TSV Handschuhsheim
Encyclopedia
The TSV Handschuhsheim is a German
rugby union
club from Heidelberg
, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga
. Apart from rugby, the club also offers other sports like association football, handball
and tennis
.
.
For most of its existence, it has stood in the shadow of the other, more successful rugby clubs in town, the SC Neuenheim
, Heidelberger RK
and RG Heidelberg
.
TSV had a breakthrough in 1953, when it reached the German championship final for the first time. It played in three more finals in the next four years, winning its sole championship in 1957. Three more final appearances followed in the 60's.
With the establishment of the Rugby-Bundesliga
in 1971, success dropped off for the team and after one more finals appearance in 1978 a long draught followed.
After a 27 year title-wait, TSV took out the German Cup in 2005 but lost the championship final that year. Both games were against DRC Hannover
.
In 2008 it won the cup once more, surprisingly beating German champions RG Heidelberg 24-23 after extra time in front of 1,000 spectators, quite a reasonable crowd for German rugby.
In 2008-09
, the club sat in fourth place at the winter break with good chances of making it into the expanded finals, where the top-four now qualifed but narrowly missed those with a sixth place finish. Its reserve team played in the 2nd Bundesliga South/West this season. The club also reached the German Cup final once more, losing to champions SC 1880 Frankfurt
.
The 2010-11 season saw the club finish third, behind the two professional outfits Heidelberger RK and SC 1880 Frankfurt, prompting it to be referred to as German amateur champions. It also saw the retirement of its most reliable try-scorer Alexander Pipa
at the end of the season.
The clubs rugby department had a membership of 360 in 2007.
's 2006–08 European Nations Cup campaign
, Thorsten Wiedemann
, Sebastien Chaule
, Jens Schmidt
, Alexander Pipa
and Alexander Hug
were called up for the national team.
In the 2008–10 campaign
, Wiedemann, Chaule, Hug, Pipa and Schmidt all appeared for the TSV and Germany again, while Alexander Metz
was a new addition to the clubs list of internationals.
In the 2010–12 campaign
, Sven Wetzel
, Rob May and Felix Bayer were new additions to the clubs list of German internationals, while Jens Schmidt and Alexander Hug were re-selected for the side.
The club had three players selected for the German under-18 team
at the 2009 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
, these being Matthias Marin, Sebastian Kößler and Konstantin Hoffmann. Of these, Sebastian Kößler also played at the 2010
tournament.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club from Heidelberg
Heidelberg
-Early history:Between 600,000 and 200,000 years ago, "Heidelberg Man" died at nearby Mauer. His jaw bone was discovered in 1907; with scientific dating, his remains were determined to be the earliest evidence of human life in Europe. In the 5th century BC, a Celtic fortress of refuge and place of...
, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga
Rugby-Bundesliga
The Rugby-Bundesliga is the highest level of Germany's rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation.The league is predominantly amateur, with only two of the ten clubs in the league being professional outfits,the SC 1880 Frankfurt and Heidelberger RK.-History:The German rugby...
. Apart from rugby, the club also offers other sports like association football, handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
.
History
The club was formed in 1886 in Handschuhsheim, a suburb of Heidelberg, one of the centres of German rugbyRugby union in Germany
Rugby union in Germany is a minor sport. The German Rugby Federation had 108 member clubs and 11,656 members.-Governing body:The German Rugby Federation is the governing body for rugby union in Germany...
.
For most of its existence, it has stood in the shadow of the other, more successful rugby clubs in town, the SC Neuenheim
SC Neuenheim
The SC Neuenheim is a German rugby union club from Heidelberg, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga. Having won nine men's and twelve women's German championships as of 2004, the club is one of the most accomplished in Germany.-History:...
, Heidelberger RK
Heidelberger RK
The Heidelberger Ruderklub is a German rowing club and rugby union club from Heidelberg, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga....
and RG Heidelberg
RG Heidelberg
The RG Heidelberg is a German rugby union club from Heidelberg, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga. Apart from rugby, the club also offers the sport of rowing.-History:The club was formed on 4 June 1898 as a rowing club...
.
TSV had a breakthrough in 1953, when it reached the German championship final for the first time. It played in three more finals in the next four years, winning its sole championship in 1957. Three more final appearances followed in the 60's.
With the establishment of the Rugby-Bundesliga
Rugby-Bundesliga
The Rugby-Bundesliga is the highest level of Germany's rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation.The league is predominantly amateur, with only two of the ten clubs in the league being professional outfits,the SC 1880 Frankfurt and Heidelberger RK.-History:The German rugby...
in 1971, success dropped off for the team and after one more finals appearance in 1978 a long draught followed.
After a 27 year title-wait, TSV took out the German Cup in 2005 but lost the championship final that year. Both games were against DRC Hannover
DRC Hannover
The DRC Hannover is a German rugby union club from Hannover, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga. The club should not be confused with the DRC 1884 Hannover, a rowing club and a separate entity.-History:...
.
In 2008 it won the cup once more, surprisingly beating German champions RG Heidelberg 24-23 after extra time in front of 1,000 spectators, quite a reasonable crowd for German rugby.
In 2008-09
Rugby-Bundesliga 2008-09
-Overview:The 2008-09 modus was somewhat different from the previous season. The competition had been expanded from eight to nine teams. The final, which used to be determined by the top-two teams of the regular season was now played by the two winners of the semi-finals which pair the first placed...
, the club sat in fourth place at the winter break with good chances of making it into the expanded finals, where the top-four now qualifed but narrowly missed those with a sixth place finish. Its reserve team played in the 2nd Bundesliga South/West this season. The club also reached the German Cup final once more, losing to champions SC 1880 Frankfurt
SC 1880 Frankfurt
The SC 1880 Frankfurt is a German rugby union club from Frankfurt am Main, currently playing in the Rugby-Bundesliga. Apart from rugby, the club also offers other sports like lacrosse, tennis and field hockey....
.
The 2010-11 season saw the club finish third, behind the two professional outfits Heidelberger RK and SC 1880 Frankfurt, prompting it to be referred to as German amateur champions. It also saw the retirement of its most reliable try-scorer Alexander Pipa
Alexander Pipa
Alexander Pipa is a retired German international rugby union player, playing for the TSV Handschuhsheim in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He has been playing rugby since 1996....
at the end of the season.
The clubs rugby department had a membership of 360 in 2007.
Club honours
- German rugby union championshipGerman rugby union championshipThe German rugby union championship was established in 1909 and has since been played, with exceptions, annually. It is the highest competition in Germany in the sport of Rugby Union.-Men:...
- Champions: 1957
- Runners up: 1953, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1963, 1968, 1978, 2005
- German rugby union cupGerman rugby union cupThe German rugby union cup is the premier cup competition for men in the sport of Rugby Union in Germany.In October 2009, it was proposed to discontinue both men's cup competitions after 2010, meaning, both the DRV-Pokal and the league cup will not be played anymore after this season...
- Winner: 2005, 2008
- Runners up: 1978, 2009
- German sevens championship
- Champions: 2004
Men: First team
| Year | Division | Position |
| 1997-98 | Rugby-Bundesliga Rugby-Bundesliga The Rugby-Bundesliga is the highest level of Germany's rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation.The league is predominantly amateur, with only two of the ten clubs in the league being professional outfits,the SC 1880 Frankfurt and Heidelberger RK.-History:The German rugby... (I) |
6th |
| 1998-99 | Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | |
| Bundesliga qualification round | 1st | |
| 1999-2000 | Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 1st |
| Bundesliga championship round | 6th | |
| 2000-01 | Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 1st |
| Bundesliga championship round | 4th | |
| 2001-02 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 4th |
| 2002-03 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 5th |
| 2003-04 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 4th |
| 2004-05 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 2nd — Runners up |
| 2005-06 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 4th |
| 2006-07 Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07 The Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07 was the 36th edition of this competition and the 87th edition of the German rugby union championship. The season went from 26 August 2006 to 12 May 2007, ending with the championship final.-Overview:... |
Rugby-Bundesliga | 6th |
| 2007-08 Rugby-Bundesliga 2007-08 The Rugby-Bundesliga 2007-08 was the 37th edition of this competition and the 88th edition of the German rugby union championship. The season went from 25 August 2007 to 31 May 2008, ending with the relegation final.-Overview:... |
Rugby-Bundesliga | 3rd |
| 2008-09 Rugby-Bundesliga 2008-09 -Overview:The 2008-09 modus was somewhat different from the previous season. The competition had been expanded from eight to nine teams. The final, which used to be determined by the top-two teams of the regular season was now played by the two winners of the semi-finals which pair the first placed... |
Rugby-Bundesliga | 6th |
| 2009–10 Rugby-Bundesliga 2009–10 -Overview:The 2009-10 modus was somewhat different from the previous season. The competition had been expanded from nine to ten teams. It marks the first time since introduction of the single-division Bundesliga in 2001, that ten teams competed in the league. This change of modus was decided upon... |
Rugby-Bundesliga | 4th |
| 2010–11 Rugby-Bundesliga 2010–11 -Overview:The 2009-10 modus is identical to the previous season. However, the competition had been reduced from ten to nine teams, after the withdrawal of the ASV Köln Rugby during last season and no team from the 2nd Bundesliga accepting promotion. Like in 2008-09, the top four teams qualify for... |
Rugby-Bundesliga | 3rd |
| 2011–12 | Rugby-Bundesliga |
- Until 2001, when the single-division Bundesliga was established, the season was divided in autumn and spring, a Vorrunde and Endrunde, whereby the top teams of the Rugby-Bundesliga would play out the championship while the bottom teams together with the autumn 2nd Bundesliga champion would play for Bundesliga qualification. The remainder of the 2nd Bundesliga teams would play a spring round to determine the relegated clubs. Where two placing's are shown, the first is autumn, the second spring.
Reserve team
| Year | Division | Position |
| 2001-02 | Rugby-Regionalliga Rugby-Regionalliga The Rugby-Regionalliga is the third-highest level of Germany's Rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation. Its set below the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga... (III) |
1st |
| 2002-03 | Rugby-Regionalliga | 3rd |
| 2003-04 | Rugby-Regionalliga | 2nd |
| 2004-05 | Rugby-Regionalliga | Promoted |
| 2005-06 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West(II) | 5th |
| 2006-07 Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07 The Rugby-Bundesliga 2006-07 was the 36th edition of this competition and the 87th edition of the German rugby union championship. The season went from 26 August 2006 to 12 May 2007, ending with the championship final.-Overview:... |
2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 5th |
| 2007–08 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 3rd |
| 2008–09 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 5th |
| 2009–10 Rugby-Bundesliga 2009–10 -Overview:The 2009-10 modus was somewhat different from the previous season. The competition had been expanded from nine to ten teams. It marks the first time since introduction of the single-division Bundesliga in 2001, that ten teams competed in the league. This change of modus was decided upon... |
2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 7th |
| 2010–11 Rugby-Bundesliga 2010–11 -Overview:The 2009-10 modus is identical to the previous season. However, the competition had been reduced from ten to nine teams, after the withdrawal of the ASV Köln Rugby during last season and no team from the 2nd Bundesliga accepting promotion. Like in 2008-09, the top four teams qualify for... |
2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West | 4th |
| 2011–12 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West |
Rugby internationals
In GermanyGermany national rugby union team
Germany is a third-tier Rugby Union playing nation. Germany currently plays at the second level of European rugby but has never managed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup...
's 2006–08 European Nations Cup campaign
Germany at the 2006–08 European Nations Cup
Germany at the 2006–08 European Nations Cup was the first time since 1981 that the German national rugby union team reached highest level of FIRA rugby, the European Nations Cup, by winning its group, the Division 2A in 2006–08....
, Thorsten Wiedemann
Thorsten Wiedemann
Thorsten Wiedemann is a German international rugby union player, playing for the Sunshine Coast Stingrays in Queensland Premier Rugby and the German national rugby union team.-Biography:...
, Sebastien Chaule
Sebastien Chaule
Sebastien Chaule is a German international rugby union player, playing for the TSV Handschuhsheim in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He plays rugby since 1981 and originally hails from France....
, Jens Schmidt
Jens Schmidt
Jens Schmidt is a German international rugby union player, playing for the TSV Handschuhsheim in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team...
, Alexander Pipa
Alexander Pipa
Alexander Pipa is a retired German international rugby union player, playing for the TSV Handschuhsheim in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He has been playing rugby since 1996....
and Alexander Hug
Alexander Hug (rugby player)
Alexander Hug is a German international rugby union player, playing for the TSV Handschuhsheim in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
were called up for the national team.
In the 2008–10 campaign
Germany at the 2008–10 European Nations Cup
Germany at the 2008–10 European Nations Cup was the first time since 1981 that the German national rugby union team competed at the highest level of FIRA rugby, the European Nations Cup, during 2008-10....
, Wiedemann, Chaule, Hug, Pipa and Schmidt all appeared for the TSV and Germany again, while Alexander Metz
Alexander Metz
Alexander Metz is a German international rugby union player, playing for the RG Heidelberg in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team.He plays rugby since 1991....
was a new addition to the clubs list of internationals.
In the 2010–12 campaign
Germany at the 2010–12 European Nations Cup
Germany at the 2010–12 European Nations Cup sees a return of the German national rugby union team to the ENC Second Division, having been relegated without a win from the First Division in 2008–10...
, Sven Wetzel
Sven Wetzel
Sven Wetzel is a German international rugby union player, playing for the TSV Handschuhsheim in the Rugby-Bundesliga and the German national rugby union team....
, Rob May and Felix Bayer were new additions to the clubs list of German internationals, while Jens Schmidt and Alexander Hug were re-selected for the side.
The club had three players selected for the German under-18 team
Germany national under-18 rugby union team
The Germany national under-18 rugby union team is the under-18 team of the Germany national rugby union team in the sport of rugby union.-Overview:...
at the 2009 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
2009 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
-Relegation:-Championship:-Relegation:-Championship:* The Hungary Sweden semi final was decided on number of tries scored, which Sweden won 3-2.-Relegation:-Championship:-Relegation:...
, these being Matthias Marin, Sebastian Kößler and Konstantin Hoffmann. Of these, Sebastian Kößler also played at the 2010
2010 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
-Relegation:-Championship:-Relegation:The Switzerland versus Ukraine game was tied after regular time and was decided by penalty kicks.-Championship:-Relegation:...
tournament.
Coaches
Recent coaches of the club:| Name | Period |
| Mathias Bechtel & Günther Sträßer | - 2009 |
| Jan Ceselka | 2009 - present |