RUGBY LEAGUE NATION

 

 

Foundation Year - 2003

International Team - Netherlands Rugby League

Highest finish in World Cup - One win, World Cup Qualifying game (2008 RLWC)

Top level domestic competition - Planned for 2010

History - Netherlands is a new rugby league playing nation and continues the trend of European nations taking up the sport. The NNRLB was formed in 2003 with the goal of introducing rugby league to the Netherlands. In 2003 the Netherlands played their first international against Scotland A in Sassenheim Nederland losing 18 - 22.

The city of Rotterdam has been host to the Nederlandse International Rugby League Festival. The festival invites teams from around Europe to participate in a 9's tournament. The tournament has been highly successful in developing local rugby league players. The festival took place yearly from 2004 through to 2007.

2005 saw the Netherlands build on the previous season with the national team playing four internationals. The Netherlands were defeated by Georgia 34 - 14 in April. They then went on to win their other three internationals against Serbia, Scotland and Germany.

In 2006 Netherlands took part in World Cup qualifiers for the first time. Being grouped with Russia, Georgia and Serbia made the task of getting past the first round of European qualifiers all the more harder. The Netherlands suffered heavy defeats to Russia 40 - 14 and Georgia 57 - 16. As a consolation the Netherlands managed to defeat the other European newcomers Serbia 38 - 26. Netherlands finished 3rd in the Pool and failed to qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. The Netherlands capped off 2006 with a win against the Czech Republic 34 -28.

The RLEF announced in May 2008 that the NNRLB had withdrawn all co-operation with other member nations, the RELF and RLIF. The RLEF are currently looking for another interested party to continue with the development of the sport.In July 2008 the NNRLB released a statement that they would continue to develop the sport at grass roots level even though they were no longer recognised by the RLEF. In August 2009 the newly formed Netherlands Rugby League was welcomed back to the Rugby League European Federation.

In 2010 the Dutch Rugby League competition is due to kick-off with four teams: Capelle Spartans (Capelle aan de Ijssel), Gouda Rotterdam Bearcats (Gouda), Nootdorp Panthers (Nootdorp), and Haaglanden Knights/Westland - (The Hauge). Netherlands Rugby League hope the 2010 competition will be the springboard to further rugby league development in the Netherlands.

The recent success of the Rugby League World Cup will provide further funds to develop the sport throughout Europe. The Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) will now have more funds to invest in development officers and continue assisting rugby league's growth. With the right support many more nations including the Netherlands could possibly be involved in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifiers.

Dear Readers, If you have first hand knowledge of the current Rugby League situation in Netherlands we would love to hear from you. Please email us at: webmaster@rugbyleagueplanet.com or join our international rugby league Forums at http://forums.rugbyleagueplanet.com and let us all know what's going on in your part of the world.