Northern Lions celebrate anniversary win against Groningen at Vareler Sportpark!

Northern Lions celebrate anniversary win against Groningen at Vareler Sportpark!

What an exciting weekend for rugby fans in Varel! At the celebratory anniversary game in the Varel sports park, the Northern Lions held their own brilliantly and won 24:5 against RC Groningen II. The occasion of the game was the 100th anniversary of the Varel rugby club, a reason for joy for everyone involved. The Northern Lions, a syndicate made up of SC Varel and FC Rastede, impressively demonstrated their skills on the field. The guests from the Netherlands, who play in the 2nd Class North, comparable to the local regional league, also impressed the large number of spectators, including Mayor Gerd-Christian Wagner.

At the start of the game, the guests seemed to be in control as they took a 5-0 lead in the 20th minute. But the Northern Lions didn't let that get them down. Nishimwe quickly equalized and further goals from Dirk Ludwig and Liam Bons followed, increasing the score to 12:5. Marco Kühne made the next attempt and put his team ahead 17:5, while Bons extended the lead to 19:5. Claas Ammermann's attempt proved that the final score of 24:5 sent the Northern Lions into celebration.

Game history and highlights

In the final minutes of the game, the Northern Lions even had to play outnumbered, which only underlined the high level and sporting seriousness. Another Northern Lions try was disallowed shortly before the end due to a breach of the rules, which only increased the intensity of the game. Marco Kühne was honored with the title “Man of the Match” for his outstanding performance. Both SC president Uwe Stein and RC Groningen II captain Martinus Spoelstra praised the high standard of the game, a sign that rugby is experiencing a steady upswing in the region.

The rugby tradition in Germany

A short excursion into the history of rugby in Germany allows you to think outside the box. Rugby union, also known as fifteen-a-side rugby, came to Germany in the mid-19th century through British students and military personnel. Nowadays Hanover and Heidelberg are particularly known as rugby strongholds. In Germany, people not only actively play rugby, but also work on youth development and promoting the sport. Since the founding of the German Rugby Youth (DRJ) in 1968, rugby has also been promoted in schools, which is intended to lay the foundation for future success.

Anyone interested can find out more about the Northern Lions and the history of rugby in Germany on the website of Bits of rugby and Wikipedia experience. The Northern Lions have proven that they are a strong force in German rugby and have thrilled the audience with a solid game, which sends a positive signal not only for the anniversary but also for the future of rugby in Germany.

We can't wait to see how the Northern Lions develop in the coming season!