The 14th Bernd Best Tournament will take place March 30th - April 1st 2012
^{(Bernd Best Tournament 2013: 22. - 24. March 2013   ---   Bernd Best Tournament 2014: 11. - 13. April 2014)}

The Invitation for Bernd Best Tournament 2012 was released
Tournament documents

The Online Registration is now open for Bernd Best Tournament 2012
Online Registration

The world’s biggest Wheelchair Rugby tournament, with a high-class international line-up

13, unlucky for some? Not for the world’s biggest tournament in Wheelchair Rugby, which has accomplished much in its 13th year, with the long standing record of 50 teams at last being overtaken, and the international spirit of solidarity and friendship which has been a hallmark of the BBT since its inception yet again evident throughout. Uniquely, teams comprising the whole spectrum of the sport, from complete beginners to experienced internationals, compete in the four different divisions. The BBT provides a rare opportunity for teams of all levels to experience international competition. Many teams celebrated their first appearance in the BBT, which led to some surprising final placings.

For the first time teams from outside Europe attended the BBT. The Canadian Maple Leafs raised the bar by remaining unbeaten in the Champions League. The second placed Flemish Lions recalled their previous excellent record in the BBT. After their 7th place last year they unexpectedly fought back to reach the final, but were unable to prevent a defeat by a score of 43 : 49.

The Austrian Flying Wheels improved from 6th place to a respectable 3rd. The middle rankings in the Champions League were filled by The Rebels (Karlsruhe) in 4th, The Reds 1 (Poland) 5th, and London, the Dudes (b oth from Great Britain)  and The European Giants in 6th, 7th and 8th. The Koblenz Speedos 1  relegated debutants Te Waka Hou (New Zealand) into last  place in the Champions League, but they have already promised to return reinvigorated next year.

While it was expected that the Canadian second string team the Canucks would challenge for the honours, the French team The Mambas were considered to have only an outside chance. In only 2010 they were still playing in the Advanced League, Wheelchair Rugby in France has only been played for a few years, and Canada by contrast is the birthplace of „Murderball“. In the exciting final game of the second division, Les Mambas eventually prevailed by a score of 53 : 44. In places 3 to 5 were Born To Run 1 (Norway), Munich Rugbears and the Irish team Gaelic Warriors 1. Stade Toulousain (France), Next Generation (Germany) and The Reds 2 (Poland) took the middle places in this league. The lower reaches of the Professional League were inhabited by the Czech Prague Robots and the three Dutch teams, Scorpions, Team Amnesia and Quad Fighters.

A German team, Bochum Roadrunners, could at last be seen in a final, of the third highest division. The Copenhagen Ballcrackers were the most successful of the seven Danish teams in total attending the BBT 2011. Both teams arrived undefeated at their final match, which was eventually decided in the Danes’ favour by a score of 38 : 37. The Silent Lambs, mostly consisting of low-pointers, finished in a respectable 3rd place. 4th were the Amsterdam Terminators, in front of the Sitting Bulls (Poland) and FHI Falcons (Denmark). The Greifswalder Rollmöpse clung on to 7th place against Valhalla Warriors Red (Denmark). Propping up the Advanced League were host team Cologne Alligators 1 in 9th, followed by Full Pull (Denmark), Koblenz Patriots and Upper Austria.

The Basic League was the biggest in the 13th BBT, with 16 teams. Hamburger SV were much improved compared to last year, taking 1st place, emphatically winning the League 44 : 30 against the Fighting Snakes (Switzerland). Following this victory, it has been agreed that Hamburger SV will step up to the Advanced League in 2012. The Greeks completed their first ever Wheelchair Rugby tournament with a surprising 3rd place. This achievement, assisted by experienced players, should give the sport in Greece a boost. The Munich Rugbears 2 were in 4th place, ahead of Red Devils Bad Wildungen and Sitting Eagles (Czech Republic). The second Cologne outfit, Alligators 2, recorded a steady 7th place, followed by Euregio Borderline RR. This tri-partite team (Germany, Belgium, Netherlands) from Aachen has earned themselves a good reputation in German Rugby. Gaelic Warriors 2 were in 9th, leading Dragons Freiburg, Bialo-Czerwoni (Poland) and Leipzig Rugby Lions in 12th. The three Danish teams Valhalla Warriors Black, Arhus Burn Outs and No Mercy were in 13th to 15th. Born to Run 2 (Norway) completed the line-up of the Basic League in the BBT 2011.

Building on the reputation of the BBT over many years as the world's largest Wheelchair Rugby event, this year's 13th edition will be particularly special. With the entry of far-flung teams from Canada and New Zealand the BBT 2011 has for the first time become truly global. A heartfelt welcome is also extended to the first Greek rugby team, extending the scope of the sport in Europe. This new venture was made possible by a Greek-German joint effort. Having these newly participating nations at the BBT enriches the sporting quality of the tournament, and reinforces its internationally important status.

The weekend before Easter sees 50 teams from Germany, Europe and now the rest of the world come together to compete in four divisions. In the Basic League, through the Advanced and Professional League, to the elite Champions League, the teams strive to take home one of the coveted trophies. As well as representatives from Greece, Canada, New Zealand and of course Germany, we welcome teams from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Switzerland.

The culmination of the BBT comes on Sunday 17th April at Holweide with the finals of each league and the winners' prizegiving ceremony. The WDR mouse and other guests will ensure a colourful afternoon. For the first time the Cheer and Stunt teams from Troisdorf will entertain the audience. The finals of the premier divisions, the Professional League at 13:30 and the Champions League at 15:15, feature commentary (German only) by an experienced player, to help new rugby fans with the rules of the game and team tactics. Entry is free to the whole event.