Pre-Season & Bundesliga Kick-Off: Hard Yards, New Combinations and Growing Squad

After an extensive hiatus, competitive rugby has finally returned to the Stadtpark! The Löwen of Hamburger Rugby-Club have been putting in the hard yards since early spring, bedding down a new tactical game plan and establishing revised on- and off-field processes. Head Coach Gareth Jackson reflects on the gruelling pre-season fixtures and the opening Bundesliga tests.

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💬 Head Coach’s Take

“The results are not the main priority at this time of the year – the performance is. We played some great rugby when we moved the ball through multiple phases. With over 50 players regularly at training and top additions to our coaching team, the foundations are stronger than ever.”
— Gareth Jackson, Head Coach

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📊 Pre-Season Fixture Breakdown

The pre-season schedule provided invaluable opportunities to test new squad combinations and introduce fresh talent to senior rugby:

Fixture / Tournament	Format	Match Summary & Highlights
vs. Neckarsulmer SU (hosted by DRC Hannover)	4x 20 mins	Took 40 mins to find rhythm against a match-fit opponent; strong structural takeaways
vs. Berliner SV 1892 (Home)	80 mins	Hard-fought draw; David Rothmaier try & Alex Galushkin’s fearless senior defensive debut
Wiedenbrücker TV Tournament (with ASV Köln)	Round-Robin	5:0 win vs ASV Köln; explosive second half scoring 6 tries, including Nils Kanngiesser’s debut hat-trick

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🏉 Bundesliga Kick-Off & Senior Debuts

1st XV: Baptism of Fire in Hannover

The opening 1st Bundesliga encounter away at powerhouse Hannover 78 was a genuine baptism of fire for a youthful and newly formed side. While early nerves dictated the scoreboard, the squad demonstrated grit and promising attacking phases. A massive thank you goes out to the traveling Hamburg supporters who made themselves heard from the sidelines.

2nd XV: Flanker Masterclass & Attacking Flair

The following afternoon, the 2nd XV traveled to Lübeck, where teenage talent Leopold Partmann delivered an exceptional debut performance at openside flanker. In their subsequent home test against Berliner RC, the team overcame injuries and illness to dot down three well-worked tries, highlighting their dangerous offensive capability.

3rd XV: Landmark Kick-Off in Kiel

Another milestone weekend saw our newly formed 3rd XV take the field in Kiel in partnership with HSV Rugby. A substantial contingent of new players celebrated their competitive senior rugby debuts for the club.

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🚀 Squad Growth & Month Ahead

With record turnouts of over 50 players at weekly training sessions and the coaching staff bolstered by Collin Mbongwa and Josh Harvey, the atmosphere around the club is electric.

The coming month features high-stakes action across all fronts:

• Bundesliga Road Trips: 1st XV travel to Berlin for crunch clashes against RK 03 Berlin and Berlin Grizzlies
• Hamburg Stadtderby: Double-header at the Stadtpark with the 2nd and 3rd XV hosting rivals FC St. Pauli
• National Championships: The HRC Youth Academy heads to Heidelberg to compete in the German Junior Championships

Thank you to all members, supporters, and club partners for your relentless backing!

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Based on the official archives of Hamburger Rugby-Club von 1950 e.V. (Original publication: 3 September 2021).