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How an unemployed German prop got dropped in at the deep end at an English rugby superpower

By Martyn Thomas
The scrum during the 2015 Premiership Rugby A League Final between Worcester Cavaliers and Saracens Storm (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

When Samy Füchsel received the call to go to England, there was scant time for nerves to kick in.

Germany defence and forwards coach, Mouritz Botha, had learned of a tighthead shortage at Saracens and asked his prop to cut a video to show his one-time employers.

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Füchsel did not expect anything to come of it. Unlike many of his former Heidelberger RK (HRK) team-mates, he had not chased an overseas contract when Hans-Peter’s Wild’s decision to pull funding for the club and his eponymous academy this summer left them unemployed.

Instead, Füchsel relocated to Frankfurt to complete an apprenticeship in sports and fitness sales, commuting back to Heidelberg three times a week to train with the national team as they prepared for the Rugby World Cup Repechage in Marseille, which starts on Sunday.

Botha’s faith in his charge’s ability ultimately proved founded and one Friday in late September the 26-year-old was given less than 48 hours’ notice to board a flight to the UK.

Video Spacer

“Mouritz called me on a Friday and said ‘are you ready to go to London on Sunday?’” Füchsel tells RugbyPass. “At first I was a bit shocked and I had to check some stuff in Frankfurt, that it was alright that I could go.

“So, I was busy organising all this stuff so I couldn’t really focus on the flight but when I arrived there, of course, I was a little bit nervous.”

Füchsel had tried his luck abroad once before, spending time with French club SC Albi in Pro D2 two years previously, but this was a step up, and into the unknown.

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Sammy Fuchsel Credit: Deutscher Rugby-Verband

On the drive out to Saracens’ training base near St Albans, butterflies began to flutter in his stomach as the realisation set in that he would be rubbing shoulders with giants of the international game, players he had only previously encountered on television.

What would Owen Farrell or Billy and Mako Vunipola make of the boy from Berlin?

He needn’t have worried. “The players were so nice to me, I felt so welcome from the first minute,” Füchsel says.

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“Actually all my fears and my doubts vanished from the first second and I could enjoy my time pretty soon. It was pretty good.”

Billy Vunipola looks on during the Saracens training session. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

He adds: “It was pretty funny, you have guys like Will Skelton come to you in a really friendly way, and they cheer you up and ask you what you’re doing here.

“They showed so much interest, every player – the Vunipolas, Farrell – everybody was asking me what I’m doing here and we got on really well.”

Füchsel admits that, despite the warm welcome he received in St Albans, it took until the third day of training to feel “normal” in his surroundings.

The prop was sold to Saracens as a dynamic ball-carrier – as highlighted by his impressive score in Germany’s narrow defeat to Samoa in the second leg of their World Cup play-off in July – but his scrummaging was put under the microscope in outer London.

“They showed me some tricks, (and) some things that I need to focus on,” Füchsel admits. According to the 26-year-old, training with Farrell, Skelton and co was the “highest level I’ve ever been”, while his appearance for Saracens’ A team, the Storm, in the Premiership Rugby Shield pushed his fitness to the limit.

“Maybe (playing) Samoa was a bit more physical but the A game was way faster, way quicker,” he says. “So, it was really intense.

“I played 30 minutes, I came on in the second half and I tried to work as hard as I can and I was pretty, pretty done after those 30 minutes.”

Credit: World Rugby/Deutscher Rugby Verband

Off the pitch, Füchsel’s trip included two trips to England’s capital, one on a team social to the Comedy Club and another to see some sights – he was as disappointed as many back-bench Conservative MPs to find Big Ben draped in scaffolding.

He has remained in email contact with Storm head coach Adam Powell, and it seems he made a good impression. “For a prop he’s got good acceleration,” Powell says.

“He scrummed well but that will be something for him to develop. But he’s a good mobile prop and we enjoyed having him, and hopefully he kicks on and Germany can upset the odds and qualify for the World Cup.”

Ultimately, qualification for next year’s World Cup is what it is all about for Füchsel and Germany. That is why he has spent most his time since September travelling between Frankfurt and Heidelberg, waking early and getting to bed late at least three times a week.

The hard work will be worth it if Mike Ford, Botha and the rest of the Germany coaching staff can mastermind victory over Hong Kong in Marseille on Sunday afternoon, and then defeats of Canada and Kenya later this month.

The carrot on the end of the stick is passage to Japan, and a place in Pool B alongside New Zealand and South Africa. “I probably would lie if I said I knew that I would play against the All Blacks one day and see the haka,” Füchsel says.

“It’s a bit surreal actually to think that it’s possible to face the best team in the world.”

The Germany v Samoa Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying match in Heidelberg, Germany.

Füchsel insists Germany are focused solely on their first assignment in France against Hong Kong, but arguably the biggest obstacle facing Ford and his coaching panel is one they cannot see: The toll the previous year has taken on their squad.

Twelve months ago, when HRK’s players went on strike at the bidding of Wild in his dispute with the German Rugby Federation (DRV) they had no idea he would pull the plug six months later.

The ensuing year has been a roller coaster for many in the national team.

HRK qualified for, and were expelled from, the Challenge Cup – Wild’s ownership of Stade Francais deemed a conflict of interest by EPCR – while Germany’s hopes of World Cup qualification were reignited by an eligibility row. The DRV was subsequently forced to seek financial help from World Rugby to stage play-off matches and hire a coach, before their former benefactor returned to help inject some funds.

Germany’s pack test Samoa

Amid that backdrop a large section of the national squad was made unemployed and in search of contracts has been spread across the globe, from Heidelberg to Houston, Bucharest to Chambéry.

Training sessions have been sparsely attended at times, and it would be understandable if some players were battle weary. “Looking back at the last months you could actually write a book or make a movie out of it, the way it went down,” Füchsel says.

“I think it would be the perfect ending if we made the World Cup.

“It will make the pain of not going to the Challenge Cup, not vanish, but it will ease that pain a lot – and I think it will be a happy end for all of us.”

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Trevor 49 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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