Whilst it might not be the most popular sport in Germany, it is one on the rise, with rugby league in Germany receiving a boost – after RL Deutschland confirmed a new Board of Directors has been appointed, with Benedikt Rehm to be be the President.
Rehm, who is a former international and a full-time lover of the game of rugby league, will replace Max Schoengen who was appointed in 2011, and is hoping to kick-start the German campaign to have an application by the RLIF accepted and have an official RL federation in the country.
“We are now looking forward to achieving, for the first time, legal status in Germany and, hopefully, a successful [RLIF] application for SportAccord recognition in Lausanne that will take us closer to obtaining an official federation here in 2014,†Rehm said.
“We have adopted a new constitution to achieve these aims, we are optimistic and 2013 will be the busiest year yet for rugby league in Germany.â€
Uwe Jansen will return as Vice President, Ulrich Scholz as Treasurer as well as newcomers in, Daniel Isen, Katharina Frey – the first woman elected to the governing body – and Georg Frey.
Several youth and development games have already been scheduled in and around Germany and other European countries, in what is only the start for German rugby league.