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Heidleberg- based Uwe Jansen has been appointed as the first part-time Rugby League Development Officer in Germany by the European Federation.

The 45 year old, who was born in the city and works for the local council there, has been involved with the code over the last four years and will now be responsible for helping it to spread throughout the country.

"It is a great honour to get this job" he said.  "I feel this could be the start of a healthy growth for the game in Germany" 

"I have played rugby union since I was six and won some German Championships before moving into coaching and my only sadness is that I was never able to play league in my time as an active player."

"Ever since I saw it on cable television here in the mid-eighties I developed a love for this great game and I am now happy to be a more formal part of it."

"I can now try to bring many German players into contact with the sport."

Simon Cooper, President of the German Rugby League, endorsed the appointment which he sees as the next step towards the code making significant progress in the Republic. 

"Rugby League Deutschland is very grateful for the help we have received from the RLEF, especially with regards to bringing in a development officer for Germany" he commented.

"The European Federation has helped us reach many of our targets and together we are making sure that rugby league gets the solid base and structure it needs to make further progress in the future."

"Uwe has a proven record in developing the sport in central Germany; many of the things achieved by RL Deutschland, are because of him and his team based around Heidelberg, Frankfurt and the surrounding area and it is a pleasure to see him rewarded for his hard work to date."

RLEF Development Executive Kevin Rudd feels that the appointment is a key one for maintaining momentum in the region.

"I am pleased for German Rugby League, there were all kinds of obstacles in their way that could have stopped the sport gaining a real foothold there" he said.

"However, the RLD Board have overcome them and shown great courage and tenacity in doing so."

"They have grown steadily and I hope this appointment will be the stimulus needed to establish regular domestic activity at senior level as well as continuing youth development".