Since 2010, the Regionalliga is only the fourth level of play in Southern Germany, since the inception of the 3rd Liga South/West, which covers the same states as the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West above it except Bavaria.
History
The Regionalligas form the third tier of German rugby union since the inception of the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga in the early 1990s. Before that, the league was the second tier, below the Rugby-Bundesliga. Below the Regionalliga sits the Rugby-Verbandsliga, however, in some regions, the Regionalliga is the lowest division and no Verbandsliga exists.
The champions of the different league divisions, as well as league champions play-off at the end of the season for 2nd Bundesliga promotion. The champions of the RL West and RL Hesse determine the promoted team for the 2. Bundesliga West, RL Baden-Württemberg and RL Bavaria determine the promoted team to the 2. Bundesliga South, whereas RL North and RL East determine the promoted team to the 2. Bundesliga North and East respectively.
In 2006-07, RC Mainz competed in both Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate.
In 2005-06, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate played a combined championship.
Until 2001, Bavaria played a separate spring and autumn championship.
Until 2001, Rhineland-Palatinate played a separate spring and autumn championship.
For the 2018-20 season, Rhineland-Palatinate formed a 3 pool competition Rheinland / Westfalen / Rheinland-Pfalz&Luxemburg with the addition of RC Walferdange (Luxemburg) - the second team from that country to join the Germany National competition after RC Luxemburg with a 1st and 2nd XV.
Until 2001, the league was played in an autumn (A) and a spring (S) championship, with the autumn champion receiving the opportunity to play in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga North/East qualification round in spring. From 2003 to 2009, the league was once more divided into autumn and spring. From 2004 to 2007, a North/East championship was played in spring. Since 2010, the clubs from Lower Saxony play in the Regionalliga North and no Regionalliga Lower Saxony exists.
Until 2007 and again in 2009-10, the league was played in an autumn (A) and a spring (S) championship, with the autumn champion, until 2001, receiving the opportunity to play in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga North/East qualification round in spring.
In 2003-04, the league was divided into a northern and a southern group, which played in autumn. The top two teams from the north and the best team from the south then played in the North/East championship in spring. The remaining top teams in each group then played in placings round 1 while the bottom teams played in round 2.
From 2004-05 to 2006-07, the league was played in an A and a B division in autumn. The best teams from the A division then played in the North/East championship in spring. The remaining teams from the A division and the winner of B then played in the placings round 1. The worst team in the A group and the rest of B played in round 2.
In 2007-08 and 2008–09, an A and a B division existed with a standard home-and-away season and no separate autumn and spring rounds.
In 2009-10, all clubs in the East played a single autumn round in one division. The top five then played in the A division in spring while the bottom six played in the B division.
Until 2002, the league was played in an autumn (A) and a spring (S) championship, with the autumn champion, until 2001, receiving the opportunity to play in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West qualification round in spring. Since the 2013–14 season the league has been split into a Rhineland and Westphalia division.
Until 2001, the league was played in an autumn (A) and a spring (S) championship, with the autumn champion receiving the opportunity to play in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West qualification round in spring.
3 In 2006-07, RC Mainz took part in both the Regionalliga Hesse and Regionalliga Rhineland-Palatinate.
4 In 2005-06, the Regionalliga Hesse and Regionalliga Rhineland-Palatinate played as a joined league. RC Mainz, RC Worms and the Ramstein Rogues RFC are clubs from Rhineland-Palatinate.
5 In 2003-04, RC Worms took part in both the Regionalliga Hesse and Regionalliga Rhineland-Palatinate.
Until 2001, the league was played in an autumn (A) and a spring (S) championship, with the autumn champion receiving the opportunity to play in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West qualification round in spring. No competition has been held since 2012.
1 Combined team of RC Konstanz and TSB Ravensburg.
Until 2001, the league was played in an autumn (A) and a spring (S) championship, with the autumn champion receiving the opportunity to play in the 2nd Rugby-Bundesliga South/West qualification round in spring. As the 2000 autumn champions, München RFC II, was ineligible to compete in the 2nd Bundesliga, being a reserves team, the second placed team, TSV 1846 Nürnberg, went instead. 2015/16 München RFC II, was ineligible to compete in the 2nd Bundesliga, Unterföhring lost the promotion play-off against Karlsruher SV. In 2016/17 Nürnberg declined the promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga, so Unterföhring stepped in.
