Hiske Blom was considering walking away from rugby when an invitation to try Rugby League reignited her love for the game. This Saturday, she will captain the Dutch Lionesses for the first time as they face Scotland. Away from the pitch, Hiske teaches mathematics at a secondary school in Amsterdam and lives in Zaandam with her boyfriend and their three cats. Her weeks feature plenty of training and gym sessions, but she is equally happy at home with a book. Her sporting journ

Damon Koolstra, Captain of Netherlands Men Netherlands Lions captain and NRLB Board Member Damon Koolstra has shared the family connection behind his international rugby league journey — and his ambition to help build the game for the next generation. Born in Melbourne, Koolstra spent time living in the Netherlands with his Opa when he was four, before eventually settling in Mackay, Queensland. He began playing rugby league at eight, developing a love for the sport that would

Image caption: Ryan Keating in action for Yeppoon Seagulls ahead of representing the Netherlands in Serbia. Photo: supplied Yeppoon Seagulls winger Ryan Keating is preparing to swap his club colours for Netherlands orange as he joins the Lions for the 2026 Men’s Rugby League European Championships in Serbia. For the 21-year-old, the opportunity to represent the Netherlands is about more than rugby league. It is a chance to honour his family’s heritage and make those closest t