The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Rugby is on the rise in Germany, where football is king.
The national men’s XV plays in the Rugby Europe Championship, the level below the Six Nations.
They took a famous scalp by beating Romania in February and host the USA, Chile and Brazil in their own autumn international series in November.
Germany’s sevens team, coached by former Springbok 7s international Vuyolwetu Zangqa, just missed out on a place at the men’s Olympic tournament in Rio.
– ‘Huge for German rugby’ –
“Finishing fifth is massive, we wanted to beat some of the World Series teams so the boys could believe they can compete against the best,” said Germany’s South African coach Zangqa.
“We have managed to beat England, France and Argentina, what this tournament has done for German rugby is huge.”
The organisers plan to apply to host a leg by the end of the year.
.@Uganda_Rugby ‘s @UgandaSevens playing such an exciting brand of 7s at #OktoberFest7s Makes one EXCITED about the future of 7s in #Africa ! pic.twitter.com/uKV0uTQyYR
— 7s in South Africa (@BlitzBokke) September 30, 2017
Munich’s Olympic Stadium has been reserved for the last weekend in September for the next three years in the hope the wish comes true.
“It’s our dream to get a leg of the World Sevens Series, but there is still a lot of work to do before that happens,” said Mathias Entenmann, chairman of the organising committee.
“This has been a good start and we have had a lot of positive feedback from World Rugby and the sponsors.
“Rugby fans around the world don’t really know that some great rugby is played in Germany, so alongside Oktoberfest, this is a super combination.”
Germany’s sports public are curious about rugby.
More than four million Germans watched Fiji win the men’s sevens final in Rio despite a kick-off after midnight in the country.
The next step, though, is to earn a place in the World Sevens Series.
Earlier this year they came close, only to lose 12-7 to Spain in the final of the qualifying tournament in Hong Kong.
“We’ve shown rugby is here to stay and there is a lot more belief in the boys now that we can qualify for the World Series,” added Zangqa.
DAY 1
| GAME | POOL | FIXTURES | KICK OFF | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Australia – 26 | v | Chile – 10 | 13:00 |
| 2 | C | Fiji – 33 | v | Ireland – 14 | 13:23 |
| 3 | B | Argentina – 21 | v | Germany – 14 | 13:46 |
| BREAK | |||||
| 4 | B | England – 26 | v | Uganda – 14 | 14:15 |
| 5 | A | France – 22 | v | Spain – 0 | 14:38 |
| 6 | A | South Africa – 19 | v | Portugal – 12 | 15:01 |
| BREAK | |||||
| 7 | C | Australia – 17 | v | Ireland – 7 | 15:52 |
| 8 | C | Fiji – 33 | v | Chile – 14 | 16:15 |
| 9 | B | England – 14 | v | Germany – 21 | 16:38 |
| BREAK | |||||
| 10 | B | Argentina – 31 | v | Uganda – 14 | 17:07 |
| 11 | A | France – 55 | v | Portugal – 5 | 17:30 |
| 12 | A | South Africa – 29 | v | Spain – 7 | 17:53 |
| BREAK | |||||
| 13 | C | Chile – 7 | v | Ireland – 24 | 18:44 |
| 14 | C | Fiji – 14 | v | Australia – 28 | 19:07 |
| 15 | B | Germany – 31 | v | Uganda – 7 | 19:30 |
| BREAK | |||||
| 16 | B | England – 12 | v | Argentina – 10 | 19:59 |
| 17 | A | Spain – 0 | v | Portugal – 10 | 20:22 |
| 18 | A | South Africa – 31 | v | France – 14 | 20:45 |
| END OF DAY 1 |
DAY 2
| GAME | POOL | FIXTURES | KICK OFF | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 9th Place Semi | Portugal – 12 | v | Spain – 14 | 13:00 |
| 20 | 9th Place Semi | Chile – 12 | v | Uganda – 17 | 13:23 |
| 21 | Cup Quarter Final 1 | South Africa – 24 | v | Ireland – 0 | 13:46 |
| BREAK | |||||
| 22 | Cup Quarter Final 2 | Argentina – 12 | v | Fiji – 17 | 14:15 |
| 23 | Cup Quarter Final 3 | Germany – 12 | v | England – 26 | 14:38 |
| 24 | Cup Quarter Final 4 | Australia – 31 | v | France – 19 | 15:01 |
| BREAK | |||||
| O7s Classic Women Final | v | 15:52 | |||
| 25 | 11th Place Play off | Portugal – 5 | v | Chile – 31 | 16:15 |
| O7s Uni Men Final | v | 16:38 | |||
| PRESENTATION – BREAK |
|||||
| 26 | 5th Place Semi Final 1 | Ireland – 7 | v | Argentina – 35 | 17:07 |
| 27 | 5th Place Semi Final 2 | Germany – 7 | v | France – 5 | 17:30 |
| O7s Classic Men Final | v | 17:53 | |||
| PRESENTATION – BREAK |
|||||
| 28 | Cup Semi Final 1 | South Africa – 21 | v | Fiji – 38 |
18:44 |
| 29 | Cup Semi Final 2 | England | v | Australia | 19:07 |
| BREAK | |||||
| 30 | 9th Place Play off | Spain 33 | v | Uganda 12 | 19:30 |
| 31 | 7th Place Play off | Ireland | v | France | 19:59 |
| 32 | 5th Place Play off | Argentina | v | Germany | 20:22 |
| BREAK | |||||
| 33 | Bronze Final | South Africa | v | England | 20:45 |
| NATIONAL ANTHEMS | |||||
| 34 | Cup Final | Fiji -7 | Australia -40 | 21:12 |
