Wild Rugby Academy

The Wild Rugby Academy is a German rugby union institution in Heidelberg, focused on the development of the sport in the region and Germany.[1][2] One of its main aims is to develop players for Germany to be able to participate in the 2015 Rugby World Cup,[3][4] as well as to establish a German team in the European Challenge Cup, the Wild Titans by 2010.[5] The later plan was delayed but a German team is now scheduled to enter the competition from 2011, alongside other academy teams from Russia, Spain and Georgia.[6]

Wild Rugby Academy
FoundedOctober 2007
Location
FieldsRugby union
Key people
 Hans Peter Wild Founder
Websitehttp://www.wildrugbyacademy.de/siteEn/

History

The academy was named after its founder, the German entrepreneur Hans Peter Wild.[7] He originally conceived the idea in May 2007 and the academy was established in October of the same year.

The academy aims to import expertise from the more developed rugby nations in order to improve the game in Germany. It started out with an under-19 group which was later followed by an under-21 group, and draws young players from the Frankfurt, Heusenstamm and Heidelberg area, targeting clubs and schools.[8] In 2008, the academy "decided to become more professional" and employed a new manager and coach.[8]

In November 2008, the academy embarked on its first tour, traveling to England to play two matches.[9] In March 2009, an academy team, the Wild Titans, will be traveling to Hong Kong for a tournament. Mustafa Güngör and Benjamin Danso, two current German internationals, are part of the 15 selected players for the tournament.[10][11]

Aims and achievements

The academy aims to develop the game of rugby union in Germany, by awarding scholarships to young and senior players. It also plans to assist in the development of coaches and referees. The main goals of the academy are:

  • to establish a German team in the European Challenge Cup, the Wild Titans.[5] It hopes to achieve this by 2010.[12] This is now scheduled to happen in 2011.[6]
  • to develop players for Germany to be able to participate in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.[3] The academy has the support of the German Rugby Federation, which hopes to establish a similar institution in the north of Germany.[3]

Christopher Liebig was the first player trained with the academy to make a debut for Germany, in its game against Portugal in February 2009.[13][14]

In 2018, the academy's scope was significantly curtailed, as Dr. Wild shifted his focus away from German rugby in the wake of the "Rugbystreit" (The "Rugbystreit" in German Rugby.)[15]

Staff

The W.R.A. employees a number of staff for coaching purposes:[16]

  • Frederik Jakobus Potgieter, Head of Operations
  • Alexander Wiedemann, Team & Project Manager
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References
  1. W.R.A. website - What is the Wild Rugby Academy? accessed: 7 March 2009
  2. Die Wucht der Gegner (in German) Sueddeutsche Zeitung - Article on the German rugby team, published: 12 February 2008, accessed: 7 March 2009
  3. "Wild Rugby Academy" soll Rugbysport in Deutschland fördern (in German) DOSB website, published: 25 February 2008, accessed: 7 March 2009
  4. Talent pool booms abroad The Coffs Coast Advocate, published: 31 December 2008, accessed: 7 March 2009
  5. W.R.A. website - Aims accessed: 7 March 2009
  6. Sechs Talente zum Lernen nach Südafrika (in German) totalrugby.de, published: 20 February 2009, accessed: 23 March 2010
  7. W.R.A. website - History accessed: 7 March 2009
  8. Wild Rugby Academy, History of the W.R.A., retrieved 19 march 2009.
  9. W.R.A. website - WILD RUGBY ACADEMY UK TOUR REPORT – NOVEMBER 2008 accessed: 7 March 2009
  10. W.R.A. website - Wild Titans start their preparation for 2009 Hong Kong 10s accessed: 7 March 2009
  11. Skinstad to spearhead South African challenge at GFI HKFC Tens published: 17 February 2009, accessed: 7 March 2009
  12. W.R.A. website - W.R.A. 2008-2010 accessed: 7 March 2009
  13. Wild Rugby Academy, Under 21 team list, retrieved 19 March 2009.
  14. Rugby365, Portugal expected to beat Germany, 19 Feb 2009, retrieved 19 March 2009.
  15. , 17 Jun 2018, retrieved 22 August 2019.
  16. W.R.A. website accessed: 13 December 2010
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