The Keinhorst brothers from Otley have all been named in a 28-man train-on squad for Germany’s European Shield rugby league clashes against Norway and Malta later this year.

Kristian and Nick Keinhorst are with Leeds Akkies, Jimmy is with Leeds Met and Markus is with Meraloma.

A number of players are looking to gain their tenth international cap, including co-captains Bene Rehm and Kristian Keinhorst as well as his brother Nick Keinhorst.

Markus Keinhorst will travel over to link up with his three brothers, Nick, Jimmy and Kristian, the quartet holding the Guinness world record for the most siblings playing in a single international game of rugby league.

There are nine new players added to the squad who are hoping to gain their first cap, including Southampton Spitfires’ Andrew Hoggins and Heidelberg’s Yassin Karachi.

Head coach Dan Socks heaped praise on the work of the coaches in Germany, who have all been working hard to bring rugby league to more people in the country.

“We have had great numbers at the recent trial games versus Serbia and the British Army and this has allowed me the opportunity to take a good look at some new players,” he said.

“Without the work of people like Bob Doughton, Max Schoengen and Uwe Jansen, Germany wouldn’t be able to choose its train-on squad from such a large pool.”

But the 29-year-old from Hemel Stags played down talk of this selection being arguably the strongest squad Rugby League Deutschland has assembled.

“It’s the most experienced squad we’ve named. Nineteen players have played for the national team before.

"We don’t know what to expect from Norway and Malta as we haven’t played them before so we’re going to concentrate on improving our international environment and, of course, for our domestic German players to put in a strong performance.”

Germany are hoping to go one step further than they have in the past by winning the Shield, after finishing runners up in 2010, 2008 and 2007.