Germany coach Dan Stocks has released a 28-man train-on squad for the RLEF European Shield 2012/13 reverse fixtures, with his team travelling to Belgrade to play Serbia. Former Sydney Roosters junior Jeff Moate, currently playing in France with Lescure, is drafted in and joins the core of players that largely impressed in 2012. He will add experience to an already large set of forwards.
“I will be looking to the senior players to lead the team,” said Stocks. “The Keinhorst brothers will all feature in their ninth season for ‘Die Dreizehn’ (the 13) and will hopefully be supported by Andy Hoggins, who has made the step up to Championship One with Oxford RL, and Andy McLean of London Skolars.”
The German squad will get a chance to get together on May 4th, when they play a match in Heidelberg against Holland XIII. Stocks will attempt to blend his overseas-based, more experienced players, which includes Leeds Rhinos’ Challenge Cup final three-quarter Jimmy Keinhorst, with the best of the home-grown talent.
“On the domestic front, dual code international Jens Schmidt impressed in last year’s games as did youngster Vinnie Spies, who despite his small stature made his presence felt in every game which he featured.”
GERMANY TRAIN-ON SQUAD
Christoph Huber (Bad Reichenhall), Sebastian Roczyn, Sebastian Heilmann, Lucas Marin (Baden Pirates) Jacob Handy, Sebastian Vermaat (Bamberg university), Ben Behr-Heyder, Liam Doughton, Fabrice Fehlemann, Nico Koch, (Cologne), Mawuli Amefia, Bene Rehm (Heidelberg RK), Markus Bender, Gregor Hartmann, Daniel Lortz, Jens Schmidt, Vinnie Spies, Sven Wetzel (Heidelberg Lions) Dan Stocks (Hemel Stags), Nick Keinhorst, Kristian Keinhorst (Leeds Akkies), Jimmy Keinhorst (Leeds Rhinos), Jeff Moate (Lescure), Andy McLean (London Skolars) Markus Keinhorst (Meraloma rugby union), Damien Seibold (Rockhampton Brothers), Andrew Hoggins (Oxford rugby league club), Joshua Danzey (Sunshine coast Sea Eagles)