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Germany’s internal battle between the National Union (DRV) and primary financial backer Hans-Peter Wild appear to have come to an end. The billionaire entrepreneur and financier of the Wild Rose Academy pulled his support from the DRV after a dispute last November, sparking a ‘player strike‘ that led to nearly all of Germany’s top players missing out on the Rugby Europe Championship. A temporary truce was made for June’s World Cup Qualifiers against Portugal and Samoa, and now Wild is backing Germany’s ambitious bid for RWC 2019 qualification through the upcoming Repechage tournament.
Along with the full return of Germany’s top professionals, the most dramatic change sees the appointment of Mike Ford as Head Coach effective immediately. Previously Head Coach at Bath and Toulon, the 52-year-old boasts an impressive coaching resume that includes assistant duties with Saracens, England, Ireland, and the British & Irish Lions. Ford has been tabbed to lead the Dallas Griffins in their pursuit of becoming a Major League Rugby franchise, but with that now on hold he has opted to take a ‘sabbatical’.
Ford replaces Pablo Lemoine in the top role, the Uruguayan departing to take over the Chilean national team. Assisting Ford will be long-time Germany coach Kobus Potgieter, who has also been promoted to the role of Director of Rugby of the senior men’s XV’s side. The length of Ford’s contract has not been disclosed but it is understood that he will continue in the role through to the World Cup should Germany qualify in November.
A round-robin Repechage competition including Canada, Kenya, and Hong Kong will take place in Marseille, France, beginning on November 11. The winner will earn the final ticket to the 2019 World Cup in Japan. Only Canada have previously qualified of the four participants.
