The Sea Devils will become the fifth team in the league to be based in Germany.

The only outfit in the six-team competition to be based outside of the country is the Amsterdam Admirals.

NFL managing director Jim Connelly said: "We believe that placing a team in Hamburg gives us a great opportunity to build our league and improve our business."

The Sea Devils will play in the 55,000-capacity AOL Arena, home of the Hamburger SV football team.

Other details, including the team logo, coaching staff and management will be announced in the near future.

SCOTTISH CLAYMORES NO MORE Joined NFL Europe 1995 Av attendance 10,799 Won 1996 World Bowl Lost 2000 World Bowl Final season W2 L8 T0

The NFL Europe was launched in 1991 as the World League of American Football.

That league, which originally featured 10 European and US franchises, shut down after the 1992 season.

The league returned in 1995 with a six-team all-European format and with the NFL as its financial backer.

The latest Hamburg team becomes the ninth European franchise to play in the 13-season history of the league.

The 2005 season will be contested by the Amsterdam Admirals, World Bowl champion Berlin Thunder, Cologne Centurions, Frankfurt Galaxy, Hamburg Sea Devils and Rhein Fire.

The new season kicks off over the weekend of 2-3 April.