The Nederlandse Rugby league Bond Championship, also known as NRLB Championship, is a semi-professional competition and the top-tier of rugby League of the Netherlands. As of 2025[update], it consists of six teams. In 2014, a two-game series was held between Amsterdam City Cobras and Rotterdam City Pitbulls for the 'NRLB Nationale Kampioenschap' with each team winning one game.[1] The first league competition began in 2015 as a joint Dutch-Belgian venture called the BNRL Championship and became a Dutch only competition the following season.[2][3]
The finals are traditionally held by the current trophy holders. Prior to the 2019 season, the Grand Final trophy was renamed the Jason Bruygoms Trophy in honour of the NRLB development officer who played a key role in developing rugby league in the Netherlands before stepping down following the conclusion of the 2018 season.[4][5]
In rugby league, the term 'the Double' is referring to the achievement of a club that tops the league table and wins the final in the same season. To date, this has been achieved by a total two different clubs.
The 2015 competition was fought out between Amsterdam Cobras, Den Haag Knights, Rotterdam Pitbulls and North Brussels Gorillas (Belgium). The North Brussels Gorillas won the inaugural competition after defeating Den Haag Knights 48-6 in the Grand Final. Rotterdam Pitbulls defeated Amsterdam Cobras 52–22 in the third-place play-off.[6]
In the 2016 season, the North Brussels Gorillas left the competition to compete in the Belgium League[12] and the Dutch league became a three-team competition. At the start of the season the NRLB announced that Harderwijk Dolphins, who had been established in late 2015, had been admitted to join the league in 2017, but would play only friendlies in 2016.[3][13]
The Grand Final took place at Dordrecht Rugby Club on 18 June 2016. It was won by Rotterdam Pitbulls who defeated Den Haag Knights 42–18 both teams qualified by finishing in the Top 2 after all league matches were completed.. In lieu of a third-place play-off, Harderwijk Dolphins played Amsterdam Cobras as the curtain raiser to the match.[7]
The 2017 season, saw the return of a four-team competition with Harderwijk Dolphins joining the league.[15] Den Haag Knights and Rotterdam Pitbulls finished the regular season level on points, with their only losses coming against each other.[16] The finals day was a repeat of the 2016 season with Harderwijk Dolphins defeating Amsterdam Cobras in the third-place match and Rotterdam Pitbulls retaining the title with a 26–24 win over Den Haag Knights in the Grand Final.[4] At the end of the season, the NRLB hosted a touring RAF team. They played against a Dutch Development XII and two combined teams; the Dams (Amsterdam Cobras and Rotterdam Pitbulls) and KDC (Den Haag Knights and Harderwijk Dolphins) with the RAF winning all three matches.[17]
In the 2018 season, the Grand Final match between Amsterdam Cobras and Den Haag Knights was won 29–28 by the Cobras in golden point extra time consigning the Knights to a fourth consecutive Grand Final defeat. The third-place play-off was won 40–28 by Rotterdam Pitbulls.[4][5][19][20]
In the 2019 season, Den Haag Knights reached the Grand Final for the fifth time and recorded their first win, 20–18 over Amsterdam Cobras, becoming the first team to lift trophy since it had been renamed in honour of NRLB development officer Jason Bruygoms. Harderwijk Dolphins took third-place after Rotterdam Pitbulls forfeited their play-off match.[4]
In the 2022 season, the league expanded to five-teams with Zwolle Wolves joining the competition. The debutants defeated Den Haag Knights in the Grand Final with Rotterdam Pitbulls winning the third-place play-off against Amsterdam Cobras.[4][24]
In the 2023 season, Amsterdam claimed a second title by defeating Zwolle Wolves in the Grand Final. In the third-place match Den Haag Knights won against Rotterdam Pitbulls.[4]
The league expanded to six teams in 2024 with the addition of Brabant Bears. They won the competition by defeating Zwolle Wolves 26–16 in the Grand Final. Amsterdam Cobras won the third-place match against Den Haag Knights.[4]
2025 Competition
The start of the 2025 season was delayed by two weeks causing the first round of the play-offs to be cancelled and meaning teams would qualify directly for the Grand Final, 3rd/4th and 5th/6th place play-offs. In early July, Harderwijk Dolphins withdrew from the competition and all their fixtures were recorded as 30–0 losses. In the Grand Final, Brabant Bears defeated Zwolle Wolves 28–24 in golden point extra time to retain the title.[8][27][28]
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