Netherlands national rugby union team

The Netherlands national rugby union team (Dutch: Nederlands nationaal rugby team) represents Netherlands in men's international rugby union competitions. Nicknamed The Oranges (Oranje), is considered one of the stronger tier 3 teams in European rugby and currently compete in the second division of the Rugby Europe International Championships in the Rugby Europe Trophy, a competition which is just below the Rugby Europe Championship where the top 6 countries in Europe (apart from the teams in the Six Nations) compete. They are yet to participate in any Rugby World Cup.

Netherlands
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Oranje (The Oranges)
UnionDutch Rugby Union
Head coachLyn Jones
CaptainDirk Danen
Most capsMarc Visser (67)
Home stadiumNRCA Stadium
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current27 (as of 5 February 2024)
Highest23 (2018)
Lowest48 (2008)
First international
 Netherlands 0–6 Belgium 
(Amsterdam, Netherlands; 1 July 1930)
Biggest win
 Netherlands 62–0 Denmark 
(Hilversum, Netherlands; 6 October 1973)
Biggest defeat
 England 110–0 Netherlands 
(Huddersfield, England; 14 November 1998)
Websitewww.rugby.nl

History edit

The Netherlands played their first ever game in 1930, against Belgium on 1 July. The Netherlands played Belgium and Germany as well as Romania. During the 1940s they played regularly against Belgium and Germany. The 1960s saw the side play West Germany regularly as well as other fixtures including matches against Poland, Sweden, Spain and Czechoslovakia. The 1970s saw fixtures played against many teams, notably Scotland XV in October 1978 & Italy.

Record edit

Top 30 as of 18 March 2024[1]
Rank Change* Team Points
1     South Africa 094.54
2     Ireland 090.69
3     New Zealand 089.80
4     France 087.92
5     England 085.75
6     Scotland 082.82
7     Argentina 080.68
8  1   Italy 079.41
9  1   Australia 077.48
10  2   Wales 077.26
11     Fiji 076.38
12     Japan 074.27
13     Georgia 074.02
14     Samoa 072.23
15  1   Tonga 071.57
16  1   Portugal 070.28
17     United States 067.94
18     Uruguay 067.39
19     Spain 064.37
20     Romania 061.66
21     Canada 060.90
22     Namibia 060.56
23     Chile 060.49
24     Hong Kong 059.80
25     Russia 058.06
26      Switzerland 057.44
27     Netherlands 057.29
28  1   Belgium 055.89
29  1   Brazil 055.37
30  1   Korea 053.46
* Change from the previous week
Netherlands's historical rankings
See or edit source data.
Source: World Rugby[1]
Graph updated to 4 March 2024

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Netherlands national XV at test level up until 17 March 2024.

Opponents Matches Won Draw Lost For Aga Diff Win%
  Andorra 3 3 0 0 140 116 +24 100%
  Belgium 45 20 4 21 475 539 –64 44.44%
  Bulgaria 1 1 0 0 45 10 +35 100%
  Croatia 2 2 0 0 47 19 +28 100%
  Czech Republic 5 3 0 2 136 91 +45 60%
  Czechoslovakia 7 2 0 5 88 99 –11 28.57%
  Denmark 10 9 0 1 311 57 +254 90%
  East Germany 2 1 0 1 20 35 –15 50%
  Georgia 8 1 0 7 107 355 –248 12.5%
  Germany 18 10 0 8 342 290 +52 55.56%
  Hong Kong 2 1 1 0 25 10 +15 50%
  England 1 0 0 1 0 110 –110 0%
  Israel 1 1 0 0 56 0 +56 100%
  Italy 4 0 0 4 27 178 –151 0%
  Emerging Italy 1 0 0 1 5 50 -45 0%
  Japan 1 1 0 0 15 13 +2 100%
  Latvia 3 3 0 0 134 23 +11 100%
  Lithuania 3 2 0 1 90 34 +56 66.67%
  Malta 1 1 0 0 27 9 +18 100%
  Morocco 7 3 0 4 88 111 –23 42.86%
  Moldova 3 1 0 2 77 85 –8 33.33%
  Poland 21 8 2 11 334 324 +10 38.1%
  Portugal 14 1 3 10 172 349 –177 7.14%
  Romania 10 0 1 9 76 393 –317 0%
  Russia 5 0 0 5 47 243 –169 0%
  Serbia and Montenegro 6 4 0 2 93 40 +53 66.67%
  Spain 18 0 1 17 152 537 –385 0%
  South Korea 2 1 0 1 45 108 –63 50%
  Sweden 19 18 0 1 444 186 +258 94.74%
   Switzerland 2 2 0 0 47 22 +25 100%
  Tunisia 5 4 0 1 86 53 +33 80%
  Ukraine 4 1 0 3 71 88 –17 25%
  Uganda 1 1 0 0 42 0 +42 100%
  West Germany 28 9 1 18 279 481 –202 32.14%
  Zimbabwe 1 0 0 1 7 30 –23 0%
Total 262 114 13 135 4138 5008 –870 43.51%

Current squad edit

On 22 January 2022, the following 49 players were called up for the 2022 Rugby Europe Championship.[2][3]

Head Coach:   Dick Muir (as of 2 June 2022)

  • Caps Updated: 23 January 2021

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Ross Bennie-Coulson Hooker (2000-10-18) 18 October 2000 (age 23) 16   DIOK *
Mark Darlington Hooker (1985-05-23) 23 May 1985 (age 38) 23   Maidenhead
Lars Linnenbank Hooker (1997-11-28) 28 November 1997 (age 26) 1   Dukes *
Mike Mbaud Hooker (1999-12-14) 14 December 1999 (age 24) 3   Ealing Trailfinders
David Anderson Prop (1995-08-04) 4 August 1995 (age 28) 1   Haagsche
Lodi Buijs Prop (2000-10-19) 19 October 2000 (age 23) 4   Haagsche *
Andrew Darlington Prop (1989-01-06) 6 January 1989 (age 35) 26   Beaune
Kieran Hogg Prop (1999-12-27) 27 December 1999 (age 24) 6 Unattached
Hugo Langelaan Prop (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 33) 31   Eemland *
Robin Moenen Prop (1995-11-28) 28 November 1995 (age 28) 12   DIOK *
Mink Scharink Prop (2000-07-12) 12 July 2000 (age 23) 0   Saracens
Jake Stamenković Prop (1999-10-03) 3 October 1999 (age 24) 4   DIOK
Koen Bloemen Lock (1998-05-13) 13 May 1998 (age 25) 7   Bourg-en-Bresse
Jim Boelrijk Lock (1994-02-06) 6 February 1994 (age 30) 10   ‘t Gooi *
Louis Bruinsma Lock (2000-07-15) 15 July 2000 (age 23) 2   Stade Montois
Dennis van Dijken Lock (1999-08-25) 25 August 1999 (age 24) 1   Graulhet
Marijn Huis Lock (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 24) 3   Durham University
Christopher van Leeuwen Lock (1995-04-26) 26 April 1995 (age 28) 2   Suresnes
Jade Plane Lock (2001-02-18) 18 February 2001 (age 23) 0   Oyonnax
Dirk Danen Back row (1989-04-21) 21 April 1989 (age 34) 31   Hilversum *
Wolf van Dijk Back row (1999-12-02) 2 December 1999 (age 24) 10   DIOK
Guy van den Dries Back row (1993-09-28) 28 September 1993 (age 30) 1   Belsize Park
Dave Koelman Back row (2001-01-16) 16 January 2001 (age 23) 2   Castricum
Kevin Krieger Back row (1998-09-11) 11 September 1998 (age 25) 12   Haagsche
Blake Nightingale Back row (1992-05-02) 2 May 1992 (age 31) 10   ‘t Gooi *
Christopher Raymond Back row (2000-12-16) 16 December 2000 (age 23) 2   Haarlem *
Liam Stone Back row (2000-10-01) 1 October 2000 (age 23) 0   Coventry
Niels van de Ven Back row (1992-04-20) 20 April 1992 (age 31) 5   Alcobendas
Maxou Zerdoun Back row (2000-10-13) 13 October 2000 (age 23) 1   Haagsche *
Mark Coebergh Scrum-half (1998-03-27) 27 March 1998 (age 25) 1   ‘t Gooi *
Caleb Korteweg Scrum-half (1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 (age 27) 0   Stirling County
Hugo Schöller Scrum-half (1999-03-11) 11 March 1999 (age 25) 6   Coq Léguevinois
Jasey van Kampen Fly-half (1998-07-11) 11 July 1998 (age 25) 6   Haagsche
Marc Mistou Fly-half (1998-09-28) 28 September 1998 (age 25) 2   ‘t Gooi *
Mees van Oord Fly-half (1999-04-27) 27 April 1999 (age 24) 9   DIOK *
Reinhardt Fortuin Fly-half (1996-01-30) 30 January 1996 (age 28) 2   Cheetahs
Willie du Plessis Fly-half (1990-06-05) 5 June 1990 (age 33) 0   Stade Montois
Storm Carroll Centre (1984-11-13) 13 November 1984 (age 39) 27   Haarlem
Jules Godfroy Centre (1997-01-14) 14 January 1997 (age 27) 0   Corrèze
Tyren Kroos Centre (2000-02-14) 14 February 2000 (age 24) 0   Agen
Daily Limmen Centre (2001-06-22) 22 June 2001 (age 22) 4   Castricum *
Oliva Sialau Centre (1994-03-01) 1 March 1994 (age 30) 3   Dukes *
David Weersma Centre (1996-04-09) 9 April 1996 (age 27) 15   Aparejadores
Daan van der Avoird Wing (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23) 4   DIOK *
Jort Doornenbal Wing (2000-08-03) 3 August 2000 (age 23) 1   Castricum *
Jordy Hop Wing (1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 (age 29) 8   Haagsche
Reinier Pieters Wing (1996-11-28) 28 November 1996 (age 27) 3   Servette **
Bart Wierenga Wing (1999-08-26) 26 August 1999 (age 24) 4   Valence Romans
Te Hauora Campbell Fullback (2000-06-29) 29 June 2000 (age 23) 6   ‘t Gooi *
Peter Lydon Fullback (1992-10-19) 19 October 1992 (age 31) 0   Rouen
  • *: Also a member of Delta squad, playing in the Rugby Europe Super Cup.
  • **: Servette is a Swiss club but plays in the French league.

Call-ups edit

On 10 February Spike Salman of Racing 92 was called up to the squad.[4]

Current coaching staff edit

The current coaching staff of the Netherlands national team:[5]

Name Nationality Role
Lyn Jones   WAL Head coach
Gareth Gilbert   RSA Assistant coach
Allard Jonkers   NED Assistant coach
Emmanuel Peyrezabes   FRA Strength and Conditioning coach
Antoine van den Berg   NED Physiotherapist
Sebastiaan van Osch   NED Physiotherapist
Kevan Gallagher   NED Video analyst
Jan van Diest   NED Manager

Past Coaches edit

Since 1997

Years Coach
1997–2000   Geoff Old
2001–2004   Robbie Allen
2004   Alex O'Dowd
2005–2006   Iain Krysztofiak
2007   Eric Hangeveld
2008   Robin Raphael
2009   Hugues Dispas
2009   Robin Raphael (Caretaker)
2009–2010   Hugues Dispas
2010–2011   Jean Bidal
2011   Silvester Ramaker
2011–2016   Alex Chang
2016–2019   Gareth Gilbert
2019–2022   Zane Gardiner
2022   Dick Muir (interim)
2022–present   Lyn Jones

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  2. ^ Netherlands`s squad for the 2022 Rugby Europe Championship
  3. ^ "Trainingsselectie Championship 2022 bekend". 22 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Nederland speelt tegen regerend kampioen Georgië". 10 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Netherlands National Rugby Union Team Coaching Staff". www.rugby.nl. Dutch Rugby Union.

External links edit