Rugby league in the Netherlands

Last updated

Rugby league in the Netherlands
CountryNetherlands
Governing body Netherlands Rugby League Bond
National team(s)
National competitions
Club competitions

Rugby league is a minor sport in the Netherlands.

The men's national team played their first match in 2003 against Scotland A, and the women's team made their debut in 2023.

Contents

The main domestic competition is the Nederlandse Rugby League Bond Championship initially played in the 2015 season as a joint Dutch-Belgian competition.

History

Introduction

The Netherlands Amateur Rugby League was established in November 1998 with Hans Modderman as its first president. The following year a Dutch team took part in the Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup and as part of their build up to the tournament they played against the French Army at the Royal Military Academy in Breda. This was one of the earliest games to be played in the Netherlands, though the NNRLB website notes Hemel Hempstead also having toured during this era. [1] [2] [3]

The 1989 World Cup was held in York and including eight teams: the four Home Nations plus Australia, New Zealand, France and 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). [4] [5]

After that tournament there was a follow-up in November 1989 in Toulouse (France). The Dutch played against Toulouse Olympique which ended in a draw (20-20). [2]

NNRLB era

It took till 2003 before the next game took place when two Netherlands sides hosted two national touring sides from Scotland. 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 South Holland representative side played in the York International 9s.

Their first entry into major competitions was in 2005 when the Netherlands entered the qualifying tournament for the 2005 European Nations Cup, losing to Georgia 34–14 but beating Serbia 26–10. [6]

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. [7]

On 8 August 2009, the Netherlands XIII including 8 players from the Nootdorp Panthers, as well as others from Gouda and Capelle, played against the Oxford University Old Boys. [8] They tied 36–36, in front of 300 spectators at Nootdorp. [8]

NRLB era

The Netherlands Rugby League Bond (NRLB) was formed in 2009 [9] and hosted rugby league nines tournaments periodically. [10] The NRLB became a Rugby League European Federation observer member in February 2012. [9] The Amsterdam Cobras and Rotterdam Pitbulls played a two-match friendly series in 2014. [10]

The first full competition, known as the BNRL Championship, or the BENE Cup, was held in 2015. It consisted of three Dutch clubs and Belgian club, North Brussels Gorillas, who won the grand final. This was North Brussels only season competing in the Dutch competition. [11] [12] The competition became the Nederlandse Rugby League Bond Championship the following season. [13]

The NRLB obtained affiliate membership of the RLEF in June 2017. [9]

In 2021, the men's national team won the 2021 Rugby League European Championship D. [14] The women's national team made their debut against Greece in 2023. [15]

Competitions

Netherlands location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Amsterdam
Red pog.svg
Den Haag
Red pog.svg
Harderwijk
Red pog.svg
Rotterdam
Red pog.svg
Zwolle
Red pog.svg
Brabant
Location of teams in the NRLB

As of 2025, the NRLB Championship is contested by six clubs. [16]

ClubCityJoinedTitles
Amsterdam Cobras Amsterdam 20152018, [17] 2023
Brabant Bears Oisterwijk 20242024
Den Haag Knights The Hague 20152019
Harderwijk Dolphins Harderwijk 2017
Rotterdam Pitbulls Rotterdam 20152016, [18] 2017
Zwolle Wolves Zwolle 2022

References

  1. "History of RL in the Netherlands". NNRLB. Archived from the original on 6 February 2007.
  2. 1 2 "Rugby league in the Netherlands". NRLB. Archived from the original on 7 March 2013.
  3. "Historic dates". Hemel Stags. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
  4. Neil Wood (30 August 2008). "Student World Cup History". Wales Rugby League. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-29.
  5. "1989 Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup". University Rugby League World Cup | Australia 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2008.
  6. "European Nations Qualifiers 2005". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  7. "2008 Rugby League World Cup - RLWC". Rugby League Planet. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Rugby League in Nootdorp". Telstar online (in Dutch). 12 August 2009. Retrieved 2024-07-12.
  9. 1 2 3 "Dutch Rugby League Celebrates Its Best Year Yet". European Rugby League. 27 September 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Domestic History". Nederlandse Rugby League Bond. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  11. "Holland and Belgium launch joint competition". European Rugby League. 8 March 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  12. "Successful first season concludes". European Rugby League. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  13. "Dutch Championship kicks off". European Rugby League. 6 June 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  14. "Netherlands take EURO D crown against Czechia as Turkey claim third place". European Rugby League. 17 October 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  15. "Netherlands women to make international debut in Greece". International Rugby League. 8 December 2023. Archived from the original on 8 December 2023.
  16. "Domestic Rugby". NRLB. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
  17. "Netherlands Rugby League Wraps Up Exciting Season and Points To Growth". European Rugby League. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  18. "Rotterdam Pitbulls win Dutch Grand Final". European Rugby League. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2021.