Rugby union in the Netherlands
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in the Netherlands
is a minor but growing sport.
: "Nederlandse Rugby Bond") was founded in 1932, and affiliated to the IRB
in 1988.
The Dutch Rugby Federation
was founded on September 7, 1920 but ceased to exist in 1923 due to a lack of clubs. They reorganized on October 1, 1932, six months after the Netherlands national rugby union team
played their first match against Belgium. The Dutch Rugby Federation has 8,000 registered players (in 2007).
The first rugby club was HFC
, established on September 15, 1879 by the 14 year old Pim Mulier
, who first encountered the sport in 1870. However HFC switched to association football in 1883. The Delftsche Studenten Rugby - Club (DSR-C) was the first official rugby club on September 24, 1918.
Dutch rugby started setting down roots in the pre-World War II period. The subsequent German occupation and World War II
disrupted its growth, and it took years for the Dutch game to return to its pre-war state. Then in the post-war years, the massive growth and stifling influence of Dutch association football on other sports also hindered further development.
The first Dutch international was in 1930, against Belgium
.
Nonetheless, the Netherlands' proximity to the European rugby heartland of the British Isles and France, has ensured a fairly healthy stream of touring sides
from these areas. Given the low profile of the game in the Netherlands, Dutch rugby still manages to support over a hundred clubs, and has 7-8,000 players, which is a larger number than some Rugby World Cup
entrants.
In the 1978-79 season, the Dutch leagues were affected by a severe winter, which prevented teams playing on grass rugby pitches. The season managed to finish on time, mainly because the matches were transferred onto beaches to avoid snow and ice.
Dutch rugby received a boost in 1996, when they beat a full strength team from Moseley RFC
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
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...
is a minor but growing sport.
Governing body
The Dutch Rugby Union (DutchDutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
: "Nederlandse Rugby Bond") was founded in 1932, and affiliated to the IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
in 1988.
The Dutch Rugby Federation
Nederlandse Rugby Bond
The Dutch Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in the Netherlands. It was founded in 1932 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1988.-See also:*Rugby union in the Netherlands*Netherlands national rugby union team...
was founded on September 7, 1920 but ceased to exist in 1923 due to a lack of clubs. They reorganized on October 1, 1932, six months after the Netherlands national rugby union team
Netherlands national rugby union team
The Netherlands national rugby union team are a national sporting side of the Netherlands, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1930.-History:...
played their first match against Belgium. The Dutch Rugby Federation has 8,000 registered players (in 2007).
History
Koninklijke HFC
Koninklijke HFC is a football club in Haarlem, the Netherlands. It is the oldest club in Dutch history, founded by Pim Mulier in 1879. During the first years the only team played rugby but due to financial problems they switched to association football...
, established on September 15, 1879 by the 14 year old Pim Mulier
Pim Mulier
Willem Johan Herman Mulier was one of the leading figures in sporting history of the Netherlands.-Biography:...
, who first encountered the sport in 1870. However HFC switched to association football in 1883. The Delftsche Studenten Rugby - Club (DSR-C) was the first official rugby club on September 24, 1918.
Dutch rugby started setting down roots in the pre-World War II period. The subsequent German occupation and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
disrupted its growth, and it took years for the Dutch game to return to its pre-war state. Then in the post-war years, the massive growth and stifling influence of Dutch association football on other sports also hindered further development.
The first Dutch international was in 1930, against Belgium
Belgium national rugby union team
The Belgium national rugby union team represents the third tier rugby playing nation of Belgium. They first played in 1930 and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Belgium is administered by the Belgian Rugby Federation...
.
Nonetheless, the Netherlands' proximity to the European rugby heartland of the British Isles and France, has ensured a fairly healthy stream of touring sides
from these areas. Given the low profile of the game in the Netherlands, Dutch rugby still manages to support over a hundred clubs, and has 7-8,000 players, which is a larger number than some Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
entrants.
In the 1978-79 season, the Dutch leagues were affected by a severe winter, which prevented teams playing on grass rugby pitches. The season managed to finish on time, mainly because the matches were transferred onto beaches to avoid snow and ice.
Dutch rugby received a boost in 1996, when they beat a full strength team from Moseley RFC
Moseley Rugby Football Club
Moseley Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club, based at Billesley Common in Birmingham, that competes in the RFU Championship. The club was historically the premier rugby club in Birmingham, reaching the final of the John Player Cup three times in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
.
Notable Dutch players
- Michael van der Loos, a lock from the HagueThe HagueThe Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
. Van der Loos played successfully in Wales and France, and was twice asked to consider naturalisation in order to play for one of their national sides. - Marcel Bierman, a fly half. Tragically, Bierman broke his neck in the 1988 Hong Kong SevensHong Kong SevensThe Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
, and this gave the sport a bad image in Holland at the time. - Yves Kummer
- Paul Bloom, winger.
- Frans ten BosFrans ten BosFrans Herman ten Bos was an English-born rugby union footballer, of Dutch ancestry. He played for as a lock in the 1960s, and was capped seventeen times...
, Dutch born player, capped seventeen times for , educated in Scotland, and played for London Scottish F.C.London Scottish F.C.London Scottish Football Club is a rugby union club in England. It is a member of both the Rugby Football Union and the Scottish Rugby Union.-History:... - Visser family
- Tim VisserTim VisserTim Visser is a Dutch rugby union player currently playing on the wing for Edinburgh Rugby in the RaboDirect Pro12 and the Heineken Cup. He is the first Dutch rugby player to play professionally.-Early career:...
, player for Dutch club RC Hilversum, Newcastle FalconsNewcastle FalconsThe Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
and Edinburgh Rugby. - Marc Visser, father of Tim, no. 8 and most capped player for the Netherlands.
- Sepp Visser, younger brother of Tim, RC Hilversum.
- Tim Visser
- Marcker brothers
- Andre Marcker
- Hans Marcker
- Mats Marcker.
- Peter Marcker
See also
- Netherlands national rugby union teamNetherlands national rugby union teamThe Netherlands national rugby union team are a national sporting side of the Netherlands, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1930.-History:...
- Netherlands women's national rugby union teamNetherlands women's national rugby union teamThe Netherlands women's national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Netherlands, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1982.-Results summary:-Results:...
- Netherlands national rugby union team (sevens)Netherlands national rugby union team (sevens)The Netherlands national rugby union sevens is a minor national sevens side. They have competed in the Hong Kong Sevens since the 1980s.-History:...
- RC 't GooiRC 't GooiRugbyclub 't Gooi is a Dutch Rugby Union club based in the town of Naarden. They presently play in the Ereklasse.2008/2009: Rugbyclub 't Gooi are the Dutch Champions.-External links:...