The format has been announced for an expanded Rugby League European Federation Shield in 2012/13. The competition will now take place over two years with the four selected nations playing each other home and away. The side finishing bottom of the league will be relegated to the European Bowl, with the winner from that tournament taking their place in 2014/15. Pending RLIF confirmation of the format for the 2017 RLWC, the RLEF has proposed that the 2014-15 Shield acts as a qualifying tournament, meaning that all 24 European Shield matches between 2012 and 2015 are essentially world cup qualifiers. [iEuropean Shield 2012 fixtures[/i: 12th May 2012 - Germany v Serbia 19th May - Germany v Russia 9th June - Serbia v Italy 7th July - Italy v Germany 8th September - Russia v Italy 22nd September - Russia v Serbia www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/365 ... eld-2012-3

The format has been announced for an expanded Rugby League European Federation Shield in 2012/13. The competition will now take place over two years with the four selected nations playing each other home and away. The side finishing bottom of the league will be relegated to the European Bowl, with the winner from that tournament taking their place in 2014/15. Pending RLIF confirmation of the format for the 2017 RLWC, the RLEF has proposed that the 2014-15 Shield acts as a qualifying tournament, meaning that all 24 European Shield matches between 2012 and 2015 are essentially world cup qualifiers. [iEuropean Shield 2012 fixtures[/i: 12th May 2012 - Germany v Serbia 19th May - Germany v Russia 9th June - Serbia v Italy 7th July - Italy v Germany 8th September - Russia v Italy 22nd September - Russia v Serbia www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/365 ... eld-2012-3

Germany are way out of their depth in that comp. Off the field as well as on it.

2011 European Shield Champions so I'd say they deserve to be there. They've now got six months to get their house in order.

Catalancs you know nothing about Germany. If you did then you wouldnt put what you did. The RLEF dont care about the state of nations and are just wanting what they want. Germany has no money, no sponsors and doesnt even have a Domestic League. The Development Officer Uwe Jansen once again has come out saying there will be one-but he has a history of saying a lot and doing little. Germany will do well to even get to Serbia and Russia in 2013 let alone get close to beating them. And they have less than 6 months as the first games are in May!

So maybe around 5 months. I may not know much about Germany but they are reigning European Shield champions. That was the only real point I made so I'm struggling to see why you felt the need to respond as you did.
Merry Christmas.

I made the point because I know far more than anybody on here about Germany and what is happening and that even as reigning shield champs they shouldnt be entering against the other 3 for various reasons. They are the reigning champs but they and any other nation should have a business plan on how they exactly intend to pay to play in this comp. There is no point if they first dont have the finances-which they dont and dont even have a sponsor or any sponsors lined up. Secondly they dont have a domestic comp and most of the players are Union guys. Thirdly they dont have the resources to do a professional job on or off the field without being embarrassed. Germany are in a mess internally thanks to certain people at the RLEFand things do not look good. The RLEF should have stringent rules like a Domestic Comp, Having a business plan and the resources to enter. If a nation cant fulfil that then the RLEF shjouldnt push them to play in it and the nation should have the balls to decline until they are at that stage. From a business and a sporting point of view this could very easily destroy Germany and end up like the Dutch.

They won by beating Malta and Norway. Tthey have never come close to even beating Serbia so God knows what an Italian team preparing for the WC will do to them.

Maybe Italy should be playing in the European Cup.

Now we're getting somewhere. Get the Italians in an EC with France, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. If they don't want to take it seriously and only select domestic players then relegate them down until they DO take it seriously. If these heritage players can make it for WC qualifiers then they can make it for EC matches too.

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... _1_4137772

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... _1_4137772

Last minute Kristian Keinhorst drop goal gives holders Germany 25-24 success over Serbia in the European Shield opener.

www.rlef.eu.com/european_shield/ ... LE00000298

www.rlef.eu.com/european_shield/ ... LE00000298