A brief history of the origins of rugby in Denmark

Denmark's oldest club, Speed, was founded 31 March 1950. Before this, young Danes who had served in the British Army, during and after the second world war, had formed an ex-Army Club, whose primary objective was social and a little gymnastics. These ex-servicemen discovered, in 1949, that the Copenhagen Police has started to play rugby (unfortunately stopping in 1953). There were several matches between these two clubs, and this led to the foundation of Speed in 1950.

We have to go back to 1931 when the first attempt was made to introduce rugby into Denmark. Behind the scenes were two Danes, Noel Jørgensen and Ejner Svarre. This attempt came to nothing and stopped in early 1932.

In 1933 E.H.Lund, of the 17th Battalion in Denmark, made another attempt to start rugby, but this again failed when the soldiers were discharged. In 1938 E.H.Lund tried once more. At this time he was an NCO with the 2nd Battalion in Tønder. This attempt was stopped by his Captain who thought that the defence of Denmark would be impaired if his men continued to play rugby (he thought that the use of first aid articles such as plasters and bandages was to large!). In 1949, E.H.Lund tried once again, this time as a policeman in Copenhagen, and founded the Police Rugby Club. This is how rugby came to Denmark, but this time to stay.

Thanks to Speed Rugby Club for this article