England Lionhearts to host Germany in international test
Saturday October 12th sees the North West English Lionhearts undertake another first, this time in hosting their first international test match on home soil as they welcome visitors from Germany to Twist Lane, Leigh (Kick Off 1:30pm, £4 admission/£2 concessions).
The Lionhearts were formed back in 2014 to provide reward and recognition for Community Club players within Tier 4 of the game, whilst aiding the RLEF in the growth and development of the world game. After trips to Canada, Serbia, Italy, Jamaica and Yorkshire they’re delighted to finally be able to play hosts to their visitors ahead of the Grand Final down the East Lancs at Old Trafford.
The German team come to England ranked 35 in the world with their most recent outing a disappointing 18-56 defeat against the Netherlands in the seventh annual Griffin Cup. The Lionhearts still expect a stern test though and are missing a number of players who returned undefeated from Jamaica earlier in the year with a number having since being recruited into the professional game.
North West Men’s League Chair Stuart Prior commented, “It has been a long time in coming for us to play an international game on home turf and it is fantastic that the German side have shown the drive to come over and such desire to develop their domestic players in approaching us to arrange the fixture. It is sure to be an extra special day for the Lionhearts players who are able to represent their country in front of their friends and families and we look forward to the challenge Germany will bring.”
NRLD president Bob Doughton said of the day, “We are trying to develop the domestic players and also offer some interesting experiences. Watching the Grand Final at Old Trafford after the Lionhearts match will definitely open the eyes of the domestic players!”.
The Lionhearts game will be preceded by a game between England Community Lions Youth and Scotland Under 19s which kicks off at 11:30 with both matches to be streamed live on Our League.
North West England Lionhearts: Philip MITCHELL (Blackpool Scorpions), Rick ACKERS (Bolton Mets), Greg WILDE (Culcheth Eagles), Nathan SNEESBY (Hindpool Tigers), Daniel BROWN (Latchford Albion), Greg WALKER (Leigh Miners Rangers), Adam LAVIN, Sam LEWIS, Jack McHUGH (Orrell St James), Adam ROBINSON (Shevington Sharks), Steven McDERMOTT (Widnes West Bank), Matt HEWLETT, Robbie LINDLEY (Wigan Bulldogs), John MOORE (Wigan Spring View), Darryl KING (Wigan St Judes), Adam ROSSER, Jack SPROAT (Wigan St Patricks)
Germany: Ben WHITE (Barrow Raiders), Andy HOGGINS (British Police), Brad BILLSBOROUGH (Grafton Ghosts), Martin APOSTEL, Benedikt ESSER, Aare HEINRICHSEN, Sebastian PETER, Malte ROHRMOSER, Richard SEIDLER, Marc ZUPAN (Hilltop Hunters), Connor HAMPSON, Daniel PEARSON (Halifax), Liam BONS, Benjamin BÖSE, Henning BROCKMANN, Karsten BRÜNING, Renko FLEMMING, Florian FREDE, Niclas FÜLLGRAF, Jannek HAGENAH, Alex LEERS, Maurice VERSTRAATEN (Moorteufel), Jared BLANKE (Newcastle), Liam DOUGHTON, Joshua LEUTENECKER, Vivian SEELWEGER, Benjamin TÜNGETHAL, Phil WADEWITZ (Ruhrpott Rhinos), Raphael TOKONA (REME), George WOOD (Southend Sharks), Mazlum-Bayram AKBAYRAK, Mawuli AMÉFIA, Zak BREDIN, Sven GUDERIAN, Hanspeter HÖHRER, Phillip HUNZ, Maximilian KELLER, Michael LONGMUIR (Westfalen Warriors)
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