Vienna Celtic Rugby Football Club

✨TRY OUT RUGBY!✨

Our ladies team is always welcoming new player!
No matter if you are completely new to the sport or more expierienced, there is a place for everybody!

We are back!
The Rugby break is over!
Join our training every Tuesday and Thursday
7:30 - 9:30 PM
New players are always welcome

Gestern fand das alljährliche celtic Sommerfest statt.
Vielen Dank an für das Bereitstellen des Essens☀️💙

Yesterday the annual celtic summer party took place.
Many thanks to for sponsoring the food for the BBQ.

A month ago our ladies had the honour of taking part in the together with a team from New York, Munich and London, they played their first ever 15’s match.

📸

Vienna Celtic - Back to Back Austrian Champions 🏆🏆

Celtic First XV made history in becoming the first Celtic team to successfully defend the Austrian championship. After a comfortable win in 2023 matters were not settled until the very last play of the game in 2024.

Being down 0-11 at half time Celtic only found back into the game during the last 25 minutes of the final. A converted try from Hemetsberger sparked hope. However, Donau immediately responded with a breakaway try extending their lead again to 7-16.

The Celts found their way back into the opponent’s half and managed to score a 2nd time. Captain Fiebrich picked the ball up and went over the tryline, new score 12-16.

In the dying seconds of the game Celtics Nr. 8 McHugh managed to carry the ball over the line from short distance after a continued onslaught by the defending Champions. Mostbecks conversion added the extras to make the final score 19-16.

"We as the Celtic family are very proud of our players. They showed true grit to come back from beyond to pull off this win”, says Chairman Antonio DeVall and adds: “We would like to thank everybody involved in making this great season possible. From our youth coaches to the new headcoach Mike Jackson. From everybody who was involved in running the clubhouse, the bar and the BBQ and organizing the championship final in Atzgersdorf. A great thank you also goes out to our sponsors, the supporters and all he helping hands we had.” 💙💙

📸 Barbara Alexandra Lichtblau-Zakrzanska
© Lukas Frühstück

Back to back Champions
Staatsmeister 2024🏆

📷 .zakrzanska

Support the Boys in Blue at tomorrows Austrian Rugby Championship Final 💙🏉

Here is our Celtic Team to play the Grand Final:

1 Mihalik
2 Hruschka
3 Levichev
4 Clemens
5 Fiebrich
6 Hemetsberger
7 Spies
8 McHugh
9 Leissing
10 Puha
11 Mostbeck
12 Ford
13 Eiffe
14 Barrett
15 Karpeles

El Agrebi, Maier, Bonanni, Taylor, Aslanyan, Rückamp, Schulz, Caratas.

If you can’t support the boys in Vienna make sure to tune in on the livestream:

https://solidsport.com/rugby-xv-bundesliga/watch/vienna-celtic-rfc-rugby-union-donau-finale-2024

Austrian Rugby Championship Final
Vienna Celtic RFC v Rugby Union Donau Wien
📅 Saturday 11th of May
📍 BLZ Atzgersdorf (Steinergasse 12, 1230 Vienna)
⏱ Kick Off: 4:30 PM
Free Entry

Come and support the Boys in Blue💙

After a convincing 74-0 win against Stade Celtics First XV is heading into the final week of the season. On Saturday we will face RU Donau at our home pitch in Atzgersdorf in the Grand Final of the Austrian Rugby League.

Putting in the hard work at training the Celts are looking to defend the title in style in front of our home support. Make sure to support the First team and wear Celtic colors.

Venue: BLZ Atzgersdorf
Kick Off: Saturday 11th of May, 4:30 PM

Ogi Ogi Ogi

Last Saturday the Vienna Celtic Rugby Football Club Old Boys faced the Passatelli Old Ravenna Rugby Club at the "Krapfen Cup" in Atzgersdorf. Our friends from Italy showed a great Performance, not only at the pitch (Ravenna wins by 15:10 with a last minute try), also at the 80ties & 90ties party in the evening both teams proofed their stamina and dancing skills. It was a pleasure for us to host you, hope to see you again soon!! Thanks for the photos, Harry & Loiuse!!

A tale of two halves

With Celtic struggling to find a way into the game and adapt to the wet and cold conditions Graz managed to establish a comfortable lead in the first 40 minutes going into halftime with a 3-16 lead.

The start of the second half brought a big impact from the substitute Celtic forwards resulting in a quick try by prop Dima Levichev. Celtic gradually worked their way back into the game keeping the scoreboard ticking and dominating Graz in contact situations and scrums resulting in a pushover try. With most of territory and possession in Celtics favour the home team looked likely to win after a great comeback. However RC Graz managed to capitalize on numerous Celtic mistakes in the dying seconds of the game scoring a last gasp try to win the game 18-23.

Congratulations to Rugby Club Graz for a strong performance.

Celtic will face Rugby Oberösterreich away in Krems on the 27th of April and then play the final home game of the current league campaign on the 4th of May, the day of the Celtic youth tournament.

📸 Barbara Alexandra Lichtblau-Zakrzanska

Congrats, Caspar! The whole Austrian Rugby community is proud of you. The Celtic family is supporting you from Vienna! 💪🏽

Well done Rugby Union Donau Wien, you can be very proud!

Massive congrats to Caspar Gabriel (former Donau Youth Player) for his successful debut in the Irish U19 national team vs Wales.
1 try, 3 conversations, top scorer of the game - simply great, Caspar 💚🩵💪

Fotocredit 📸 RU Donau Wien

Saison Start bei unseren Damen vergangenen Samstag in Wr. Neustadt 💪

Vielen Dank an fürs Ausrichten des Turniers

Derby victory for Celtic

An injury-hit Celtic First XV put on a convincing performance against Donau adding another win in the current Austrian Rugby Bundesliga campaign. The groundwork for the victory was layed in the first half as the boys in blue managed to establish a lead of 19 points to nothing.

Good ballhandling and dominant carries left Rugby Union Donau Wien without a significant chance as Puha (9), Mchugh ( 8 ) and Barret (12) scored after lengthy spells of attack off malls and strong backs play.

With heavy rainfall setting in the second half the spectators saw more mistakes made on both sides. A spirited defensive effort by Donau saw them hold out numerous Celtic attacks and score a try in the corner around the 55-minute mark. Final Score 5-19.

With lots of positives from the first half the team will be working hard over the upcoming easter break. Congrats to new addition Robert Harvey on his debut performance for Celtic.

The next game for the boys in blue will take place at our home pitch in Atzgersdorf on the 20th of April against RC Graz.

📸Credit: Monica Yee

Please welcome our new member of the Vienna Celtic Family 💙🥩🍗

Match Report: Vienna Celtic vs. Stade RC: 44:0

In their first league game back after the winter break, Vienna Celtic clashed with their Vienna rivals, Stade Rugby, in an exhilarating encounter that showcased both determination and skill.

The initial minutes of the match saw Stade RC asserting dominance on the field, but Celtic's solid defensive work thwarted their attempts. In a swift turn of events, Celtic capitalized on a quick turnover to secure their first points of the game, setting the tone for the remainder of the match. As the first half progressed, Celtic's momentum surged. By halftime, Celtic held a commanding 30-0 lead.

The second half witnessed a spirited resurgence from the Stade team, demonstrating bravery and resilience. Despite their efforts to keep the game competitive, Celtic maintained their stronghold, further extending their lead with two additional tries and successful conversions.

The final whistle blew with the scoreboard reading Vienna Celtic 44, Stade RC 0. It was a commendable display of rugby from both sides, with head coach Mike Jackson undoubtedly proud of his team's performance, particularly in the dominant first half.

A notable highlight of the match was the debut of Celtic's junior player, Connor, who marked his first-team appearance with a memorable try. As the fans cheered "OGI, OGI, OGI," the victory left a promising outlook for the remainder of the season. (Pic by )

Come and support the Celts and enjoy Guinness Men's Six Nations in our clubhouse afterwards!

🏉 Der Frühling ist da und Rugby ist auf dem Feld! 💪 Die Rugby Bundesliga XV startet diesen Samstag mit einem spannenden Showdown zwischen RC Stade und Celtic RFC. Seit dabei? 🌸

🏉 Spring is in the air and Rugby is on the field! 💪 The Rugby Bundesliga XV kicks off this Saturday with a thrilling showdown between RC Stade and Celtic RFC. Will you be there? 🌸

Dear Celtic Family,

It is with profound sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Apisai “Api” Mule. He departed from us this week, leaving a deep void in our hearts.

Api will forever be cherished as a genuine Celt, and his memory will endure in the hearts of both the seasoned veterans and the aspiring young talents among us. He embodied the spirit of a true gentleman, radiating warmth and kindness both on and off the field. His infectious smile illuminated every moment shared with him.

As an integral part of our team, Api contributed to our triumphs, and his achievements as an Austrian champion with us will forever be celebrated. His absence will be keenly felt, as we mourn the loss of a beloved member of our Celtic family.

In this time of grief, let us remember Api with fondness and gratitude for the joy he brought into our lives. May his spirit continue to inspire us as we honor his legacy.

We would like to express our sincere condolences to Api’s family and friends around the world.

With deepest sympathies,
Vienna Celtic RFC

Snowrugby Innbruck 2024

📸 .zakrzanska

The following men have been honoured with a Celtic award this year

📸 .zakrzanska

•
•
•
vcrfc

The following ladies have been honoured with a Celtic player award this year

📸 .zakrzanska

•
•
•

Boys in blue win in the snow

Celtics First XV showed great perseverance in difficult conditions to continue their unbeaten run heading into the winter break with a 17-12 win against Rugby Union Donau Wien.

The heavy snowfall slowed matters down at the start, both teams had difficulty adapting to the conditions. Celtic however took an early lead with a sneaky try from Leissing (9) early on after having a sustained period of territory and possession.

Donau managed to score and convert a try around the 20-minute mark. No more points were scored in the first half. Halftime score 5-7.
Celtic managed to take the upper hand in the second half despite countless injuries and a couple of yellow cards. Heroic defense plus well executed tries from McHugh (8) through the middle and Mostbeck (15) after a crossfield kick gave Celtic the advantage.
Final Score 17-12.

Congratulations to our youth team player Conor Braiden making his first team debut at just 17 years of age. Way to go!

Big shoutout to the supporters cheering from the sidelines and our clubhouse staff keeping everybody warm with tea and snacks.

You can find the link to the photos by Barbara Alexandra Lichtblau-Zakrzanska in the comments. Thanks for the amazing pictures!

📸Credit: Barbara Alexandra Lichtblau-Zakrzanska

Erster Platz für unsere Herren beim 10‘s Turnier🥇

Vielen Dank an für die tolle Organisation des Turniers und die leckeren Verpflegung

📸 .zakrzanska
•
•
•

Away win in Graz

Saturdays league game against RC Graz saw our First XV bring home a much deserved win from Styria.

After a physical start the home team took an early lead but Celtic managed to respond to the setback with a try by Spies (7) after a sustained period of attack. The free flowing game saw both teams with good opportunities to take the lead but an excellently executed counter attack finished by Leonard Schulz (14) gave the boys in blue the advantage. Celtic went into half time with a 10-18 point lead.

Numerous penalties gave Graz the advantage early in the second half, but Celtics strong defense and game management kept the scoreboard ticking. Another try by Spies and an excellent kicking record by Clemens Mostbeck (15) led to a convincing 29-18 lead. A late try by Graz led to the result of 29-25.

The game also saw our youth player Dominik Scholler make his debut for the first team. Congratulations!

Thanks to Rugby Club Graz for a fair game and the hospitality.

Unsere Ladies konnten sich am vergangenen Wochenende den 2. Platz beim Heimturnier sichern 💪💙🩵

Vielen Dank an für die köstliche Verköstigung unsere Spielerinnen.

📸.zakrzanska
•
•
•

Abschied von Christopher Graf

Schweren Herzens müssen wir das Ableben von Christopher "Grafi" Graf bekanntgeben. Grafi war nicht nur ein herausragender Spieler, sondern insbesondere ein guter Freund mit einer wunderbaren Persönlichkeit. Dies machte Grafi sowohl auf als auch abseits vom Spielfeld zu einem Vorbild für unsere Celtic-Familie. Grafi wird eine große Lücke in unserem Verein hinterlassen. Die gesamte Celtic-Familie spricht seiner Familie ihre Anteilnahme sowie ihr aufrichtiges Beileid aus.
Wir werden dich sehr vermissen!
Ruhe in Frieden.

Stay True. Always.

***

It is with a heavy heart that we have to announce the passing of Christopher "Grafi" Graf. Grafi was not only an outstanding player, but above all a good friend with a wonderful personality. This made Grafi a role model for our Celtic family both on and off the pitch. Grafi will leave a big gap in our club. The entire Celtic family extends its condolences and sincere sympathy to his family.
We will miss you very much!
Rest in peace.

Stay True. Always.

🖤🕊️

Werte Rugby Community,

Mit großem Bedauern müssen wir Euch leider mitteilen, dass unser Spieler und Freund Christopher Graf am Dienstag, den 31. Oktober 2023 von uns gegangen ist. Tief betroffen sprechen wir seiner Familie unsere Anteilnahme und unser aufrichtiges Beileid aus.

Christopher, oder Grafi, startete mit Rugby bei den Wombats in Wiener Neustadt und war auch später ein wichtiger Teil des Vienna Celtic. Als Nationalteamspieler und als Physio war er auch tatkräftig für viele Jahre für den Verband aktiv.

Als Vorbild auf und neben dem Spielfeld wird er unserer Rugby Community stets in positiver Erinnerung bleiben. Seine Leidenschaft für unseren Rugbysport war unbestritten und er war vielen – auf und neben dem Spielfeld - ein sehr guter Freund.

Er hinterlässt eine große Lücke, auf dem Spielfeld, aber auch in unseren Gedanken und Herzen. Das Länderspiel und das Spiel Wombats gegen Celtic auf der Neuklosterwiese werden im besonderen Gedenken an Christopher bestritten werden.

Stay true. Always.

Für den Österreichischen Rugby Verband
und im Namen des Wombats Rugby Clubs & Vienna Celtic RFC

Bernhard Zainzinger
Präsident Rugby Austria

Dear rugby community,
It is with great regret that we have to inform you that our player and friend Christopher Graf passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2023. We express our deepest sympathy and condolences to his family.

Christopher, or Grafi, started playing rugby with the Wombats in Wiener Neustadt and was later an important part of Vienna Celtic. As a national team player and as a physio, he was also actively involved in the association for many years.

He will always be remembered positively by our rugby community as a role model on and off the field. His passion for our sport of rugby was undisputed and he was a very good friend to many - on and off the field.

He leaves a big gap, on the field, but also in our minds and hearts. The international match and the Wombats game against Celtic on the Neuklosterwiese will be played in special memory of Christopher.

Stay true. Always.

For the Austrian Rugby Association
and on behalf of the Wombats Rugby Club & Vienna Celtic RFC

Bernhard Zainzinger
President Rugby Austria

Yesterday our Ladies had a fun teambuilding night at Draq Queen Bingo 💙
•
•
•