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Rugby League In Germany





HISTORY

Rugby League was formally introduced into Germany in August 2004 with the formation of Rugby League Deutschland. Prior to that it had been played informally by players from English-speaking associations such as British servicemen and students.


TEAMS AND COMPETITIONS

There are no domestic competitions, although there are now three established teams;
  • StuSta München

  • Heidelberg Sharks

  • Bad Reichenhall.


An Alpine 9-a-side league is planned for 2006 featuring teams from Germany and Austria .


POPULARITY

It was estimated that rugby league has around 100 regular players in Germany.

Internationally, Germany currently plays under a "Germany Development" tag as some of the players are of non-German background but these foreign players are used to help the German players understand and play the game better. Germany Development has played two games so far; losing to a Scotland Under-19 side by 13 points to 28, and a defeat to The Netherlands by 34 points to 28. Matches are scheduled against Estonia in Tallinn and a rematch against The Netherlands in Rotterdam in 2006. The Germans will also host an Austrian XIII in Bad Reichenhall in June 2006.

Players who qualify to play for the national team and who have played for the Germany Development team include;
Simon Cooper, Danny Stocks, Tillmann Stock, Christian Leitner, Olli Kempkens, Khristian Kleinhorst, Nicolaus Kleinhorst, Marcus Kleinhorst, Yalcin Ferat-Sampan, Carlos Martini, Leo Berngruber, and Daniel Folgmann.


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