Rugby league in the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
Formed in 2003, the NNRLB are developing and promoting the game of rugby league
in the Netherlands
. The NNRLB are now recognised as the governing body for Rugby League in the Netherlands.
The first steps of introducing Rugby League in the Netherlands were made in 1986 during the preparation for and the participation at the Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup
. The Dutch, along with the Irish, were very much the fledglings of that competition. The Netherlands Amateur Rugby League itself was in that year less than a year old, having been established only in November 1985 with Hans Modderman as its first president. A good deal had however been achieved in that short period and the Dutch were perticularly grateful to the intensive coaching session's conducted by Tas Baitieri
, Ian Harris, Phil Larder
and Fred Lindop. Tas, Ian and Phil were big names in their days. The Dutch students were mainly first division rugby union players but keen and enthusiastic, if a little apprehensive, about their participation in the world cup. As part of their build up to the tournament, they played against the French Army at the Royal Military Academy in Breda, which was the first rugby league match in the Netherlands and must be one of the few rugby league matches in those days played between two none english speaking nations.
The team was made up of
Toine van der Bert (Utrecht Students,
Toon Boersma (Leiden Students),
Pim Bogaers (Amsterdam Students),
Fred Bos (Amsterdam Students),
Gerard van Brakel (Amsterdam Students),
Garry Corthals (Delft Students),
Lon Cramers (Royal Military Academy),
Hans Dinkla (RC Dwingaloo),
Karel Dinkla (RC Dwingaloo),
Michiel van Dijk (Utrecht Students),
Paul Heiden (Amsterdam Students),
Fred Housheer (Utrecht Students),
Remco Klasen (Groningen Students),
Paul Hengeveld (ARC-NFC Amstelveen),
Nick Veenstra (Amsterdam Students),
Bob Voorbraak (Amsterdam Students),
Daan Sistermans (Groningen Students),
Chatib Sjarbaini (Amsterdam Students),
Joost Taaken (Amsterdam Students),
Theo Voogd (Utrecht Students),
Johan Vos (Groningen Students) and
Eric Warmoltz (Groningen Students).
The World Cup 1986 was held in York and including eight teams: the four Home Nations plus Australia, New Zealand, France and of course the Netherlands. In the group games the Dutch were defeated by Wales (10-48), France (12-42) and New Zealand (16-50). The Cup seventh vs eight final was left in which Scotland defeated the Netherlands (10-20).
After that tournament there was a follow-up in november 1989 in Toulouse (France). The Dutch were invited to play a match against Toulouse Olympique
which ended in an admirable draw (20-20).
Unfortunately it took till 2003 before the next game took place when two Netherlands sides hosted two national touring sides from Scotland
in the Netherlands. The first 13-a-side club game of Rugby League was also played in 2003 with Den Haag side Te Werve hosting Essex Eels. Also during 2003 a Zuid Holland representative side played in the York 9's.
Their first entry into major competitions was in 2005 when the Netherlands entered the Rugby League European Nations Cup
for the first time, losing to Georgia
34–14 but beating Serbia
26–10.
The Netherlands competed in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
competition alongside Russia, Georgia and Serbia. The team lost to Russia and Georgia before beating Serbia to come third in the group. The third-place finish was not enough to see the Netherlands progress in the competition.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The NNRLB are now recognised as the governing body for Rugby League in the Netherlands.
The first steps of introducing Rugby League in the Netherlands were made in 1986 during the preparation for and the participation at the Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup
Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup
The Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup, also known as the University Rugby League World Cup, first took place in 1986 in New Zealand, when the then five test nations each entered a side in what was the first non-first grade World Cup hosted by the Rugby League International Federation.The...
. The Dutch, along with the Irish, were very much the fledglings of that competition. The Netherlands Amateur Rugby League itself was in that year less than a year old, having been established only in November 1985 with Hans Modderman as its first president. A good deal had however been achieved in that short period and the Dutch were perticularly grateful to the intensive coaching session's conducted by Tas Baitieri
Tas Baitieri
Tas Baitieri is an Australian former rugby league footballer and coach. He played for the Penrith Panthers, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in Australia and Paris Châtillon XIII in France...
, Ian Harris, Phil Larder
Phil Larder
Phil Larder MBE , is an English rugby league and rugby union coach.After graduating with a degree in Physical Education and Sports Science from Loughborough University in 1965, he played rugby union at centre for Broughton Park in Manchester and then Sale...
and Fred Lindop. Tas, Ian and Phil were big names in their days. The Dutch students were mainly first division rugby union players but keen and enthusiastic, if a little apprehensive, about their participation in the world cup. As part of their build up to the tournament, they played against the French Army at the Royal Military Academy in Breda, which was the first rugby league match in the Netherlands and must be one of the few rugby league matches in those days played between two none english speaking nations.
The team was made up of
Toine van der Bert (Utrecht Students,
Toon Boersma (Leiden Students),
Pim Bogaers (Amsterdam Students),
Fred Bos (Amsterdam Students),
Gerard van Brakel (Amsterdam Students),
Garry Corthals (Delft Students),
Lon Cramers (Royal Military Academy),
Hans Dinkla (RC Dwingaloo),
Karel Dinkla (RC Dwingaloo),
Michiel van Dijk (Utrecht Students),
Paul Heiden (Amsterdam Students),
Fred Housheer (Utrecht Students),
Remco Klasen (Groningen Students),
Paul Hengeveld (ARC-NFC Amstelveen),
Nick Veenstra (Amsterdam Students),
Bob Voorbraak (Amsterdam Students),
Daan Sistermans (Groningen Students),
Chatib Sjarbaini (Amsterdam Students),
Joost Taaken (Amsterdam Students),
Theo Voogd (Utrecht Students),
Johan Vos (Groningen Students) and
Eric Warmoltz (Groningen Students).
The World Cup 1986 was held in York and including eight teams: the four Home Nations plus Australia, New Zealand, France and of course the Netherlands. In the group games the Dutch were defeated by Wales (10-48), France (12-42) and New Zealand (16-50). The Cup seventh vs eight final was left in which Scotland defeated the Netherlands (10-20).
After that tournament there was a follow-up in november 1989 in Toulouse (France). The Dutch were invited to play a match against Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse Olympique
Toulouse Olympique are a French professional rugby league team from Toulouse, in the southwest of France. They were founded on 22 October, in 1937 two years after the founding of the French Rugby League Federation. Between 1995 and 2002 the club were known as Spacers de Toulouse, due to links with...
which ended in an admirable draw (20-20).
Unfortunately it took till 2003 before the next game took place when two Netherlands sides hosted two national touring sides from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in the Netherlands. The first 13-a-side club game of Rugby League was also played in 2003 with Den Haag side Te Werve hosting Essex Eels. Also during 2003 a Zuid Holland representative side played in the York 9's.
Their first entry into major competitions was in 2005 when the Netherlands entered the Rugby League European Nations Cup
Rugby League European Nations Cup
The European Cup is a rugby league football tournament for European nations that was first held in 1935. The tournament was first started in 1935, with England, Wales and France each playing each other once...
for the first time, losing to Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
34–14 but beating Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
26–10.
The Netherlands competed in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying
There were ten places available in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, held in Australia.-Qualified teams:Pacific6 teams qualified for the World Cup. 3 qualified automatically, with the top 2 in the Pacific qualifying group also reaching the finals. Samoa finished third in the Pacific qualifying group...
competition alongside Russia, Georgia and Serbia. The team lost to Russia and Georgia before beating Serbia to come third in the group. The third-place finish was not enough to see the Netherlands progress in the competition.
See also
- Netherlands national rugby league teamNetherlands national rugby league teamThe Netherlands Rugby league was formed in January 2003. The national team played its first international match in 2005.-2008 World Cup Qualifying:See Also 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying...
- Nootdorp PanthersNootdorp PanthersNootdorp Panthers are a rugby league team from the town of Nootdorp in South Holland, Netherlands. They were founded in 2007 and are the first domestic rugby league club in the Netherlands despite the country having a national team. More clubs are being set up in 2007 and 2008 so that there will be...
- Tertiary Student Rugby League World CupTertiary Student Rugby League World CupThe Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup, also known as the University Rugby League World Cup, first took place in 1986 in New Zealand, when the then five test nations each entered a side in what was the first non-first grade World Cup hosted by the Rugby League International Federation.The...