YORK KNIGHTS face Hull KR in Amsterdam on Saturday with coach Mark Applegarth able to see a string of new signings in match action for the first time.
The LNER Stadium side were due to head to Hunslet for a pre-season game until the big freeze struck.
Now the meeting with Rovers at the Netherlands National Rugby Centre takes on even more significance.
The NRCA (National Rugby Centre Amsterdam) Stadium is within a larger sporting complex in the west of the city, and the match presents a valuable chance to further showcase the code.
Netherlands took on Serbia as well as community game and youth-based Scotland and Ireland sides in September.
Ireland were 30-12 winners in Zaandam with the help of a five-out-of-five kicking return by James Farrar, the Hull KR outside back who later joined York.
Farrar has penned a two-year contract, with Applegarth explaining: “He’s a great young prospect who will add some competition to the squad.”
York have also brought in former Castleford hookers Paul McShane, the 2020 Super League Man of Steel, and Jacques O’Neill as they try to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish and appearance in the play-off semi-finals.
Utility forward Jacob Gannon has joined from Leigh, and props Kieran Hudson and Jack Brown from Castleford and community club Normanton respectively.
And as well as Farrar, the Knights have new options in the backs in Kieran Buchanan (from Batley), Jude Ferreira (Hunslet), Joe Law (Wakefield) and Mac Walsh (Toulouse).
The likes of prolific try-scoring winger Joe Brown, fullback Will Dagger, ex-Tonga halfback Ata Hingano and experienced forward Jordan Thompson remain on board.
The Dutch stadium has successfully hosted South African team The Cheetahs (based in Bloemfontein) in rugby union’s European Professional Club Cup (one below the European Champions Cup).
And NRCA director Andrew Meredith said: “We are excited to add this special Rugby League event to our calendar.”
