Jorn Vögtli and Switzerland eager to build on 'massive moments' in Rugby Europe Championship
Vögtli and Switzerland will be aiming to repeat last year's success against Germany on Saturday
©Neil Dodd / Rugby Europe
Almost exactly a year ago, Switzerland lock Jorn Vögtli witnessed his nation achieve one of its most famous victories.
A last-gasp drop goal from fly-half Jules Porcher sealed a historic 20-17 win over Germany, and it was Switzerland’s first-ever triumph in the Rugby Europe Championship.
“That drop goal from Jules was a pretty special moment,” Vögtli recalls.
“The German fly-half failed to convert a penalty, with Jules deciding not to kick it out and run it.
“I thought we were going for the try, as we had a sort of player advantage, but Jules, being the enigmatic wizard he is, decides to drop at goal.
“Watching it go over, turning around to look at the referee blow his whistle and seeing Jules running out to the dugout was probably the highlight of my career.”
But fate had more in store for Switzerland.
Just a fortnight ago, they produced another remarkable performance, overcoming the Netherlands 29-23 at the Stade Municipal.
That result has set up another showdown against Germany, who Switzerland face again in this weekend’s ranking finals in Madrid.
Repeat last March’s magic against the Schwarze Adler, and Switzerland will maintain their position as a core team in the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship.
For Vögtli, who moved to China with his family as a child before relocating to England to study, Saturday will mark the latest chapter in his rugby career, with one of the most recent being a stint in the fourth tier of English rugby with Oxford Harlequins.
The 29-year-old energetic second-row made three appearances in National Two East last term, and definitely played a part in Oxford Quins’ recent rise from Level 6 to the National Leagues.
“I really enjoyed my time with Oxford Harlequins,” he tells TRU. “When I moved to Oxford, I didn’t know what level I could play.
“I thought Level 5 was a good goal, but I was also able to play in National Two, which was a special achievement in my sporting life.
“It is a passionate club that was built under the motto: ‘Family, belief and professionalism’. Every player embodied those three words. It was what inspired us to take the club from Level 6 to National 2.
“I’m not there anymore, but I’ve made friends and family for life. I will carry with me everything I learned there.”
Vögtli featured first for the University of Surrey whilst studying Mechanical Engineering, before making the jump to Oxford Quins in 2020.
When the lock moved to the Horspath Sports Ground, the club were competing in South West 1 East [Tier 6] but in just four years, they earned their place in National League Rugby.
“We were, and still are, an amateur club at National League Two level,” Vögtli explains. “No one is paid or receives a bonus.
“The club built an ethos, a family that would stick together through thick and thin, and it paid off, as we went from Level 6 to National Two.
“The club made some additions to the staff that massively changed our training sessions.
“It went from slow, dragging training sessions to set-time practice sessions that demanded more from the team. It was an eye-opening experience, and I learned quite a lot.”
Last season, Oxford Quins’ ethos came to fruition as they successfully secured their status in National Two East, with Vögtli noting the competitiveness of the league.
“National Two, for me, has a higher physical and technical level than the Men’s Rugby Europe Trophy [the competition below the Rugby Europe Championship], for example.
“For people like me, who have careers outside of rugby but who want to keep playing, England is the perfect setting. You will grow as a young player, and you will be exposed to a great environment while studying at elite-level universities.
“It is a great stepping stone for developing as a player as it prepares you to face high-speed games against faster, stronger players. I think it translated to international rugby.”
His playing experience in England unlocked the door to the Swiss national team, with Vögtli making his debut in November 2022 against Sweden.
And over the past three years or so, Vögtli has had more memories to savour as the conversation returns to Switzerland’s recent success over the Netherlands
“We identified the way they played and executed a strategy to counter their best strengths and focus on their weaknesses,” says the lock.
“For example, their lineout. We worked hard to execute a strong lineout defence that would take away their launch. At the same time, we targeted their 10 [Vikas Meijer], thereby limiting their options. Ultimately, it led us to win that game.”
Despite overturning a 23-15 deficit in the final quarter, Switzerland conceded 13 points in under 15 minutes during the first half.
But Vögtli reveals the team never doubted their ability to record a famous victory.
“At no point in that game did we think it was impossible to get a win, even when we were down 13-3,” he says.
“I remember the team discussing under the posts, ‘This isn’t going to go like last year [where Switzerland were humbled 73-0]. This is our game to lose’.
“The team went out there and were confident that we were going to get a result.
“When Gaëtan Hirsch [inside centre] made that interception and set up for Lucas Schmid [full-back] to score our third try of the game, we felt it was anybody’s game.
“Then we scored the try that put us in the lead, and… well, we won it. I didn’t watch the last five minutes because I was beyond nervous.
“But when the match official signalled for the end of the game, that sense of elation struck us. Memorable day for us.”
Now, Switzerland are eyeing another ‘memorable day’ on Saturday under their ‘special’ coach Olivier Nier.
“Olivier is a very special guy, very down to earth and personal,” Vögtli continues.
“He cares a lot about his players and the team. A key part of what he has done with us is build a family, and ultimately, none of the players play for themselves. They play for the team, for the fans and for Switzerland.”
While the team have been able to call upon Pro D2 and Nationale players like Vincent Vial, Jessy Jegerlehner, Nicolas Mousties and Porcher, most of the squad is made up from the Swiss league and other ‘minor’ competitions.
However, that hasn’t stopped Nier from making his players believe they can create special memories and remarkable moments.
“His superpower is making us believe that we can run through a brick wall, but we can also break it down,” Vögtli, who plays his club rugby in Sweden, says.
“It does take some hard work outside of the field, but he has shown to every pro and amateur player that the project is worth it.”
As Vögtli prepares for his practice, he reflects on a journey that began so many years ago. It has been quite a ride, one that, by his own admission, has taken him further than he ever imagined.
Creating lasting memories and achieving remarkable results with Switzerland is something he could never have dreamed of.
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