Today’s Olympic rugby expert comes from Germany. Manuel Wilhelm shares some insight into German rugby and the benefits the Olympic inclusion would bring to his country - one of the rugby world's 'sleeping giants'

He is one of the guys behind olympic-rugby.org (signature number 6), but also the founder of Germany's biggest rugby website, TotalRugby.de

Manuel is 28 years old and has been playing rugby for the last 23 years. He was fortunate in growing up in one of the two strongholds in German rugby - Heidelberg - and being acquainted with the sport from an early age by who he refers to as ‘a wonderful coach’ - Gerry Christophers, father of England international Phil Christophers who is today in Castres Olympique's service. He says, that to this day the English rugby education has given him a lot of beautiful moments on and off the pitch.

Manuel plays rugby in the German 1st Bundesliga and also got some caps for the German national team, with which he currently battles for existence in Division 1 of the European Nations Cup.

olympic-rugby.org: How good do you think the chances are rugby will convince the Olympic decision makers? The bookies odds are 4:1.

Manuel Wilhelm: I can't imagine rugby not making it, I am and I stay optimistic. The sport has too much to offer, it is too huge, and embodies so many fundamental values. Rugby will make it and I think I should go right now and bet some dollars, maybe I'll make some drinking money that way.

OR: Where do you see rugby in say 2020, should it get included in the 2016 Olympics?

MW: Rugby 2020 will shake "king football's" (that’s how they call that awful sport with the round ball in Germany) throne. If I tell somebody nowadays I play rugby, 80% of the people still think it is the sport with the big pads and the steel helmets (I just forgot the name).

But once those people get in touch with rugby at the Olympics they will certainly love the game. I believe rugby 7s is the ideal medium to transport the idea of rugby - it lives by it's verve and is easy to understand, but still it reveals the unique values rugby stands for and values you can't find in any other sport around the globe.

The only disadvantage in 7s is that the guys look a little too slick and they seem to have a gusto for hair gels and colognes - something a forward from the scrum’s engine room like myself struggles to get enthusiastic about.

OR: How do you think will rugby in Germany change should the Olympic bid be successful?

MW: First and foremost rugby will gain popularity. Germany is crazy about sports and successful in almost every game that is done seriously. The only reason why Germany has not much of a say in rugby is that people simply don't know the sport.

When Olympic rugby is shown on TV the Germans will be wanting to be a part of it and win the medals. The German Olympic Sports Confederation (Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund, DOSB) and the German Rugby Federation (Deutscher Rugby Verband, DRV) have specific plans about which steps would be taken as soon as rugby gets the status of an Olympic sport.

Among other things rugby 15s as well as rugby 7s will be supported by German government sport funding with immediate effect, which will give the athletes access to the so called Olympic bases (Olympiastützpunkt, OSP, facilities for high-performance sport, supported by the DOSB), to more professional equipment as well as financial support.

So far almost all of the German internationals are complete amateurs, which means they don't only have to go to work and / or study, but they have to pay for their kit as well as for things like working out at the gym.

German rugby will prosper enormously but also the international competition will benefit when the sleeping giants slowly wake up.

OR: Finally, with Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago bidding to host 2016, which of the cities would you most like to travel to, to watch Olympic rugby and why?

MW: This one is a very tough decision. Of the 3 cities I have visited Madrid which is a great place. The US-Americans are crazy about rugby 7s and they would definitely be a great audience, Brazil has just discovered the sport and I can imagine rugby and carnival as an appealing combination, but Tokyo 2016 would probably be a very special spectacle.

The Japanese are great hosts, the stadiums would sure be packed, Tokyo is said to be a fascinating metropolis and last but not least the Rugby World Cup 2019 will take place in Japan, so the Olympic games would be the perfect final rehearsal. On the other hand I would have to be in Japan twice in 3 years. Well, maybe Rio would be better after all? Well, all of them are great cities, I can't make a choice.

OR: We'll clearly have to send you on an around the world trip to inspect all the places and report back. Thanks for taking the time to chat!

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