Senior International Matches (Men) : Men's International

Sat 21st September 2024   - KO  14:00 - Zaandijk Rugby Club, Zaandam , Netherlands
Official: Pierre Loman Chevalier (France)

Netherlands

28

FT

30

Half Time
12 - 30

Ireland

Tries

Damon Koolstra
Mavi Geevers
Tom van Bokhoven

Stephen Cahill
Tom Ashurst
Liam O'Callaghan
Adam Quinn

Goals

Damon Koolstra

James Farrar

Kerr to oversee new look Ireland team in Netherlands international

Netherlands host the second of their home men’s senior internationals for world ranking points this weekend, as they welcome Ireland to Zaandijk Rugby Club in Zaandam on Saturday 21 October, (kick off 2pm local time).

The Oranje will be aiming to build on their 34-26 win over Scotland last weekend with Netherlands men’s head coach Dave Hunter making four changes to his squad, Max van der Stroom and Pieter Kluvers  (Zwolle Wolves), Sandile Khumalo (Amsterdam Cobras) and Luke Van Bokhoven (Narrabeen Sharks) coming into the 19, replacing Indi Snabilie, Tom Van Bokhoven, Maurits Thomson and Mike Prins.

“We picked up a few bumps and bruises from last weekend’s match, so we've had to bring in four potential debutantes,” said Hunter. “We can't turn over the ball like we did against Scotland. We're going to need to improve in all areas if we're to compete against a quality side like Ireland. However, the boys are focused and if we stick together and work hard for each other, at the very least we'll be competitive.”

Ireland will hand senior international debuts to the entire squad which is made up of players plying their trade in the Irish and English community game, together with those from professional club academy programmes, and marks the Wolfhounds first men’s game since the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.

Ireland will be coached by Wayne Kerr, who made 17 international appearances for the Wolfhounds and was a member of the 2008 World Cup squad.

“This is a massive opportunity for all the players involved. All their hard work has paid off and they deserve to achieve their full cap. They have come through our pathways programme which was set up by Ged Corcoran and has been running since the end of the last World Cup. All have played at either U16’s, 19’s, students or for Ireland A so it proves the programme is working well.”

NETHERLANDS SQUAD
James Adams, Sandile Khumalo, Hidde van der Berg,  (Amsterdam Cobras), Bonne Wilce, Kees Kuijpers, Kevin Ebing, Mavi Gevers (Brabant Bears), Tom van Bokhoven (Cromer Kingfishers), Maas van der Reek (Den Haag Knights), Daniel de Ruiter (Harderwijk Dolphins), Luke van Bokhoven, Mitch Donnelly (Narrabean Sharks), Tom Turnock, Edson Neves (Rotterdam Pitbulls), Damon Koolstra (West Tigers Mackay), Dimitri Haringa, Max van der Stroom, Paul Kuijpers, Pieter Kluvers (Zwolle Wolves)

IRELAND SQUAD

Jo McConnell (Banbridge Broncos) Conlan Mawson, Jamie Gill (Bradford Bulls) Patrick Stapleton, Ryan Hogg (Dublin City Exiles) Jake Connell (Haresfinch RLFC) Tom Ashurst (Hindley Stags) Oliver Whitford (Huddersfield Giants) Jake Parkes, James Farrar (Hull KR) Sam Winney (London Broncos) Adam Quinn, Liam Coyne (Longhorns) Daniel Coop (Rochdale Mayfield) Euan Haynes (Salford City Roosters) Ellis Keppel (Thatto Heath) Stephen Cahill (Tullamore) Liam O’Callaghan (West Warriors)

23 September 2024
1 Mitch Donnelly
Full Back
Oliver Whitford 1
2 Sandile Khumalo
Right Wing
Stephen Cahill 2
3 Hidde Van Der Berg
Right Centre
Ellis Keppel 3
4 Maas van der Reek
Left Centre
Jake Parks 4
5 Dimitri Harringa
Left Wing
Liam Coyne 5
6 Pieter Kluvers
Stand Off
James Farrar 6
7 Damon Koolstra
Scrum Half
Tom Ashurst 7
8 Tom Turnock
Prop
Jamie Gill 8
9 James Adams
Hooker
Liam O'Callaghan 9
10 Kevin Ebing
Prop
Samuel Winney 10
11 Mavi Geevers
Second Row
Conlan Mawson 11
12 Paul Kuijpers
Second Row
Adam Quinn 12
13 Tom van Bokhoven
Loose Forward
Ryan Hogg 13
14 Luke van Bokhoven
Int 1
Jake Connell 14
15 Bonne Wilce
Int 2
Patrick Stapleton 15
16 Daniel de Ruiter
Int 3
Jo McConnell 16
17 Kees Kuijpers
Int 4
Euan Haynes 17
18 Edson Neves Aldair
Reserve 1
Daniel Coop 18
'Shows our pathways are working': Youngest Ireland team hold out Netherlands

Hull KR youngster James Farrar’s perfect goalkicking proved to be the difference in an excellent contest, as Ireland’s men defeated Netherlands 30-28 at Zaandijk Rugby Club in Zaandam in a senior international for world ranking points.

Both sides posted five tries, Ireland leading 30-12 at the break, Netherlands hitting back with Damon Koolstra scoring 16 points for the hosts from two tries and four goals. 

Ireland head coach, Wayne Kerr, commented: “It was a great game but one of two halves! We controlled the first and played with maturity for a team with the average age of 19. In the second our errors let the Netherlands back into the game, they took their chances and put us under a lot of pressure with their experienced playmakers.

“The biggest result was that our boys stuck in there which I was very proud of. It was the youngest Ireland senior team ever fielded, and definitely shows that our pathways programme has been a success to date. If we can keep building towards the future, it could be very bright with these lads.”

Skipper Liam O’Callaghan led the way for the visitors, the Wests Warriors’ hooker posting two tries as did Netherlands loose forward Tom Van Bokhoven, but the Ireland defence held, not conceding a point in the second forty minutes.

Netherlands men’s head coach, Dave Hunter, said: “Unfortunately we started too slowly, Ireland dominated possession and kept us pinned in our own end. We were much improved in the second half and created more momentum but couldn’t quite close out the match. Congratulations to the Irish, they thoroughly deserved their victory.”

NETHERLANDS 28
Mitch Donnelly, Sandile Khumalo, Hidde Van Der Berg, Maas Van Der Reek, Dimitri Haringa, Pieter Kluvers, Damon Koolstra, Tom Turnock, James Adams, Kevin Ebing, Mavi Gevers, Paul Kuijpers, Tom Van Bokhoven, Interchanges: Luke Van Bokhoven, Bonne Wilce, Daniel De Ruiter, Kees Kuijpers.

Tries: T. Van Bokhoven 2, Koolstra 2, Geevers; Goals: Koolstra 4/5

IRELAND 30

Olivere Whitford, Stephen Cahill, Ellis Keppel, Jake Parks, Liam Coyne, James Farrar, Tom Ashurst, Jamie Gill, Liam O’Callaghan, Sam Winney, Conlan Mawson, Adam Quinn, Ryan Hogg. Interchanges: Jame Connell, Patrick Stapleton, Jo McConnell, Euan Haynes

Tries: O’Callaghan 2, Quinn 1, Cahill 1, Ashurst 1; Goals: Farrar 5/5

Referee: Pierre Loman Chevalier (France)

Half Time: 12-30

23 September 2024