 2018-2019 season.
- Most Improved Player: Richard Mardsen
- Player of Year: William Browne
2012-13 Season
Following three top 3 finishes in the Bundesliga division 2 (South and West), a league reorganisation saw the 1st team being moved up into the Bundesliga 1 where the team struggled with the overall condition, size and skill of the teams they were up against, many of which are semi-professional. The players competed well but were a level below. As a result, the club management decided to withdraw the 1st team from the league.[9]
- Clubman: Stuart Kelly
- Most Improved Player: Dario Pala
- Player of Year: Peter Hartmann
- Hamish Irwin Award: Matthieu Hommell
- Patterson Cup: Sophie Mansell [10]
2011-12 Season
The club in the 2011-2012 season underwent a rebuilding phase following the departure of 12 starting 1st team players from the previous season, for various reasons. Enda Horan, previously the 2nd team coach, stepped up following the sudden departure of the previous coach, and in line with the desired direction of the club management, worked on creating a club mentality and instilling competition for 1st team spots with the 2nd team acting as a joint development side and a means for aspiring 1st team players to prove themselves. With only one coach in charge and many missing players, the season began very poorly by RCL standards with many of the 2nd team players from the previous season filling in the vacuum left by the departed players, and struggling to cope with the step up. Several new arrivals bolstered the player numbers, most notably Michael Cawley on placement from University College Dublin, who shortly after joining was identified by Horan as being the perfect man to lead the team as captain. With the increased player base and increased squad fitness, the standard of play grew again and some positives victories were recorded. Unfortunately Cawley was injured against TSV Handschuhsheim II and was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, as such club and international veteran Stuart Kelly took over the captaincy.
- Clubman: Graham Goodhew
- Most Improved Player: Roman Zasadny
- Player of Year: Steven Clarke
- Hamish Irwin Award: Stuart Kelly
- Patterson Cup: Stuart Hamilton[11]
2010-11 Season
- Clubman: Paul Sweetnam
- Most Improved Player: Marek Keller
- Player of Year: Laurent Jacquot
- Hamish Irwin Award: Steven Clarke
- Patterson Cup: Christophe Hoffman
- JPMorgan Cup: Alex van Zeeland
See also
- Luxembourg national rugby union team
- Luxembourg Rugby Federation
- Rugby union in Luxembourg
- Luxembourg women's national rugby union team
Clubs
References
- ↑ http://www.rugbyweb.de/index.php?league=BL1S
- ↑ RCL Official website
- 1 2 RCL - a potted history Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine. RCL website, accessed: 8 April 2010
- ↑ Karlsruhe und Luxemburg steigen in die 2.Liga Süd auf (in German) totalrugby.de, published: 6 July 2009, accessed: 19 March 2010
- ↑ "Rugby's unstoppable rise in Luxembourg". Luxemburger Wort. 29 June 2011. Archived from the original on 19 February 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
- ↑ "Royalty muck in at sevens tournament". Luxemburger Wort. 27 June 2011. Archived from the original on 21 February 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
- ↑ DRV-Pokal: Luxemburg zieht zurück (in German) totalrugby.de, published: 18 October 2012, accessed: 9 May 2013
- ↑ RugbyWeb Ergebnisarchiv (in German) rugbyweb.de - Results archive, accessed: 24 July 2012
- ↑ "RCL Rebuilding After German League Withdrawal". Chronicle.lu. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
- ↑ "RCL tackles 40 years". Delano.lu. 8 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
- ↑ "RCL black tie soiree". Luxemburger Wort. 11 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
External links
- (in German) Official website
- (in German) Rugby Club Luxembourg club info at totalrugby.de