Background
Thiesies was born in 1908 in Berlin, as the son of the custodian of a block of rental flats.
Thiesies was born in 1908 in Berlin, as the son of the custodian of a block of rental flats.
After the Second World War, Thiesies helped form the rugby department of BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf, which he coached until 1977. He was also the coach of the German Democratic Republic national rugby union team from 1951 to 1972. After his school years, he took out an apprenticeship as a tailor and took up boxing and gymnastics as sports.
He came in contact with the sport of rugby union through Tennis Borussia Berlin and the Berliner SV 92 Rugby and, despite his humble origins was ambitious in life.
He broke through as a forward to the first team of the Berliner SV and the German national team He was described as a player of iron discipline by Hermann Meister, long term president of the German Rugby Federation, and was somebody who abstained from alcohol and nicotine, rather devoting his time to running and cycling.
He was called up fourteen times for Germany from 1934 to 1940. During the Second World War, he was stationed in France and was able to make contact with French rugby players, who he trained with.
He began to train the local youth in the game of rugby and was the founding father of the rugby department of BSG Stahl Hennigsdorf.
He became the full-time coach of Stahl in 1953, being employed through the local steelworks. He was also the first coach of the new East German national team, which he was in charge of in 35 internationals throughout the years. Until his retirement in 1977, he coached Stahl to 17 national championships.
Over the years, he was honoured by German and international rugby federations for his service to the sport.
He remained a strong supporter of rugby in Hennigsdorf until his death in 1993 and is remembered as the soul of rugby in the town.
In 1950, he became a member of the new rugby branch of the East German Football Association.