The Netherlands national rugby sevens team is a minor national sevens side. They have competed in the
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens () is an rugby sevens tournament held annually in Hong Kong on a weekend in late March or early April. Considered the premier tournament on the World Rugby Sevens Series competition, the Hong Kong Sevens is currently the s ...
since the 1980s. They are traditionally seen as "minnows", but have not been completely unsuccessful.
EURFC member Rob Cuthbertson has been recently added to the squad after a successful trip to Casablanca. Having had previous experience at international level with England it is hoped that he will add some much needed talent to the squad.
Tournament History
Rugby World Cup Sevens
1989 Hong Kong Sevens
In the 1989 Hong Kong Sevens, they beat
Bahrain
Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...
by a large margin: 24-4.
[McLaren, p70]
In the 1988 Hong Kong Sevens, one of their players, Marcel Bierman broke his neck in a tackle, subsequently requiring a wheelchair as an assistive device. Naturally, this did not do
rugby union in the Netherlands
Rugby union in the Netherlands is a growing sport. The sport is governed by the Rugby Nederland, which organizes the Netherlands national rugby union team.
Governing body
The Rugby Nederland was founded on 7 September 1920 but ceased to exist ...
many favours.
[McLaren, p72]
In the 1989, Hong Kong Sevens, the Dutch team had another claim to fame: it included no less than four brothers Hans, Andre, Mats and Peter Marcker.
[
McLaren was particularly impressed by Bart Wierenga
:"''the player who made the biggest impression was a gangly lad with a head of hair like a wind-blown thatched cottage, Bart Wierenga, who ran his heart out in a series of tingling performances.''"][
On the team's lap of honour, Wierenga wheeled Marcel Bierman around the pitch, who had been paralyzed the previous year to loud cheers and claps from the audience.][
]
Hong Kong Sevens
See also
* Rugby union in the Netherlands
Rugby union in the Netherlands is a growing sport. The sport is governed by the Rugby Nederland, which organizes the Netherlands national rugby union team.
Governing body
The Rugby Nederland was founded on 7 September 1920 but ceased to exist ...
* Netherlands national rugby union team
The Netherlands national rugby union team ( nl, 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 Europ ...
References
* McLaren, Bill ''A Visit to Hong Kong'' in Starmer-Smith, Nigel & Robertson, Ian (eds) ''The Whitbread Rugby World '90'' (Lennard Books, 1989)
{{National rugby sevens teams
Netherlands national rugby union team
National rugby sevens teams