München Rugby Football Club e.V. (München RFC, MRFC) is a rugby union club in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, founded in 1977. Its statutory purpose is to promote rugby under the laws of World Rugby, and it is a member of the Bavarian state sports federation (Bayerischer Landes-Sportverband). The club calls itself Bavaria's first and most successful rugby club. In 2026/27 its men's first XV plays in the 1. Bundesliga, alongside second and third men's teams, women's rugby, youth teams and an old boys side.
History
The club was founded in 1977 and played its first match, against Augsburg, on 18 September that year. The "RFC" in its name is the English term for a club devoted solely to rugby.
In 1978 the club adopted its first statutes, modelled on those of Kidwelly Rugby Club, and a crest of a leaping Bavarian lion with a white-and-blue lozenged rugby ball, which appeared on its shirts from then on. On 22 April 1978 it played the newly founded Vienna Celtic Rugby Club for the first time, the start of a close friendship that, in the club's words, still continues. On 10 June 1978, at Meyerbeerstraße, it beat a US Army team from Bad Tölz 19–14 in what the club calls the first rugby match within Munich's city limits for almost 50 years. The club staged the first Oktoberfest Sevens tournament there on 22 September 1979, with four teams.
The club joined the German Rugby Federation in the autumn of 1983. At that time it trained at the Bezirkssportanlage am Krehlebogen and played home matches at the Klosterwiese in Fürstenfeldbruck; in 1989 it moved to Görzer Straße. Its first regular league match, in the Regionalliga of the Baden-Württemberg Rugby Federation, took place on 30 July 1984. In 1991 the club gained its own ground for the first time, playing home matches at the Bezirkssportanlage in Ludwig-Hunger-Straße.
The men won the South German championship final in 1991, beating Karlsruher SV 22–10. In 1991/92 they won the Regionalliga Baden-Württemberg with only one defeat, and beat SC 1880 Frankfurt 34–6 in a promotion match to reach the 2. Bundesliga Süd. After a reorganisation of the federation's leagues, the club had to qualify for the 2. Bundesliga again in 1994, and became South German champions for a second time. In 1996 it was a founding member of the Bavarian Rugby Federation (Rugby-Verband Bayern).
The club won the 2. Bundesliga Süd in 1998 but was not admitted to the 1. Bundesliga despite qualifying on the pitch. It first qualified for the 1. Bundesliga in 1999/2000, and was relegated the following year. After winning the 2. Bundesliga Süd again in 2001/02, it beat Post Berlin 23–21 in the second-division final in Hamburg on 22 June 2002 to become German second-division champions. In 2002/03 the club played its home matches in the 12,000-capacity Dantestadion and lost every 1. Bundesliga match.
In July 2002 the women's team from Fürstenfeldbruck joined the club; in 2008 the women reached the final of the 2. Bundesliga, which they lost to ASV Köln. The club entered a partnership with Stade Toulousain in April 2005, and its supporters' association was founded in February 2008. The men's first team reached the semi-finals of the DRV-Pokal in 2012 and the final of the DRV-Ligapokal in 2015, losing 31–15 to TSV Handschuhsheim. In 2016 the club won the 2. Bundesliga Süd but lost the promotion match 12–9 to RC Luxemburg. The club also played the final of the Oktoberfest Sevens in the Olympiastadion in front of 16,000 spectators.
By the club's count, its first team later won promotion to the top division after 20 years. In May 2025 a bonus point against TSV Handschuhsheim secured a 2024/25 quarter-final away to Hannover 78, which München lost 49–20 on 14 June 2025. In 2025/26 the team finished seventh in the 1. Bundesliga, with six wins and 12 defeats from 18 matches, 457 points scored, 680 conceded and 37 table points. The team plays in the 2026/27 1. Bundesliga. The second team topped the 2025/26 Regionalliga Bayern table. In July 2025 its sevens team qualified for the finals of the German sevens championship in Dresden.
Honours
Honours by the club's count:
- German second-division champions, men: 2002 (final against Post Berlin, 23–21)
- 2. Bundesliga Süd winners, men: 1998, 2001/02, 2016
- South German champions, men: 1991, 1994
- Regionalliga Baden-Württemberg winners, men: 1991/92
- Bavarian champions (Regionalliga Bayern), second men's team: 2016
- Bavarian youth champions: U18 2012 (the first time); U12 and U14 2013; U10, U12 and U14 2014 and 2015; U10 and U12 2016; U12 and U14 2017
- United World Games, U12: 2015 (Klagenfurt)
- Runners-up: women's 2. Bundesliga final, 2008; DRV-Ligapokal final, men, 2015
The club won the Grüne Band award in 2021. The women finished ninth at the 2022 German sevens championship, and in 2023 won the South sevens cup and the Bavarian women's sevens championship.
Ground
The club trains at the Bezirkssportanlage am Hedernfeld, Ludwig-Hunger-Strasse 11, 81375 München, in Großhadern. In the club's words, the ground offers good conditions all year round; it is easy to reach on U-Bahn line U6. Home matches have been played at the sports ground in Ludwig-Hunger-Straße since 1991.
Teams and training
As of August 2026, the teams are:
| Team | Competition |
|---|---|
| Men's 1st XV | 1. Bundesliga, 2026/27 |
| Men's 2nd XV | Regionalliga Bayern, 2026/27 |
| Men's 3rd XV | Landesliga Bayern, 2026/27; the first senior team for players from the club's youth |
| Women | Women's sevens league Süd-Ost, and the women's fifteens Bundesliga as part of SG Bayern, 2025/26 |
| Youth | U18, U16, U14, U12, U10, U8; U16 and U18 in the 2025/26 youth Bundesliga as SG München |
| Munich Old Boys | Veterans |
As of August 2026, the training times at Hedernfeld are:
| Day | Time | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 19:30–21:30 | Women |
| Monday | 20:00–22:00 | Men |
| Tuesday | 18:00–19:30 | U6, U8, U10, U12, U14 |
| Tuesday | 19:30–21:00 | U16, U18, women |
| Wednesday | 20:15–22:00 | U18, men |
| Friday | 17:30–19:00 | U6, U8, U10, U12, U14 |
| Friday | 19:00–21:00 | U16, U18, men |
New players are welcome at any time. The club invites women to join, whether beginners or experienced players; its women's team speaks German, English and French. It also offers rugby in schools. As of August 2026, the membership fees, set by the general meeting of 31 January 2015, are, per half-year: €125 for a full member, €135 for a family, €70 for a child, €85 for pupils, students, people doing military or civilian service, the unemployed and disabled people, €50 for non-players and €10 for pensioners.
Club life
Under the motto "One MRFC", the club calls itself one big family. As of August 2026, players from 18 nations were active at the club. Its men's fifteens and sevens teams are known as the "Blue Lions". The club's current match kit, sold through its club shop, is a sky-blue jersey with blue shorts and socks. The Munich Old Boys, in the club's words, do more than keep themselves fit. The club keeps a hall of fame with information on its players and members, including its internationals.