Match Ball Delivery: Meet Aileen from Germany

Aileen loves Rugby – the tacking, the passing, and letting off steam. In just a few days, this 11-year-old German will fulfill a dream: seeing a big rugby match and feeling the big stadium atmosphere. The icing on the cake: leading out the players and delivering the official match ball onto the field before Italy plays Romania on October 11 at Sandy Park[MB1]!

DHL has searched the globe to bring 48 children from 42 countries to the UK for one unforgettable experience – to deliver the match ball to a Rugby World Cup 2015 game. This is the story of Aileen from Germany.

Watch how Aileen earned the chance to become DHL’s Match Ball Delivery Ambassador from Germany[MB2]

Love at first sight
Aileen learned about Rugby for the first time at school. It was love at first sight.

“Two rugby players came to our school to show us the game” she explains. “I fell in love with rugby right away!”

And it wasn’t long before she told her mom she wanted to join a club.

“A few days after playing rugby at school, my mother took me to a rugby club in Heidelberg,” she says.

She joined RG Heidelberg [MB3](RGH) – a rugby club rich in tradition that is among the biggest names in Germany Rugby. RGH will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2019.

Though the sport is not well known in Germany, Rugby has been played in the country for a long time. The German Rugby Federation was founded in 1900, making it the oldest national rugby union in continental Europe[MB4]!

“I’m happy to be a part of this great moment in big stadium.”

Big stadium atmosphere
Thanks to Aileen’s passion for Rugby, the game has become a family affair.

“We got into Rugby through Aileen really, because she didn’t give up and was adamant she wanted to continue playing Rugby even after school,” her mother says. “She was very persistent.”

Aileen’s mom will join her in England for the big day at Sandy Park in Exeter[MB5]. Apparently the decision on which of her family members would tag along was Aileen’s.

“I’m allowed to join,” her mom laughs. “I’m allowed to fly out with her.”

It will be Aileen’s first time in a big Rugby stadium watching the best of the best – and she’s obviously excited about it. 

“I’m happy to be a part of this great moment in big stadium,” she says. “I think it will be a great feeling.”
 
Mom’s all smiles as well.

“Finally,” she adds. “Seeing some of the big teams, the big stadium atmosphere!”

“I do feel a bit famous.”

Perfect passer
To win the Match Ball Delivery contest in Germany, Aileen participated in a social media promotion put on by DHL and the German Rugby Union, or DRV.  Entrants had to submit a photo of themselves wearing a rugby kit alongside 25 words on why they love rugby. Three finalist were invited to the Germany vs. Romania match in Heidelberg where they took part in a rugby passing challenge. The target was a tractor tire and each finalist had three attempts to throw a ball through a target. The winner was the participant who got the most through the target.

Aileen, who was the only girl among the finalists, scored a perfect three out of three.

So what does she think about winning?

“I do feel a bit famous,” she admits. “I was definitely so happy when I won!”

Stay tuned later this month when we share Aileen’s Match Ball Delivery experience. But for now, watch the heartwarming stories of some of our other winners[MB6]. Or, if you prefer a good read, find their stories right here on DHL InMotion[MB7].
[MB1]http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/match/14231#stats
[MB2]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJlAZui0B6U&index=3&list=PLGyWYJnhqKjDlmEv0EK2iVauzDzYod4ba
[MB3]http://www.rgh-rugby.com/index.php/shadowEnglish
[MB4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Rugby_Federation#Membership
[MB5]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Park
[MB6]https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGyWYJnhqKjDlmEv0EK2iVauzDzYod4ba
[MB7]http://www.dhl-in-motion.com/sports/rugby