Netherlands national rugby union team

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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

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.

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 Steady  South Africa 094.54
2 Steady  Ireland 090.69
3 Steady  New Zealand 089.80
4 Steady  France 087.92
5 Steady  England 085.75
6 Steady  Scotland 082.82
7 Steady  Argentina 080.68
8 Increase1  Italy 079.41
9 Increase1  Australia 077.48
10 Decrease2  Wales 077.26
11 Steady  Fiji 076.38
12 Steady  Japan 074.27
13 Steady  Georgia 074.02
14 Steady  Samoa 072.23
15 Increase1  Tonga 071.57
16 Decrease1  Portugal 070.28
17 Steady  United States 067.94
18 Steady  Uruguay 067.39
19 Steady  Spain 064.37
20 Steady  Romania 061.66
21 Steady  Canada 060.90
22 Steady  Namibia 060.56
23 Steady  Chile 060.49
24 Steady  Hong Kong 059.80
25 Steady  Russia 058.06
26 Steady   Switzerland 057.44
27 Steady  Netherlands 057.29
28 Increase1  Belgium 055.89
29 Decrease1  Brazil 055.37
30 Increase1  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: South Africa 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 Netherlands DIOK *
Mark Darlington Hooker (1985-05-23) 23 May 1985 (age 38) 23 England Maidenhead
Lars Linnenbank Hooker (1997-11-28) 28 November 1997 (age 26) 1 Netherlands Dukes *
Mike Mbaud Hooker (1999-12-14) 14 December 1999 (age 24) 3 England Ealing Trailfinders
David Anderson Prop (1995-08-04) 4 August 1995 (age 28) 1 Netherlands Haagsche
Lodi Buijs Prop (2000-10-19) 19 October 2000 (age 23) 4 Netherlands Haagsche *
Andrew Darlington Prop (1989-01-06) 6 January 1989 (age 35) 26 France Beaune
Kieran Hogg Prop (1999-12-27) 27 December 1999 (age 24) 6 Unattached
Hugo Langelaan Prop (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 34) 31 Netherlands Eemland *
Robin Moenen Prop (1995-11-28) 28 November 1995 (age 28) 12 Netherlands DIOK *
Mink Scharink Prop (2000-07-12) 12 July 2000 (age 23) 0 England Saracens
Jake Stamenković Prop (1999-10-03) 3 October 1999 (age 24) 4 Netherlands DIOK
Koen Bloemen Lock (1998-05-13) 13 May 1998 (age 25) 7 France Bourg-en-Bresse
Jim Boelrijk Lock (1994-02-06) 6 February 1994 (age 30) 10 Netherlands ‘t Gooi *
Louis Bruinsma Lock (2000-07-15) 15 July 2000 (age 23) 2 France Stade Montois
Dennis van Dijken Lock (1999-08-25) 25 August 1999 (age 24) 1 France Graulhet
Marijn Huis Lock (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 24) 3 England Durham University
Christopher van Leeuwen Lock (1995-04-26) 26 April 1995 (age 28) 2 France Suresnes
Jade Plane Lock (2001-02-18) 18 February 2001 (age 23) 0 France Oyonnax
Dirk Danen Back row (1989-04-21) 21 April 1989 (age 34) 31 Netherlands Hilversum *
Wolf van Dijk Back row (1999-12-02) 2 December 1999 (age 24) 10 Netherlands DIOK
Guy van den Dries Back row (1993-09-28) 28 September 1993 (age 30) 1 England Belsize Park
Dave Koelman Back row (2001-01-16) 16 January 2001 (age 23) 2 Netherlands Castricum
Kevin Krieger Back row (1998-09-11) 11 September 1998 (age 25) 12 Netherlands Haagsche
Blake Nightingale Back row (1992-05-02) 2 May 1992 (age 31) 10 Netherlands ‘t Gooi *
Christopher Raymond Back row (2000-12-16) 16 December 2000 (age 23) 2 Netherlands Haarlem *
Liam Stone Back row (2000-10-01) 1 October 2000 (age 23) 0 England Coventry
Niels van de Ven Back row (1992-04-20) 20 April 1992 (age 31) 5 Spain Alcobendas
Maxou Zerdoun Back row (2000-10-13) 13 October 2000 (age 23) 1 Netherlands Haagsche *
Mark Coebergh Scrum-half (1998-03-27) 27 March 1998 (age 26) 1 Netherlands ‘t Gooi *
Caleb Korteweg Scrum-half (1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 (age 27) 0 Scotland Stirling County
Hugo Schöller Scrum-half (1999-03-11) 11 March 1999 (age 25) 6 France Coq Léguevinois
Jasey van Kampen Fly-half (1998-07-11) 11 July 1998 (age 25) 6 Netherlands Haagsche
Marc Mistou Fly-half (1998-09-28) 28 September 1998 (age 25) 2 Netherlands ‘t Gooi *
Mees van Oord Fly-half (1999-04-27) 27 April 1999 (age 24) 9 Netherlands DIOK *
Reinhardt Fortuin Fly-half (1996-01-30) 30 January 1996 (age 28) 2 South Africa Cheetahs
Willie du Plessis Fly-half (1990-06-05) 5 June 1990 (age 33) 0 France Stade Montois
Storm Carroll Centre (1984-11-13) 13 November 1984 (age 39) 27 Netherlands Haarlem
Jules Godfroy Centre (1997-01-14) 14 January 1997 (age 27) 0 France Corrèze
Tyren Kroos Centre (2000-02-14) 14 February 2000 (age 24) 0 France Agen
Daily Limmen Centre (2001-06-22) 22 June 2001 (age 22) 4 Netherlands Castricum *
Oliva Sialau Centre (1994-03-01) 1 March 1994 (age 30) 3 Netherlands Dukes *
David Weersma Centre (1996-04-09) 9 April 1996 (age 28) 15 Spain Aparejadores
Daan van der Avoird Wing (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23) 4 Netherlands DIOK *
Jort Doornenbal Wing (2000-08-03) 3 August 2000 (age 23) 1 Netherlands Castricum *
Jordy Hop Wing (1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 (age 29) 8 Netherlands Haagsche
Reinier Pieters Wing (1996-11-28) 28 November 1996 (age 27) 3 Switzerland Servette **
Bart Wierenga Wing (1999-08-26) 26 August 1999 (age 24) 4 France Valence Romans
Te Hauora Campbell Fullback (2000-06-29) 29 June 2000 (age 23) 6 Netherlands ‘t Gooi *
Peter Lydon Fullback (1992-10-19) 19 October 1992 (age 31) 0 France 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 New Zealand Geoff Old
2001–2004 Scotland Robbie Allen
2004 New Zealand Alex O'Dowd
2005–2006 England Iain Krysztofiak
2007 Netherlands Eric Hangeveld
2008 France Robin Raphael
2009 Netherlands Hugues Dispas
2009 France Robin Raphael (Caretaker)
2009–2010 Netherlands Hugues Dispas
2010–2011 France Jean Bidal
2011 Netherlands Silvester Ramaker
2011–2016 Australia Alex Chang
2016–2019 South Africa Gareth Gilbert
2019–2022 New Zealand Zane Gardiner
2022 South Africa Dick Muir (interim)
2022–present Wales 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]