Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, in the “Swinging Sixties” members of the rugby fraternity living in Hamburg decided to form a rugby club and to name it the Hamburg Exiles Rugby Football Club.

Why the name “Exiles” you might ask. Well what with Australians, Canadians, Sicilians, New Zealanders, South Africans, Japanese and Sri Lankans, Welsh and Germans, Scots and Americans, Irish and Western Samoans, French and Italians, and every type of Englishman possible, only one description fitted: Exiles. The very first game played by an Exiles side was on the 1st of June 1966 and now after 43 years on the Club  is still going strong.

It is perhaps true to say, that on certain occasions over the years many a good rugby player has arrived in Hamburg to play with the Exiles only to be dragged down to the level of debauchery and third team rugby but he has of course taken home with him the memory of a great time spent here.

So why the great enthusiasm for the Club? Well, some suspect the close proximity to the Reeperbahn or the “Opi Look” or  the “Welt Keller”, whilst others say it is the hyper-tough training regime along with the free flowing style of open rugby pursued religiously by the club. Either way, the club has earned its various reputations over the years and stands today as a shining example of a rugby club which understands the need for the correct balance between the playing and partying.

Over the years the impact and influence of the Exiles has been felt in many varied and different aspects of life here in Germany; the Annual British Day where a rugby has always been an entertainment highlight; the special relationship with the Armed Forces, Fallingbostel and ships visiting Hamburg. Lastly, the Exiles Seven's Tournament (now 30 years old!) has been attracting teams from all over Europe.

The many achievements of the Exiles on the pitch includes winning the Hamburg Cup, various Seven's tournaments, and on more than one occasion being voted best non-Army/German-based team in a Seven-a-side competition. The club also has a great tradition of touring and over the years no European city has been spared; Paris Copenhagen, Stockholm, Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Munich, Prague, Hastings and Dublin.

What of the future for Exiles? We can all be safe in the knowledge, that all the good work carried out since the birth of the club will carry on and the club will, I am sure, be celebrating its' Golden Jubilee in 2016.