"Its become a core brotherhood of players"

  • Competitions
  • 23 Jan 2025

Meet Tim Vögtli, vice-captain of the Swiss National Team and player for Grasshopper Club Zurich, as he speaks to Rugby Europe about Switzerland’s debut in the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship.

Switzerland. The new entrants of the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship. What can they add to the tournament? What kind of spices can we expect from the champions of the 2023/2024 Trophy?

Having never played at the top level of the Rugby Europe men’s competitions; Switzerland will have the chance to play for the most desirable prize of them all in their debut year: a Rugby World Cup 2027 berth.

But are they up to the challenge? 30-year-old lock Tim Vögtli, casts aside any doubts about Switzerland being ready or not.

“If we didn’t really want that feeling and the challenge of going against such great opposition, then we don’t deserve to be part of this competition. That’s not the attitude we have in the team. We are not going to come in as tourists and just enjoy the ride, we are here to make a statement and make our rivals sweat. It’s crazy that the teams we have been watching in the Autumn Nations Series, will come to our own turf and play against us. I am proud that we will play against this stalwart Georgia, but at the same time I want to be sure that they will also remember the day they faced Switzerland.”

Switzerland won promotion to the top after back-to-back successful seasons, making it one of the proudest moments in Swiss rugby.