Rugby Club Luxembourg

Rugby Club Luxembourg
Full name Rugby Club Luxembourg
Union Luxembourg Rugby Federation
Founded 1973
Location Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Ground(s) Stade Boy Konen
President Steve Karier[1]
Coach(es) Enda Horan
Captain(s) Michael Cawley, Stuart Kelly
League(s) 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West
2010–11 2nd
Team kit
Official website
www.rcl.lu

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 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West, having previously competed in the Belgian and French National Leagues.

The club has grown rapidly in recent years, and now has 300 members.[1] 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.[1]

Contents

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 bewildering 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] This is in contrast with Rugby Club Walferdange, which takes most of its players from the local community.

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. 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 recently recruited several local sportsmen from other sports, including Stéphane Gillet, former Luxembourg national football team goalkeeper, as a back row.[1] Prince Sébastien plays for the club's under-20 team, and Grand Duke Henri has visited the club to watch his youngest son play.[5]

Recent seasons

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

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Rugby's unstoppable rise in Luxembourg". Luxemburger Wort. 29 June 2011. http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/en/sport/articles/2011/06/154285/index.php. Retrieved 30 June 2011. 
  2. ^ RCL Official website
  3. ^ a b RCL - a potted history RCL website, accessed: 8 April 2010
  4. ^ Karlsruhe und Luxemburg steigen in die 2.Liga Süd auf (German) totalrugby.de, published: 6 July 2009, accessed: 19 March 2010
  5. ^ "Royalty muck in at sevens tournament". Luxemburger Wort. 27 June 2011. http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/en/sport/articles/2011/06/154069/index.php. Retrieved 30 June 2011. 

External links

2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West  · 2011–12 clubs
RC Aachen  • SC 1880 Frankfurt II  • TSV Handschuhsheim II  • Heidelberger RK II  • Heidelberger TV  • ASV Köln Rugby  • RC Luxembourg  • RC Mainz  • München RFC