Some Rugby League News

German Squad for European shield - Game 2

A preliminary German squad of players for the Second European shield game has been given. The team to take on the Czechs will be announced on the morning of Saturday 4th August after their last training run.

Bad Reichenhall/Muenchen
Leonhard BERNGRUBER, Simon COOPER, Andreas KETTNER, Julian ZABEL

Heidelberg Sharks
Moritz HOTTENROTT, Michael GLASER , Anjum KHAN, Dominik BASTIAN, Janus KRUSE, Alex KLOEPPER, Nick PETIT

Heidelberg Lions
Patrick RUHSTORFER, , Benedikt REHM

German Exiles
Dan STOCKS, Kristian KEINHORST, Markus KEINHORST, Jimmy KEINHORST, Nick KEINHORST, Max FROESCHNER

Nürnberg
Peter SMUTNA, Max KANDEL

Eintracht Frankfurt
Higgi VOLKMANN, Joachim FRERA

HEAD TRAINER: Uwe Jansen
ASSISTANT TRAINERS: Simon Cooper, Leo Bernbgruber, Dan Stocks
DIRECTOR OF RUGBY LEAGUE: David Griffiths
PHYSIO: Mick Dwyer

Some info on the German players

LEO BERNGRUBER (Bad Reichenhall) 29 Years old
Leo schooled and went to University in England and this is where he first came in to contact with the game. Leo played Rugby league for University of Central England and then later at Birmingham bulldogs before coming home to Reichenhall and setting up a Rugby Union club 6 years ago. The Club now also play Rugby League and are one of the best run and strongest Clubs in either code in Bavaria. Much of the credit is down to Leo Berngruber. Leo is also captain of the German team. Sound in defence and with a useful kicking game caused a number of problems for the Serbs.

Moritz Hottenrott (Heidelberg Sharks)
Mountain of a guy and he is ideal for Rugby League. Usually playing prop and never shirks taking the ball in. Both the Serbians and British Army had problems pulling the big lad down. "Hotti" is also heavily involved in the organizing of Rugby League Deutschland and is the Team Manager

Dan Stocks (German Exiles) 26 Years Old
Dan set up the German Exiles that play in the Midlands Merit League in the UK this year. Having come through the junior grades at Hemel Stags and contributing alot to the Hemel Stags recently in the NL3 division. Dan can play in a number of positions and also is involved in Coaching the German born players. highly respected by everybody and leads the team well. Probably Germanys best player against Serbia with a some great hits, runs and passing.

Dominik Bastian (Heidelberg Sharks)
Played his first ever game of League against Serbia and was outstanding saving a couple of tries with last ditch tackles. A fullback who is safe under the high ball but also can tackle anything and was given Man of the Match for Germany against the Serbs.

Simon Cooper (Bad Reichenhall)
Father from Hamburg but born in Halifax. Didnt start playing League really until he was 21 with Pennine League side Greetland All Rounders then spending the Summer with Halifax U21sin 1999 and playing against others Leeds Rhinos U21s. Strong Running and hard hitting tackler who also has a decent pair of hands. Set up the German try with a neat reverse pass against Serbia. Simon also founded Rugby League Deutschland in 2005.

Markus Keinhorst (German Exiles)
Alongside brothers Jimmy, Nick and Kristian Markus plays for the German Exiles. All the brothers are decent footballers and tough and robust. The brothers have a German father but were also registered in Germany when they were born. The brothers are again involved in helping train up the German based players and speak the language with ease.

Benedikt Rehm (Heidelberg Lions)
Young player who didnt take a backward step and showed up well despite playing his first ever game of Rugby League against the Serbians. Usually operating at Second row. Loved the tackling involved and the hits compared to Rugby Union which is what he also plays.

Michael Glaser (Heidelberg Sharks)
Michael is mainly a Handball player but plays League in the Summer Months. Usually a centre or Winger is safe with the ball and makes good ground.

Alex Klöpper (Heidelberg Sharks)
Young Winger from Heidelberg who played his second game of league against Serbia-and loved it! Alex is also involved in running RL Deutschlands Website and looking to get League in to Heidelberg University with Moritz Hottenrott.

Peter Smutna (Nürnberg) 32 Years Old
Born in Vienna but a native of Germany for over 10 years, Peter is a Utility player. Quick but strong and can be a handfull. Played his first ever game of Rugby League against Serbia-and cant stop talking about it! Peter is also the Rugby Union trainer at RFC Nürnberg- who will play League and Union in 2008 alongside Bad Reichenhall.

Julian Zabel (Bad Reichenhall) 21 Years Old
Youngster from Bad Reichenhall although he actuall lives in Kiel and is in the German Navy! Pacy Winger who has no fear. Julian is looking at running a Rugby League Course in Kiel for the German Navy next year! We hope this will happen. The Serbian game was Julians second game and although made a couple of mistakes is eager to play again.

Joachim Frera (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Strong player who missed the Serbia game due to injury and is eager to play against the Czechs! Can play Hooker or Back Row. "JoJo" is looking to develop League in the Frankfurt area with Higgi Volkmann who is also at Eintracht Frankfurt

Germany will be missing Mike Kerr (Holidays) and players like Paul Berngruber (Dislocated Shoulder), Andreas Brunnauer (Shoulder) Stephan Kasper (Shoulder & Exams) and Falk Schmitt (Knee) amongst others. Still thats why you need a number of players as the game is more than just about the 17 who are able to play

By Simon Cooper and Daniel Andruczyk.