The Rugby Regionalliga is the third-highest level of Germany's Rugby union league system, organised by the German Rugby Federation. It is set below the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga and is organised in eight regional divisions. Since 2010, the Regionalliga is only the fourth level of play in Southern Germany, since the inception of the 3rd Liga South/West, which covers the same states as the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West above it except Bavaria. History The Regionalligas form the third tier of German rugby union since the inception of the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga in the early 1990s. Before that, the league was the second tier, below the Rugby-Bundesliga. Below the Regionalliga sits the Rugby-Verbandsliga, however, in some regions, the Regionalliga is the lowest division and no Verbandsliga exists. The six leagues cover the following states: Regionalliga North Bremen Hamburg Lower Saxony (northern parts) Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Schleswig-Holstein Regionalliga East A & B Berlin Brandenburg Saxony Saxony-Anhalt Thuringia Regionalliga West Hesse (northern part) Lower Saxony (southern parts) Luxembourg North Rhine-Westphalia Rhineland-Palatinate Saarland Regionalliga Hesse Hesse (except most northern part) Regionalliga Baden-Württemberg Baden-Württemberg Regionalliga Bavaria Bavaria Baden-Württemberg (Ulm region) Austria ''(Innsbruck) The champions of the different league divisions, as well as league champions play-off at the end of the season for 2nd Bundesliga promotion. The champions of the RL West and RL Hesse determine the promoted team for the 2. Bundesliga West, RL Baden-Württemberg and RL Bavaria determine the promoted team to the 2. Bundesliga South, whereas RL North and RL East determine the promoted team to the 2. Bundesliga North and East respectively. Clubs participating in 2018-19 Champions Northern Germany Until 2002, North Rhine-Westphalia played a separate spring and autumn championship. In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, Lower Saxony and East played a combined North/East championship in spring. Until 2001 and from 2007 to 2009, Lower Saxony played a separate spring and autumn championship. From 2010-11 onwards no separate Regionalliga North was played. Southern Germany In 2006-07, RC Mainz competed in both Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate. In 2005-06, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate played a combined championship. Until 2001, Bavaria played a separate spring and autumn championship. Until 2001, Rhineland-Palatinate played a separate spring and autumn championship. For the 2018-20 season, Rhineland-Palatinate formed a 3 pool competition Rheinland / Westfalen / Rheinland-Pfalz&Luxemburg with the addition of RC Walferdange (Luxemburg) - the second team from that country to join the Germany National competition after RC Luxemburg with a 1st and 2nd XV. Placings