| Rugby union in Switzerland | |
|---|---|
 The Stade de Genève, which saw some rugby action in the 2006-07 Heineken Cup | |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Governing body | Swiss Rugby Federation |
| National team(s) | Switzerland |
| First played | 1869 |
| Registered players | ~5000 |
| Clubs | 32 |
National competitions | |
Rugby union in Switzerland is a minor but growing sport.
The Swiss Rugby Federation was founded in 1972 and joined the IRFB in 1988. [1]
Like neighbouring Germany, Austria and France, Swiss rugby is actually amongst the oldest in the world. The earliest recorded match in Switzerland was in 1869, and Lausanne RFC can claim to be as old as Blackheath. [1]
However, Swiss rugby continued at a very low key for over a hundred years. The World Wars and other global upheavals hindered the game, and it was really the presence of a number of ex-patriates working in the banking industry, or as tax exiles, who helped keep the game going. [1]
In 1974, a side from Basel toured France and were on the end of record breaking defeats. They lost 127-0 to Grenoble, 104-3 to Thonon and 116-0 to Annecy. [2] The captain of the Basel team, Pierre Langlois said, "We conceded 73 tries, I think. We even had a penalty try given against us when we were losing by 100 points." [2]
Swiss rugby continued in a haphazard manner during the 1970s and 80s, for example, when Switzerland was due to play Bellinzona RFC in Italy, two of their players were delayed by a landslide. [3] In order to make up numbers, a journalist and their coach driver were added to the squad. They did so well in the game that they were invited to subsequent training sessions. [3]
The Swiss Federation undertook an intensive development program in the 1980s, under Evelyne Oberson, and managed to gain a number of new native players. [1] Ms Oberson, working often alone in Lausanne as a volunteer, was in every way a key element to Swiss rugby as, through her high level of personal organisation and admin skills, for the most part managed the (then) small Federation almost single-handedly. She was essential to Swiss rugby holding together from the 80s until its current format.
In 1989, Chris Thau claimed that Switzerland had around 1,000 players (a number which has increased somewhat since then). [4]
There are at least thirty Swiss clubs at present. [1]
Swiss rugby is now dominated by home grown players, and for some the bright lights of French and Italian rugby might be a draw. [1]
More recently, 2006-07 Heineken Cup clash between the French side Bourgoin and Irish rugby's Munster was moved from Bourgoin's home ground, to the Stade de Genève (Geneva Stadium). The stadium's capacity is 30,000, and attendance on the day was 16,255. [5]
Notable Swiss players include:
The following is an alphabetical list of articles related to Switzerland.
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The Swiss Rugby Federation ) is the governing body for rugby union in Switzerland.
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Nyon Rugby Club is a Swiss rugby union football club based in Nyon, situated on the shores of lake Geneva between Geneva and Lausanne. The club was founded in 1972 and is a member of the l'Association des Sociétés Sportives Nyonnaises, the Association Vaudoise de Rugby and the Swiss Rugby Federation. They play their home matches at the Colovray Sports Centre which is under the management of UEFA. Since its creation, Nyon Rugby Club has won the national championship and cup several times and has provided many players to the Swiss national side
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Xavier Oberson is ordinary professor in Swiss and international tax law at the Faculty of Law at the University of Geneva since 1994. He is also the founder and director of the LL.M. Tax at the University of Geneva.
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