the eight worst clubs in the first stage of the bundesliga entered the "drv-pokal" for 2013–14, together with the eight best clubs from the 2nd rugby-bundesliga. the "drv-pokal" ranks as a second tier to the german championship but also functioned as a qualifying competition for the 2014–15 rugby-bundesliga. the modus for the "drv-pokal" was the same as for the german championship, with a second stage with two divisions of eight teams, followed by the play-offs made up of the best twelve teams, with the top two in each division receiving a bye for the first round.