# Netherlands national rugby union team

The Netherlands national rugby union team, nicknamed The Oranges (Oranje), is considered one of the stronger tier three teams in European rugby. They 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 six countries in Europe (apart from the teams in the Six Nations) compete. They are yet to participate in any Rugby World Cup.

## History

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

Men's World Rugby Rankingsvte Top 30 as of 10 March 2025 :
| Rank | Change | Team | Points |
| 1 | | South Africa | 092.78 |
| 2 | 1 | New Zealand | 090.36 |
| 3 | 1 | Ireland | 089.71 |
| 4 | | France | 089.51 |
| 5 | | Argentina | 084.97 |
| 6 | | England | 084.37 |
| 7 | | Scotland | 082.36 |
| 8 | | Australia | 081.52 |
| 9 | | Fiji | 080.07 |
| 10 | | Italy | 077.89 |
| 11 | | Georgia | 074.69 |
| 12 | | Wales | 073.75 |
| 13 | | Japan | 072.95 |
| 14 | | Samoa | 072.68 |
| 15 | | United States | 070.02 |
| 16 | | Portugal | 068.30 |
| 17 | | Spain | 067.34 |
| 18 | | Uruguay | 067.06 |
| 19 | | Tonga | 065.46 |
| 20 | | Romania | 062.76 |
| 21 | | Chile | 061.72 |
| 22 | | Hong Kong | 059.49 |
| 23 | | Canada | 059.18 |
| 24 | | Netherlands | 059.16 |
| 25 | | Namibia | 057.87 |
| 26 | | Belgium | 057.83 |
| 27 | | Zimbabwe | 057.16 |
| 28 | | Brazil | 056.53 |
| 29 | | Switzerland | 054.24 |
| 30 | | Sweden | 054.10 |
* ↑ Change from the previous week
Netherlands's historical rankings :
Graphs are unavailable due to technical issues. Updates on reimplementing the Graph extension, which will be known as the Chart extension, can be found on Phabricator and on MediaWiki.org.
See or edit source data. :
Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Netherlands national XV at test level up until 16 November 2024, updated after match with Chile.
| 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% |
| Chile | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 17 | +3 | 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 | 263 | 115 | 13 | 135 | 4158 | 5025 | –867 | 43.73% |

## Current squad

On 22 January 2025, the following 49 players were called up for the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship.
Head Coach: 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 24) | 16 | DIOK * |
| Mark Darlington | Hooker | (1985-05-23) 23 May 1985 (age 39) | 23 | Maidenhead |
| Lars Linnenbank | Hooker | (1997-11-28) 28 November 1997 (age 27) | 1 | Dukes * |
| Mike Mbaud | Hooker | (1999-12-14) 14 December 1999 (age 25) | 3 | Ealing Trailfinders |
| David Anderson | Prop | (1995-08-04) 4 August 1995 (age 29) | 1 | Haagsche |
| Lodi Buijs | Prop | (2000-10-19) 19 October 2000 (age 24) | 10 | Haagsche * |
| Andrew Darlington | Prop | (1989-01-06) 6 January 1989 (age 36) | 26 | Beaune |
| Kieran Hogg | Prop | (1999-12-27) 27 December 1999 (age 25) | 6 | Unattached |
| Hugo Langelaan | Prop | (1990-03-27) 27 March 1990 (age 34) | 31 | Eemland * |
| Robin Moenen | Prop | (1995-11-28) 28 November 1995 (age 29) | 12 | DIOK * |
| Mink Scharink | Prop | (2000-07-12) 12 July 2000 (age 24) | 0 | Saracens |
| Jake Stamenković | Prop | (1999-10-03) 3 October 1999 (age 25) | 4 | DIOK |
| Koen Bloemen | Lock | (1998-05-13) 13 May 1998 (age 26) | 7 | Bourg-en-Bresse |
| Jim Boelrijk | Lock | (1994-02-06) 6 February 1994 (age 31) | 10 | ‘t Gooi * |
| Louis Bruinsma | Lock | (2000-07-15) 15 July 2000 (age 24) | 2 | Stade Montois |
| Dennis van Dijken | Lock | (1999-08-25) 25 August 1999 (age 25) | 1 | Graulhet |
| Marijn Huis | Lock | (1999-11-28) 28 November 1999 (age 25) | 3 | Durham University |
| Christopher van Leeuwen | Lock | (1995-04-26) 26 April 1995 (age 29) | 2 | Suresnes |
| Jade Plane | Lock | (2001-02-18) 18 February 2001 (age 24) | 0 | Oyonnax |
| Dirk Danen | Back row | (1989-04-21) 21 April 1989 (age 35) | 31 | Hilversum * |
| Wolf van Dijk | Back row | (1999-12-02) 2 December 1999 (age 25) | 10 | DIOK |
| Guy van den Dries | Back row | (1993-09-28) 28 September 1993 (age 31) | 1 | Belsize Park |
| Dave Koelman | Back row | (2001-01-16) 16 January 2001 (age 24) | 2 | Castricum |
| Kevin Krieger | Back row | (1998-09-11) 11 September 1998 (age 26) | 12 | Haagsche |
| Blake Nightingale | Back row | (1992-05-02) 2 May 1992 (age 32) | 10 | ‘t Gooi * |
| Christopher Raymond | Back row | (2000-12-16) 16 December 2000 (age 24) | 2 | Haarlem * |
| Liam Stone | Back row | (2000-10-01) 1 October 2000 (age 24) | 0 | Coventry |
| Niels van de Ven | Back row | (1992-04-20) 20 April 1992 (age 32) | 5 | Alcobendas |
| Maxou Zerdoun | Back row | (2000-10-13) 13 October 2000 (age 24) | 1 | Haagsche * |
| Mark Coebergh | Scrum-half | (1998-03-27) 27 March 1998 (age 26) | 1 | ‘t Gooi * |
| Caleb Korteweg | Scrum-half | (1997-01-01) 1 January 1997 (age 28) | 0 | Stirling County |
| Hugo Schöller | Scrum-half | (1999-03-11) 11 March 1999 (age 26) | 6 | Coq Léguevinois |
| Jasey van Kampen | Fly-half | (1998-07-11) 11 July 1998 (age 26) | 6 | Haagsche |
| Marc Mistou | Fly-half | (1998-09-28) 28 September 1998 (age 26) | 2 | ‘t Gooi * |
| Mees van Oord | Fly-half | (1999-04-27) 27 April 1999 (age 25) | 9 | DIOK * |
| Reinhardt Fortuin | Fly-half | (1996-01-30) 30 January 1996 (age 29) | 2 | Cheetahs |
| Willie du Plessis | Fly-half | (1990-06-05) 5 June 1990 (age 34) | 0 | Stade Montois |
| Storm Carroll | Centre | (1984-11-13) 13 November 1984 (age 40) | 27 | Haarlem |
| Jules Godfroy | Centre | (1997-01-14) 14 January 1997 (age 28) | 0 | Corrèze |
| Tyren Kroos | Centre | (2000-02-14) 14 February 2000 (age 25) | 0 | Agen |
| Daily Limmen | Centre | (2001-06-22) 22 June 2001 (age 23) | 4 | Castricum * |
| Oliva Sialau | Centre | (1994-03-01) 1 March 1994 (age 31) | 3 | Dukes * |
| David Weersma | Centre | (1996-04-09) 9 April 1996 (age 28) | 15 | Aparejadores |
| Daan van der Avoird | Wing | (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24) | 4 | DIOK * |
| Jort Doornenbal | Wing | (2000-08-03) 3 August 2000 (age 24) | 1 | Castricum * |
| Jordy Hop | Wing | (1994-08-16) 16 August 1994 (age 30) | 8 | Haagsche |
| Reinier Pieters | Wing | (1996-11-28) 28 November 1996 (age 28) | 3 | Servette ** |
| Bart Wierenga | Wing | (1999-08-26) 26 August 1999 (age 25) | 4 | Valence Romans |
| Te Hauora Campbell | Fullback | (2000-06-29) 29 June 2000 (age 24) | 6 | ‘t Gooi * |
| Peter Lydon | Fullback | (1992-10-19) 19 October 1992 (age 32) | 0 | 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

On 10 February Spike Salman of Racing 92 was called up to the squad.

## Current coaching staff

The current coaching staff of the Netherlands national team:
| 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

Since 1997
| Years | Coach |
| 1997–2000 | Geoff Old |
| 2001–2004 | Robbie Allen |
| 2004 | Alex O'Dowd |
| 2005–2006 | Iain Krysztofiak |
| 2007 | Eric Hangeveld |
| 2008 | Robin Raphael |
| 2009 | Hugues Dispas |
| 2009 | Robin Raphael (Caretaker) |
| 2009–2010 | Hugues Dispas |
| 2010–2011 | Jean Bidal |
| 2011 | Silvester Ramaker |
| 2011–2016 | Alex Chang |
| 2016–2019 | Gareth Gilbert |
| 2019–2022 | Zane Gardiner |
| 2022 | Dick Muir (interim) |
| 2022–present | Lyn Jones |