How an unemployed German prop got dropped in at the deep end at an English rugby superpower
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.
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.
“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.
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.
“Actually all my fears and my doubts vanished from the first second and I could enjoy my time pretty soon. It was pretty good.”
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.”
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.”
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.
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.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments