Houston SaberCats & Germany Backrow Ayron Schramm

The Houston SaberCats have signed Germany flanker and No. 8, Ayron Schramm for the 2019Major League Rugby season. Schramm is from Durban, KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, is 23 years old, 6’4″ tall, and weighs 238 pounds. He currently lives in Heidelburg, Germany, where he plays for the German National Rugby team at the back row and works for the Wild Rugby Academy.

According to SA School Sports, Schramm played rugby at an early age with the Hillcrest Villagers Mini-Rugby Club with his father, Georg, a capped Transvaal hooker and a coach there, being instrumental in his development. He then played for Highbury Prep School, playing in the centers, at lock, and at the back row. After age 16, he continued playing rugby in the back row.

Schramm attended Kearsney College and in 2013 the team achieved “the greatest rugby season in its illustrious history.” He was also one of the standout performers for the KZN Schools Sevens team in 2012.

In 2014 he signed a junior contract with the Natal Sharks. His association with the Sharks continued through 2019. He moved up to the Super Rugby squad, played in the Currie Cup Qualifiers, and has also played for the Under-19s (captain) and Under-21s side.

In 2017, Schramm exited the Super Rugby Sharks to play for the Jersey Reds of the Greene King IPA Championship. “The English-qualified recruit, who appeared in the 2016 Currie Cup for the Durban-based club, touched down in the Island this week after signing a two-year deal.”

Schramm will join the Houston SaberCats for the 2019Major league Rugby season after the conclusion of the World Rugby repechage qualifier for the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019.

German National Rugby Team

Ayron Schramm made his debut for the German National Rugby team against Brazil on November 18, 2017, at Brita Arena in Wiesbaden, Germany. he played No. 8 in the team’s 46-17 win and scored two tries. He has been capped three times, all as a starter, in 2017-2018. This included a test match against the U.S. where he scored a try in a losing effort.

Schramm qualified for the team as the result of residency established due to having a grandparent from Germany.

World Rugby announced that the venue for the Rugby World Cup 2019 repechage tournament will be the Stade Delort in Marseille, France. The Repechage winner will be the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2019.

Four teams will compete in the round-robin format event to be played across three match days on Sunday 11 November, Saturday 17 November, and Friday 23 November 2018. Canada, Hong Kong, Germany, and Kenya will compete for the final spot for the RWC 2019 and will be in Pool B alongside defending champions New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, and Namibia.

Comments

Ayron Schramm indicated that I’m very excited to be joining the Sabercats. Rugby is a growing sport in America an I’ve always wanted to be there. I’ve never been to the States, so I’m not sure what to expect. I’ve only heard good things so I can’t wait to get over.”