TSV Victoria Linden
Encyclopedia
The TSV Victoria Linden is a German
rugby union
club from the Linden suburb of Hannover, currently playing in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga. Apart from rugby, the club also offers other sports, such as triathlon
and athletics.
The club is Germany's record rugby union champion, with 20 titles.
The club had little success before the First World War and could only earn one national championship between the wars, in 1929. Two losing finals came before that, in 1924 and 1927.
After its title, Victoria continued its undistinguished run until after the Second World War, when it became Germany's most successful club.
The club took out its second title in what was the first German championship after the war, in 1948. It didn't lose in any of its following nine finals appearances, achieving six championships in a row from 1951 to 1956. The club could not quite continue in this dominance but was successful nevertheless.
Titles in 1958, 1962 and 1965 were followed by a rare finals loss to SC Neuenheim
in 1967. The team was part of the new Rugby-Bundesliga
, formed in 1971, and won three more titles until 1975.
From 1976 to 1984, it had a less successful spell, a cup win in 1982 being the only title it won.
From 1987 onwards, Victoria returned to former glory, reaching eleven championship finals in fourteen years until the turn of the millennium.
Linden noticeably declined from then on, unable to finish in the league's top-four after 2001. With the establishement of a single-division Bundesliga that year, the competition had become stronger owing to the top clubs from the south and the north now playing in the same league instead of only meeting in the championship rounds.
The club suffered a bitter relegation in 2006, having to step down to the 2nd Bundesliga North/East after finishing last in the Bundesliga.
In 2007
, the team was not competitive enough to play for promotion, coming fourth, and the season after, 2007-08
, it missed out in second spot by four points.
In the 2008-09
season, Victoria finished in second spot once more, fifteen points behind DSV 78/08 Ricklingen
. Victoria who only won the 2009-10 North/East division in the last round of the championship, declined promotion to the Rugby-Bundesliga, citing the additional cost of travelling and the limited player pool as their reason. The South/West champion, Stuttgarter RC
, has also indicated that it would probably not take up promotion, leaving the Bundesliga briefly with the possibility of only eight clubs and none from hanover for the next season. DSV 78 however was permitted to remain in the league and Victoria took out another division championship in 2011, but again declined promotion.
at the 2009 European Under-18 Rugby Union Championship
, Jörn Schröder. Schröder 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 the Linden suburb of Hannover, currently playing in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga. Apart from rugby, the club also offers other sports, such as triathlon
Triathlon
A triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
and athletics.
The club is Germany's record rugby union champion, with 20 titles.
History
Victoria was formed in 1900, in Hannover, one of the centres of German rugby.The club had little success before the First World War and could only earn one national championship between the wars, in 1929. Two losing finals came before that, in 1924 and 1927.
After its title, Victoria continued its undistinguished run until after the Second World War, when it became Germany's most successful club.
The club took out its second title in what was the first German championship after the war, in 1948. It didn't lose in any of its following nine finals appearances, achieving six championships in a row from 1951 to 1956. The club could not quite continue in this dominance but was successful nevertheless.
Titles in 1958, 1962 and 1965 were followed by a rare finals loss to 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:...
in 1967. The team was part of the new 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...
, formed in 1971, and won three more titles until 1975.
From 1976 to 1984, it had a less successful spell, a cup win in 1982 being the only title it won.
From 1987 onwards, Victoria returned to former glory, reaching eleven championship finals in fourteen years until the turn of the millennium.
Linden noticeably declined from then on, unable to finish in the league's top-four after 2001. With the establishement of a single-division Bundesliga that year, the competition had become stronger owing to the top clubs from the south and the north now playing in the same league instead of only meeting in the championship rounds.
The club suffered a bitter relegation in 2006, having to step down to the 2nd Bundesliga North/East after finishing last in the Bundesliga.
In 2007
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:...
, the team was not competitive enough to play for promotion, coming fourth, and the season after, 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:...
, it missed out in second spot by four points.
In the 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...
season, Victoria finished in second spot once more, fifteen points behind DSV 78/08 Ricklingen
DSV 78/08 Ricklingen
The DSV 78/08 Ricklingen was a German rugby union team from the Ricklingen suburb of Hannover, playing in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga North/East in 2008-09. The team was an on-the-field union of DSV 78 Hannover and SV 1908 Ricklingen, two successful clubs in themselves...
. Victoria who only won the 2009-10 North/East division in the last round of the championship, declined promotion to the Rugby-Bundesliga, citing the additional cost of travelling and the limited player pool as their reason. The South/West champion, Stuttgarter RC
Stuttgarter RC
The Stuttgarter RC is a German rugby union club from Stuttgart, currently playing in the 3rd Liga South/West.-Predecessors:The origins of the club go back to 1934 when the first Stuttgarter Rugby Club was formed...
, has also indicated that it would probably not take up promotion, leaving the Bundesliga briefly with the possibility of only eight clubs and none from hanover for the next season. DSV 78 however was permitted to remain in the league and Victoria took out another division championship in 2011, but again declined promotion.
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: 1929, 1948, 1951-56, 1958, 1962, 1965, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1987, 1989, 1992-94, 1996
- Runners up: 1924, 1927, 1967, 1976, 1984, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000
- 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: 1965, 1966, 1982, 1989, 1991-93
- Runners up: 1962-64, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1976, 1985, 1994
- German sevens championship
- Champions: 2000
- 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga North/East
- Champions: 2010, 2011
- Runners up: 2008, 2009
Recent seasons
| 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) |
1st — Runners up |
| 1998-99 | Rugby-Bundesliga North/East | 2nd |
| Bundesliga championship round | 5th | |
| 1999-2000 | Rugby-Bundesliga North/East | 2nd |
| Bundesliga championship round | 2nd — Runners up | |
| 2000-01 | Rugby-Bundesliga North/East | 3rd |
| Bundesliga championship round | 5th | |
| 2001-02 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 5th |
| 2002-03 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 6th |
| 2003-04 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 6th |
| 2004-05 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 6th |
| 2005-06 | Rugby-Bundesliga | 8th — Relegated |
| 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 North/East (II) | 4th |
| 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:... |
2nd Rugby-Bundesliga North/East | 2nd |
| 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... |
2nd Rugby-Bundesliga North/East | 2nd |
| 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 North/East | 1st |
| 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 North/East | 1st |
| 2011–12 | 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga North/East |
- 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.
Rugby internationals
The club had one player selected for the German under-18 teamGermany 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:...
, Jörn Schröder. Schröder 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.