Rugby League Deutschland has elected a new Board of Directors, including a new president Benedikt Rehm, at its AGM in Heidelberg. Rehm, a long-time league enthusiast and former international, replaces Max Schoengen, who had been elected in February 2011. The AGM was observed by WRL, through official Steve Davis, as part of the EU-backed Governance Foundation Project. 

“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,” he said on his acceptance. “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.”

Uwe Jansen was returned as vice president and Ulrich Scholz treasurer with the pair joined by newcomers Daniel Isen, Katharina Frey – their first woman on the governing body - and Georg Frey.

The new Board ratified a first German tour to France, with the Heidelberg Lions U16s visiting Perpignan where they will play local opponents before watching Catalan Dragons’ Easter Monday Super League clash with Leeds Rhinos. The Dragons will then host the German youngsters at a training session later in the week to further their rugby league experience.

In the first week of March under-16 and under-18 competitions kicked off successfully in Heidelberg and RLD ran a match officials course under the stewardship of RLEF match officials manager Steve Davis. BARLA U18 and Clock Face Miners youth have also confirmed tours to Germany, with the latter coinciding with a visit by Warrington Wolves’ community coaches. Germany’s youth international sides, which have been among the busiest on the Continent over the past few years, will travel to Serbia for the 2013 RLEF youth festival.

Pictured: Heidelberg.