A group of Dutch internationals are regularly taking to the skies to further their rugby league careers with Rochdale Hornets and the innovative cross-border partnership is benefiting both club and country.

WHEN the Rochdale women’s team takes to the field for its Northern League 1 fixtures at the Hive, there is an international flavour to the line-up courtesy of an initiative put in place by Hornets General Manager Matt Rigby.

Having spent ten years helping develop rugby league in the Netherlands across various roles, including coaching the first national women’s team, Rigby was keen to find a way of benefiting his past and present organisations.

“My connection with rugby league in the Netherlands goes back around 10 years, so it is a country and a programme that I have a real personal connection with,” Rigby told Rugby League World.

“I spent the last two years involved with the Netherlands Women’s National Team, so I have seen first-hand the potential that exists there.

“When you don’t have a domestic competition, it is incredibly difficult for players to develop consistently. For me, bringing players into Rochdale is about giving them an environment where they can play at a good level and experience what it is like to be part of a functioning club programme. For the players, being able to play alongside our women’s team gives them far more exposure to the game than they would otherwise have access to at home.

“At the same time, it benefits Rochdale. We get players who are hungry to learn, experience different coaching and bring a different perspective into the group. It is very much a two-way relationship.”

Speaking to the Netherlands players, who pay for their own flights to the United Kingdom while Rigby stumps up for their accommodation, the Rochdale experience is as much about a social and cultural exchange as it is about developing their games.

“In the Netherlands, we don’t have a rugby league culture, so playing for Rochdale has given me the opportunity to fully experience it,” Vera Van Der Zwan, a physical education teacher from Zwolle and the first Netherlands women’s team captain, explained.

“I love watching games live, but I also have a good laugh with my team-mates after the games at the pub, ‘The Cemetery’. I also enjoy teaching them some good old Dutch words, like ‘lekker lekker’ (translates roughly to really good or really nice).”

Half-back Lisa Berding, a childcare worker raised in the city of Gouda (famous for its cheese), says the Rochdale team has become like an extended family after being with the club for the past two seasons and helping them get promoted from League 2 to League 1 (two levels down from Super League) this season.

“It has been a great experience for me as a player. We have a very good coaching staff at both training and games, and I’ve learned a lot from them and from playing at a higher level.

“It’s always a great feeling arriving in England and seeing my team-mates again. Everyone is always happy to see each other, and I’m just as excited to be back. Getting together in the changing room, catching up, getting ready for the game and playing some good music is always great. I also love the moment when we step onto the field and everyone switches into game mode together.”

Zaandam-based mathematics teacher Hiske Blom, who plays at half-back, believes the Hornets initiative will have long-term benefits for the Netherlands women’s team, which played in qualifying matches for the World Cup last year.

“In the national squad we have some good union players, but almost no rugby league experience. Coming over to Rochdale and playing with girls who have played league for years is amazing. It was really nice winning our league and getting promoted in our first season. Now we have more experienced opponents as well. It’s nice to see different situations on the pitch and how we are supposed to handle these. Now I have team-mates I can learn from; at the national team we were all new and had to figure it out ourselves.”

Fiona Kalf, a physical education teacher from Warmenhuizen, says there have been lots of upsides to joining Rochdale.

“It has been amazing, and I’ve learned and developed a lot since I started playing rugby league. The game has helped me develop as a player in many different ways, including team tactics, technique, conditioning, discipline, and many other areas.

“Everything has been great – the team, the game, and the environment at the club. The only thing that isn’t great is running through the airport trying to catch my flights.”

Recently the Hornets played out a 16-all draw with the Greece women’s team – ironically, the Netherlands women’s team’s first ever match was against Greece in Athens in December 2023 – underlining Rigby’s commitment to international development and the women’s game in Rochdale.

“If we want rugby league to grow internationally, we have to give emerging nations meaningful opportunities rather than simply expecting them to develop in isolation,” the Hornets GM said.

“International fixtures are important, but they are only one part of development. Players need regular access to quality coaching, competitive matches and great environments.

“Clubs can play a huge role in that. Even if a handful of clubs across England were able to provide opportunities like this, it could make a significant difference to the development of players from emerging nations.”

One Netherlands player starting to make a name for herself in Australia is Linneke Gevers. The Dutch utility is part of the Brisbane Broncos NRLW squad and her on-field debut appears to be imminent.

“Linn is a fantastic example of what can happen when a player is given the opportunity and the right environment,” Rigby said.

“Her progression shows that the talent is there. The challenge is creating the pathway for more players to follow. I don’t think we should look at Linneke as an exception; we should look at her as evidence of what is possible.

“If Dutch players can access regular, high-quality rugby league and continue to receive the right coaching and support, there is no reason why we can’t see more of them reaching very high levels.”

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 524 (September 2026)