Touch rugby - European Championships and World Cup

just received this mail from the Trainer of the German squad:

just a quick note to let you know that we will be haveing a training &
game weekend in Köln on either the July 30/31 weekend or the Aug 13/14
weekend.

Brad is currently checking field availability and will let us know as
soon as he knows.

The weekend in Köln was very enjoyable and successfull and following
that weekend we have identified 10 new players who have the ability and
desire to represent germany at euros etc.
The number of players in germany is steadily increasing now and it is
already apparent that for euros next year we will have more than enough
players for field a men & womens teams, especially womens (unlike last
year where it was effectively who ever payed their money was in).
Whether we have a mixed or not remains to be seen but this is likely the
way things are going. I hope so.
With this in mind we are encouraging all players who are wanting to
attend euros next year and world cup in Cape Town 2007 to come along if
at all possible. Not only will it be an opportunity for players to get
together before Grenoble, but more importantly it will be an opportunity
to begin developing players for our main goals of euros 06 and world cup 07. Although it would have been ideal to have such a weekend planned and
confirmed earlier, due to the developing nature of touch in this country
that is not always possible. A new group has started with a lot of
potential and it is an opportunity too good to miss. We will go ahead
with the weekend no matter what as we already know that the majority of
players from Köln & Berlin are keen to go. Obviously if more players
from other towns are able to come then that will make the weekend even
better, so please try to come if you are genuinely keen for the upcoming
representative comps. Due to touch being spread out across germany,
unlike other european countries where touch is based in 1 main city, our
opportunities to get together are pretty limited.

We are planning to schedule 2 such weekends next year - one between the
Deutschland Meisterschaft (which will be held earlier, proabably early
June, due to euros being held Juli 21-23) and one later in the year as a
preparation for the world cup. Our aim is to have these dates set by the
later half of this year so that we can all plan these into our
schedules. Given that there will almost certainly be competition for
places in the teams next year, players who are serious about pulling on
a german shirt next year will need to show their commitment by attending
such weekends.

Anyhow, if people can circulate the 2 possible dates for Köln amongst
the players in your group who you know are keen for Grenoble, Euros etc.
and ask them to give me an indication if they can come that would be
much appreciated.

OK all, have a great weekend, keep safe and stay cool,
Rob

PS how good is this weather!!! this little Aussie is
just lovin it!

So to sum up:

We will be having a training & selection session this year, either 30/31st July or 13/14 August in Cologne.

If you wish to play for Germany in either the Tri-Nations comp in Grenoble in September, the European Championships next year or the World Cup in Cape Town in 2007 it would be advisable to attend these training sessions.

please post to the thread if you are interested in going to Cologne and i will help try and organise car-pools or other transport.