Germans name the Eurpean Shield Squad
2nd July 2009Rugby League Deutschland has named an 18 man squad, selected from nine different clubs, for the opening European Shield clash this Saturday, away to the Czech Republic.
Ten players from the 2008 squad retain their places for the game in the historic Moravian city of Olomouc, some 250 kilometers east of Prague. Despite six debutants being included, this will be the first German selection in which all players have some league experience and coach Dan Stocks will be calling on every last vestige of that know-how as he leads his men into the one-time Habsburg stronghold.
“Team selection was a difficult task,” admitted Stocks. “However, since becoming head coach I have looked for players that are determined to show loyalty, commitment and desire to the team.”
Leading in all those categories will be Germany’s most capped player Simon Cooper, who will be making his seventh appearance on Saturday. He will be supported by promising youngsters Mickey Reinhold, the 19-year-old Bad Reichenhall back rower and 2008 Germany ‘Player of the Year’ Jimmy Keinhorst, who has scored two tries in each of his last two games.
Stocks qualifies his statement that 2009 is “the best prepared year for Rugby League Deutschland since their inception” by pointing out that Saturday’s squad is drawn from so many sources – a tribute to RLEF development officer Uwe Jansen’s hard work - compared to just four for the 2007 international against Serbia.
Moreover, Germany’s preparations have been bolstered by a trial weekend in late May, a 9s tournament in Norway and, two weeks ago, a North versus South ‘Origin’ match.
The European Shield clash kicks off at 5pm in the Lokomotiva Stadium, with a curtain raiser between local Czech clubs Armadni RLFC Praslavice and Pardubice Jets RL starting at 3pm.
Next Saturday, the Czechs visit defending champions Italy, who travel to Cologne the following weekend.
18-man Germany squad vs Czech Republic
Dominic Bastian – Heidelberg
Max Shoengen – Calbach Racoons
Jimmy Keinhorst – German Exiles
Nick Keinhorst – German Exiles
Timo Trosch - Karlsruhe
Kristian Keinhorst (Capt) – German Exiles
Liam Doughton - Cologne
Bene Rehm - Heidelberg
Jojo Frera - Frankfurt
Michael Kamml – Bad Reichenhall
Janis Kruse - Heidelberg
Mickey Reinhold – Bad Reichenhall
Simon Cooper - Bad Reichenhall
Christian Gabrial – Nurnberg
Sebastian Vermaat - Calbach Racoons
Michael Buttinger - Bad Reichenhall
Simon Riepl - Ingolstadt
Dan Stocks – German Exiles