Rugby league in Germany
Encyclopedia
Rugby league is a minor sport in Germany. The national governing body for the sport, Rugby League Deutschland, is an associate member of the Rugby League European Federation
. The country's national team
are regular competitors in the European Shield, winning the competition in 2006 and 2011.
was formally introduced into Germany
in August 2004 with the formation of Rugby League Deutschland by Simon Cooper who was born in Halifax, England whose father is German. Prior to that it had been played informally by players from English-speaking associations such as British servicemen and students.
The first ever game didn't take place until nearly 12 months later when on the 23rd July the Heidelberg Sharks beat München RLFC 72-64 in a 9-a-side game
played in Heidelberg. Since then clubs such as Bad Reichenhall http://www.rfcbadreichenhall.de/ and Innsbruck have also played matches.
In 2005 there was the first match between a Germany XIII and a touring Scottish Students side. This was a catalyst for Germany entering in 2006 in their first full international tournament the Central Europe Development Tri-Nations and then subsequently in the European Shield in 2007 and 2008.
In addition to the first class rugby league the game is also being played at the school boy level in a couple of schools in the Heidelberg and Heilbronn area of Germany.
In 2011, Rugby League Deutschland was admitted to affiliate membership of the Rugby League European Federation
after reforms to its governance.
The Germans' participation in several tournaments against Eastern Europe opposition has generated an interest within Germany for the game of rugby league. There are also a lot of rugby league players with German descent in the NRL
and Queensland Cup
.
And one team that plays in the Midlands Merit League competition in England based on ex-pat and German heritage players:
! Group
|-
| Rohrbach Hornets
|-
| Karlsruhe
|-
| Pfortzheim
|}
As well as playing friendlies and one-off games, the German national team has participated in two tournaments. In the 2006 Germany participated in the Central Europe Development Tri-Nations along with Austria and Estonia. Germany won both of their matches narrowly beating Austria in Bad Reichenhall
in front of over 350 people. They then travelled to Tallinn and beat Estonia to seal victory and outright first place of the competition.
In 2007 they took part in the RLEF European Shield
along with the Czech Republic and Serbia. In this tournament they took out second place. They were beaten in Heidelberg by a strong Serbia side but recovered and beat a tough Czech Republic team in Prague by 22 points.
In 2008 Germany will once again be participating in the RLEF European Shield
with the Czech Republic and newcomers Italy. Serbia were promoted to a group with Russia and Lebanon on their strong performance in 2007. The games will be held in Padova, Italy, Prague, Czech Republic and Frankfurt, Germany. There are also games proposed against Serbia and an RLEF XIII, but are yet to be confirmed.
The first weekend of August each year is being set aside for a game against the Czech Republic, no matter if facing each other in a tournament or not. Also plans are to have friendlies against Austria, though in 2007 this game fell through.
RLEF European Shield Tri-Nations
Other games
German State of Origin
Rugby League European Federation
The Rugby League European Federation is the umbrella body for nations playing the sport of rugby league football across Europe and the Northern Hemisphere. It supports the Rugby League International Federation . The RLEF "oversees and co-ordinates the development of the sport in all its member...
. The country's national team
Germany national rugby league team
-European Shield:Since 2007, Germany has been a participant in the European Shield, the successor to the Central Europe Tri-Nations. In the 2007 Shield, they were beaten in Heidelberg by a strong Serbia side but beat the Czech Republic in Prague, subsequently finishing second.In the 2008 European...
are regular competitors in the European Shield, winning the competition in 2006 and 2011.
History
Rugby leagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
was formally introduced into Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in August 2004 with the formation of Rugby League Deutschland by Simon Cooper who was born in Halifax, England whose father is German. Prior to that it had been played informally by players from English-speaking associations such as British servicemen and students.
The first ever game didn't take place until nearly 12 months later when on the 23rd July the Heidelberg Sharks beat München RLFC 72-64 in a 9-a-side game
Rugby league nines
Rugby league nines is a version of rugby league football played with nine players on each side. The game is substantially the same as full rugby league, with some differences in rules and shorter games. Nines is usually played in festivals, as its shorter game play allows for a tournament to be...
played in Heidelberg. Since then clubs such as Bad Reichenhall http://www.rfcbadreichenhall.de/ and Innsbruck have also played matches.
In 2005 there was the first match between a Germany XIII and a touring Scottish Students side. This was a catalyst for Germany entering in 2006 in their first full international tournament the Central Europe Development Tri-Nations and then subsequently in the European Shield in 2007 and 2008.
In addition to the first class rugby league the game is also being played at the school boy level in a couple of schools in the Heidelberg and Heilbronn area of Germany.
In 2011, Rugby League Deutschland was admitted to affiliate membership of the Rugby League European Federation
Rugby League European Federation
The Rugby League European Federation is the umbrella body for nations playing the sport of rugby league football across Europe and the Northern Hemisphere. It supports the Rugby League International Federation . The RLEF "oversees and co-ordinates the development of the sport in all its member...
after reforms to its governance.
Popularity
The popularity of rugby league in Germany is rising, although rugby of any form is still very much unknown by Germans. Over 80 adult players and over 200 children were introduced to the game in 2008, with these numbers sure to rise over the 2009 season.The Germans' participation in several tournaments against Eastern Europe opposition has generated an interest within Germany for the game of rugby league. There are also a lot of rugby league players with German descent in the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
and Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
.
Domestic rugby league
In 2008 the first domestic season will take place. These will be built around three established teams that have been playing. This competition format will allow new players from across central Germany to have an opportunity to play and experience rugby league in Germany.Teams
Currently there are six established rugby league teams in Germany:- Rohrbach HornetsRohrbach HornetsRohrbach Hornets are a rugby league team from Heidelberg, Germany. They were founded in 2007 and will be playing their first season of rugby league in 2008....
(Heidelberg) - RC Bad Reichenhall (Bad Reichenhall)
- Karlsruhe
- Franconian PigsFranconian PigsFranconian Pigs are a rugby league team from Nuremberg, Germany. They were founded in 2007 and will be playing their first season of rugby league in 2008.-See also:* Rugby league in Germany* Rohrbach Hornets* Heidelberg Sharks...
(Nürnberg) - Rheinland (Hürth)
- Heidelberg SharksHeidelberg SharksHeidelberg Sharks are a rugby league club in the town of Heidelberg in Germany. They were founded in 2005 and are consequently one of the more established teams in Germany. They will be playing in the first German domestic league competition in 2008. Many of Germany's national team players also...
- Pforzheim
And one team that plays in the Midlands Merit League competition in England based on ex-pat and German heritage players:
- German Exiles
Domestic competition
The proposed domestic competition is to be based around Heidelberg and Karlsruhe area of Germany.! Group
|-
| Rohrbach Hornets
|-
| Karlsruhe
|-
| Pfortzheim
|}
Bundesland of Origin
In 2007 a State (Bundesland) of Origin style concept has also been introduced with two regional teams representing Bavaria and Central Germany. The weekend of this game is also used to bring everyone together for a training session and for the Coach and selectors to see all players in one place and also to have a meeting. The first such game was played in 2007 in Nürnberg.- 15 December - Bavaria 44-32 Central Germany - Nürnberg, Germany
National team
The current captain of the national side is Leo Berngruber and the coach is Dan Stocks.As well as playing friendlies and one-off games, the German national team has participated in two tournaments. In the 2006 Germany participated in the Central Europe Development Tri-Nations along with Austria and Estonia. Germany won both of their matches narrowly beating Austria in Bad Reichenhall
Bad Reichenhall
Bad Reichenhall is a spa town, and administrative center of the Berchtesgadener Land district in Upper Bavaria, Germany. It is located near Salzburg in a basin encircled by the Chiemgauer Alps ....
in front of over 350 people. They then travelled to Tallinn and beat Estonia to seal victory and outright first place of the competition.
In 2007 they took part in the RLEF European Shield
RLEF European Shield
-Standings:-2007:This is the first time the European Shield took place. Germany and the Czech Republic had little experience having only played a few games beforehand. Serbia were a little more experienced taking players from their domestic league, the Serbian Championship...
along with the Czech Republic and Serbia. In this tournament they took out second place. They were beaten in Heidelberg by a strong Serbia side but recovered and beat a tough Czech Republic team in Prague by 22 points.
In 2008 Germany will once again be participating in the RLEF European Shield
RLEF European Shield
-Standings:-2007:This is the first time the European Shield took place. Germany and the Czech Republic had little experience having only played a few games beforehand. Serbia were a little more experienced taking players from their domestic league, the Serbian Championship...
with the Czech Republic and newcomers Italy. Serbia were promoted to a group with Russia and Lebanon on their strong performance in 2007. The games will be held in Padova, Italy, Prague, Czech Republic and Frankfurt, Germany. There are also games proposed against Serbia and an RLEF XIII, but are yet to be confirmed.
The first weekend of August each year is being set aside for a game against the Czech Republic, no matter if facing each other in a tournament or not. Also plans are to have friendlies against Austria, though in 2007 this game fell through.
2005
- 31 July - Germany XIII 13-28 Scottish Students - München, Germany
- 7 August - Netherlands 34-28 Germany - Rotterdam, Netherlands
2006
Central Development Tri-Nations| Team | P | W | D | L | Pt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | Austria | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Estonia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- 25 June - Germany 34-32 Austria - Bad Reichenhall, Germany
- 22 July - Estonia 24-38 Germany - Tallinn, Estonia
2007
- 16 June - Germany XIII 28-54 British Army - Osnabruk, Germany
RLEF European Shield Tri-Nations
| Team | P | W | D | L | Pt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serbia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | Germany | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Czech Republic | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- 7 July - Germany 6-38 Serbia - Heidelberg Germany
- 4 August - Czech Republic 22-44 Germany - Prague, Czech Republic
2008
RLEF European Shield Tri-Nations| Team | P | W | D | L | Pt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | Germany | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Czech Republic | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
- 13 June - Italy 58-26 Germany - Padova Italy
- 2 August - Germany 62-20 Czech Republic - Karlsruhe, Germany
Other games
- 9 August - Germany 22-32 RLEF XIII - Bad Reichenhall, Germany
German State of Origin
- 13/14 December - Central Germany vs. Bavaria - Nürnberg, Germany
Players that have represented Germany
At the moment the criteria for representing Germany is to have played in one of the domestic teams or the German Exiles. The current list is of staff and players that have played for Germany in the full internationals.| HEAD TRAINERS | Uwe Jansen & Dan Stocks | |
|---|---|---|
| ASSISTANT TRAINERS | Bob Doughton & Paul Szehofner | |
| DIRECTOR OF RUGBY LEAGUE | David Griffiths | |
| PHYSIO | Mick Dwyer |
| Name | Position | Club |
|---|---|---|
| BASTIAN, Dominik | Fullback | Heidelberg |
| BERNGRUBER, Leonhard (c) | Bad Reichenhall | |
| COOPER, SIMON | Bad Reichenhall | |
| FRERA, Joachim | Hooker/Back row | Frankfurt |
| FROESCHNER, Max | German Exiles | |
| GLASER, Michael | Centre/Wing | Heidelberg |
| HOTTENROTT, Moritz | Prop | Heidelberg |
| KEINHORST, Jimmy James Keinhorst James "Jimmy" Keinhorst is a German international rugby union player, playing for the Otley R.U.F.C. in the National League 1 and the German national rugby union team. He has also played for the German national rugby league team in the past.... |
Hooker | German Exiles |
| KEINHORST, Kristian | Stand-off | German Exiles |
| KEINHORST, Markus | Centre | German Exiles |
| KEINHORST, Nick | Wing | German Exiles |
| KETTNER, Andreas | Bad Reichenhall | |
| KHAN, Anjum | Heidelberg | |
| KLOEPPER, Alex | Wing | Heidelberg |
| KRUSE, Janis | Heidelberg | |
| PETIT, Nick | Heidelberg | |
| RHEM Benedikt | 2nd Row | Heidelberg Lions |
| RUHSTORFER, Patrick | Heidelberg Lions | |
| SMUTNA, Peter | Nürnberg | |
| STOCKS, Daniel | Loose Forward | German Exiles |
| VOLKMANN, Higgi | Frankfurt | |
| ZABEL, Julian | Wing | Bad Reichenhall |
German National Team honours
- 2006 - Central development Tri-Nations Champions. Germany's first piece of silver ware.
- 2007 - 4 August. The Keinhorst brothers, Kristian, Markus, Jimmy and Nick set a new world record by being selected in the same game against the Czech Republic in Prague.
Board of Rugby League Deutschland
- President: Simon Cooper
- Vice-President: Uwe Jansen
- Director of Rugby: David Griffiths
- Treasurer: Leo Berngruber
- Secretary: Florian Rittner
- Other Board Members: Will Stocks, Danny Stocks, Bob Doughton
- Sponsors: Alpenstoff Beer, Hintsteiner Garage, Steeden