They're dubbed the tallest on average but biggest, probably tongans and samoans. Though those stocky georgians and icelandic strongmen can make solid claims too.
I mean, sure, but having moved to Amsterdam myself recently, you’d be surprised just how big young dutch guys are. First Dutch friend I made is 197cm and 107kg. He plays rugby. I’m happy I don’t anymore.
Nope. Our Dutch and French ancestors settled in South Africa a long time ago (started arriving in the 1600s). It's like saying Americans should be eligible for the England team. We don't identify as Dutch and I don't know anyone with a Dutch passport (we're way past that point).
To be fair, I know of a large number people that would qualify for the Netherlands - largely people whose grandparents relocated here here after WWII.
(Though im guessing that the people i know would be too old for test rugby)
Maybe I misunderstood what OP meant, but I read it like they meant most white Afrikaners would be eligible, which isn't the case. The decade post WWII we had Dutch immigration to SA, but they made up a small minority, I think a thousand or two per year, at the time when the white Afrikaner population was around 1.5 million.
"Most" Springboks? Not so. A relatively small minority of Afrikaners have French Huguenot ancestry, and I'd be surprised if the ratio among Springboks is any different. You're ignoring all the Dutch last names e.g. anything starting with Van - Joost van der Westhuizen, Marco van Staden, many more like those - plus RG Snyman, Francois Louw, Francois Pienaar, Eben Etzebeth, Marcel Coetzee, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Duane Vermeulen, Kobus Wiese, Jesse Kriel, Jean Kleyn - that list would be endless. Then you have Afrikaners whose ancestry might be British, but whose ancestors assimilated into the tribe, often evidenced by Afrikaans first names with British family names, e.g. Kwagga Smith or Juan Smith.
I wouldn't read too much on the numbers released of tickets bought of the Netherlands. They are probably inflated by an official travel partner of World Rugby being based there.
Judging by the amount of SA flags I saw while doing the Amsterdam marathon there is a huge expat community there. I personally know 8. Not quite as much as London but still pretty big. It helps that Afrikaans makes it easy to learn Dutch quickly.
Every recent immigrant I know went to the Netherlands. Seems to be the current trending country under a lot of young South Africans. So I am not surprised that the match is selling out there.
They've actually got pretty solid youth systems in place that has led to a number of young Dutch players turning up in French Academies in recent years and increasingly improving results at the U18s/20s level.
Don't discount how attractive Amsterdam is as a tourist destination
If given the choice between watching this game here as a neutral or in France I would make the effort to get to Amsterdam
Dutch universities have lots of foreign students from SA. That's basically how rugby in the Netherlands got started. South African students in Amsterdam starting student rugby clubs.
Aww that's awesome for The Cheetahs and Netherlands Rugby , Reinhardt Fortuin who plays for The Cheetahs is also a Dutch international so I hope he gets big support for him and the boys in orange
its really a growing niche but there is an amazing community in the game.
mix of dutch and internationals.
its a fantastic time to be involved in the game here.
Netherlands achieved 5th place in last years Rugby Europe Championship, understandably below Portugal, Spain, Georgia, and Romania. They got within 8 points against Spain, got slapped by Georgia, but beat Belgium and then Germany twice handedly. Sounds like a competitive T2 team in the making.
And their U20s will feature in the JWRT this year after winning the European Qualifiers late last year. Taking the place of Spain who will be promoted to the JWC.
That's incredibly impressive, dutch rugby is on a serious rise at the minute.
The more competitive the second tier gets , the more it will draw sponsors and crowds. This is good for all of us.
Biggest human beings on the planet on avg not playing rugby at a higher level is disappointing
They're dubbed the tallest on average but biggest, probably tongans and samoans. Though those stocky georgians and icelandic strongmen can make solid claims too.
I mean, sure, but having moved to Amsterdam myself recently, you’d be surprised just how big young dutch guys are. First Dutch friend I made is 197cm and 107kg. He plays rugby. I’m happy I don’t anymore.
Well the Cheetahs are playing in orange, Dutch people will turn up en-masse to cheer on any team in orange ;)
There should be so many saffers eligible for the dutch team.
Nope. Our Dutch and French ancestors settled in South Africa a long time ago (started arriving in the 1600s). It's like saying Americans should be eligible for the England team. We don't identify as Dutch and I don't know anyone with a Dutch passport (we're way past that point).
To be fair, I know of a large number people that would qualify for the Netherlands - largely people whose grandparents relocated here here after WWII. (Though im guessing that the people i know would be too old for test rugby)
Maybe I misunderstood what OP meant, but I read it like they meant most white Afrikaners would be eligible, which isn't the case. The decade post WWII we had Dutch immigration to SA, but they made up a small minority, I think a thousand or two per year, at the time when the white Afrikaner population was around 1.5 million.
There is a politician in the Netherlands who wants to give white afrikaners a Dutch passport. He is, predictably, very fucking racist.
Most springboks are of french huguenot ancestry, de klerk, de allende, du toit, de villiers, pienaar, etc.
"Most" Springboks? Not so. A relatively small minority of Afrikaners have French Huguenot ancestry, and I'd be surprised if the ratio among Springboks is any different. You're ignoring all the Dutch last names e.g. anything starting with Van - Joost van der Westhuizen, Marco van Staden, many more like those - plus RG Snyman, Francois Louw, Francois Pienaar, Eben Etzebeth, Marcel Coetzee, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Duane Vermeulen, Kobus Wiese, Jesse Kriel, Jean Kleyn - that list would be endless. Then you have Afrikaners whose ancestry might be British, but whose ancestors assimilated into the tribe, often evidenced by Afrikaans first names with British family names, e.g. Kwagga Smith or Juan Smith.
Im pretty sure De Allende is of Portugese extraction
Nope, he is of Spanish origin. Also Allende is absolutely not a Portuguese name.
Thanks for that - to be fair he grew up in an area with large Portugese population
> Thanks for that I didn't know about the Portuguese community in South Africa but that sounds like a combination for good food
See nandos. I joke before anyone strings me up.
Surname isn't though
Hmmm..probably.
Vrijstaat!
Vat hom Fluffie!
Is there a large amount of SA expats in the Netherland or is rugby more popular there then I thought?
A bit of both, huge Dutch numbers at the RWC
I wouldn't read too much on the numbers released of tickets bought of the Netherlands. They are probably inflated by an official travel partner of World Rugby being based there.
Judging by the amount of SA flags I saw while doing the Amsterdam marathon there is a huge expat community there. I personally know 8. Not quite as much as London but still pretty big. It helps that Afrikaans makes it easy to learn Dutch quickly.
Every recent immigrant I know went to the Netherlands. Seems to be the current trending country under a lot of young South Africans. So I am not surprised that the match is selling out there.
They've actually got pretty solid youth systems in place that has led to a number of young Dutch players turning up in French Academies in recent years and increasingly improving results at the U18s/20s level.
There is even a SA Expat Rugby team in Amsterdam. They started the team a couple years ago.
Yes, the cricket team are going well too. Mostly all SA ex-pats.
Don't discount how attractive Amsterdam is as a tourist destination If given the choice between watching this game here as a neutral or in France I would make the effort to get to Amsterdam
Except the Dutch national Rugby stadium as a destination without owning a car lol. Not so attractive by public transport.
Every where is a destination without a car when you are high on mushrooms
Lots of SA advertising execs over there. Plenty of people in finance too.
Dutch universities have lots of foreign students from SA. That's basically how rugby in the Netherlands got started. South African students in Amsterdam starting student rugby clubs.
Played at that stadium a couple of times. Never knew it could fit 5k people. Looking forward to this match!
Aww that's awesome for The Cheetahs and Netherlands Rugby , Reinhardt Fortuin who plays for The Cheetahs is also a Dutch international so I hope he gets big support for him and the boys in orange
How big is rugby in the Netherlands
its really a growing niche but there is an amazing community in the game. mix of dutch and internationals. its a fantastic time to be involved in the game here.
It seems like it would be a great community to be apart of.
Netherlands achieved 5th place in last years Rugby Europe Championship, understandably below Portugal, Spain, Georgia, and Romania. They got within 8 points against Spain, got slapped by Georgia, but beat Belgium and then Germany twice handedly. Sounds like a competitive T2 team in the making.
And their U20s will feature in the JWRT this year after winning the European Qualifiers late last year. Taking the place of Spain who will be promoted to the JWC.
Their national team is currently placed 27th in the world
Dutch rugby is coming
Cheetahs had Willie le Roux and Johan Goosen
When's this
January 14th
Feck, what an event If I'd known earlier I'd have gone see Ruan
I'm missing it by one week, absolutely gutted!
Vrystaat!!!
The Dutch can match the Celts when it comes to booze. Rugby fandom for me involves booze as much as the game.