Credit: RCL
Rugby Club Luxembourg (RCL) secured its place in Germany’s Rugby-Bundesliga Division One for the 2025-2026 season with a 33-27 play-off victory over RK 03 Berlin on Saturday 14 June 2025.
RCL, who finished sixth in the South-West division, faced RK 03 Berlin (fifth in the North-East division) in the play-off match. The Luxembourg side opened the scoring in the first minute with a try from Maxime Baroux following a fumbled reception and quick scrum.
Despite a strong start, RCL struggled with discipline, allowing RK 03 Berlin to equalise at 5-5 following a series of penalties. The Berlin scrum-half capitalised on these errors, scoring seventeen points through six successful kicks, helping his side stay close on the scoreboard despite additional tries from RCL’s Miguel Para and Peter Barton.
Jake Fawssett played a decisive role for RCL, scoring two tries - one from an interception in the 60th minute and the match-winner in the 75th following a quick-tap penalty near the Berlin try-line. Antoine Alric’s team celebrated a 33-27 victory to secure their place in Germany's Bundesliga Division One for the 2025-2026 season.
Starting in September 2025, RCL will compete in the restructured Rugby-Bundesliga, which will now feature a single national division comprising the ten top-performing teams from the previous season. The former regional format of two eight-team groups will be replaced by a unified championship with home-and-away fixtures. RCL will face established clubs such as SC Frankfurt 1880, TSV Handschuhsheim, SC Neuenheim, Heidelberger RK, Hannover 78, SC Germania List and Leipzig. The remaining three spots in the ten-team top flight will be decided on Saturday 21 June 2025, following play-off matches between Munich and TSV Linden, Leipzig and RG Heidelberg, and Berlin RC and RC Rottweil.
According to RCL, following a short break, players are set to return to training on Wednesday 16 July 2025, while the club’s management is actively seeking partners to help cover the increased travel costs expected next season.
