Hamburg Rugby Union (Hamburger Rugby Verband (HHRV)) is the head organization of the rugby teams in and around Hamburg. The HHRV is the professional association in the Hamburg sports federation as well as the national association of the governing body of rugby union in Germany (Deutschen Rugby-Verband (DRV)). History From the Turn of the Century until 1925 In the second half of the nineteenth century, enthusiasm for the English football game slowly took hold of German youth. In many cities (such as Stuttgart, Heidelberg and Hannover) the first pioneers began to play football according to the laws of rugby. However, they faced opposition from the outset from members of Association Football who were in the majority in Hamburg. The first record of rugby activity can be seen as early as the 1880s, which continued right up until the early twentieth century. In 1913, Hamburg Rugby Club competed in a match against Hannover FC in 1897 but lost 3:11. The Hamburg Sports Club (since 1925) and the Hamburg Police Sports Club (SV Polizei) (1924–2005) were the first long-term active clubs that are still active to this day. Up to World War II It was not until the 1935/1936 season that the first regional championship took place. Numerous clubs from Hamburg and other north German cities, such as Wilhelmshaven, Lüneburg and Kiel competed for the then "Nordmarkmeisterschaft". Kiel's navy team was the first title holder. Hamburg's record-holder is FC St. Pauli rugby team, founded in 1933, who held a total of 33 titles from 1937 to 1996. 1945-1960s - The Founding Years Restarting after World War II was difficult, but with the positive help of many fixtures organised with teams from British occupation troops, the Hamburg Rugby Association could be established in 1952. Until then, rugby was a special division of the Hamburg Football Association. Among the founding members of the new rugby club were numerous clubs from the Hamburg sports scene: FC St.Pauli, Hamburg Rugby Club, HSV, Hamburg Police Sports Club, ASK, ETV, Altona 93, SV St. Georg, Fichte Langenhorn and Uhlenhorster Hockeyclub. Since the 1970s - The Formation of the Bundesliga After the introduction of the Bundesliga in 1971, a more structured form of rugby appeared in Germany, during which Hamburg lost its excellence status. FC St. Pauli (1971–1975 and 1988–1990), SV Polizei (1972–1973), HSV (1978–1979) were able to maintain their titles for a short term. FC St. Pauli and