NRLB History
2009-2011
The Netherlands Rugby League Bond became an official legal entity on April 29th 2009, albeit with limited jurisdiction because the founding had not been ratified by a notary.
Board
President: Jason Bruygoms
Head Coach: Dave van Zeijst
Treasurer: Ieneke van Zeijst
Secretary: Marjolein Brouwer
2012
During the 2012 AGM Timo Meinders was appointed as Technical/Development Officer and Misa Vakadranu as Match Official Coordinator. The previous board remained in office and worked hard to get recognition from the RLEF (known today as ERL); they created excellent structures and proper development and communication strategies. Their hard work was rewarded when Richard Lewis, chairman of the RLEF, granted the NRLB with Observatory Member Status on February 28th 2012.
Board
President: Jason Bruygoms
Head Coach: Dave van Zeijst
Treasurer: Ieneke van Zeijst
Secretary: Marjolein Brouwer
Technical/Development Officer: Timo Meinders
Match Official Coördinator: Misa Vakadranu
2013
The first ever Match Officials and Coachings Courses in April were held on Dutch soil, under the supervision of Steve Davis of the RLEF and London Broncos Rugby. As a result of this, the NRLB has been able to train and educate their own Match Officials and Coaches since. Timo Meinders and Jason Bruygoms switched roles within the board; Timo Meinders became President and Jason Bruygoms took on the role of Head of Development. Thijs van der Zouwen joined the Board as Media Officer and became responsible for the communications strategy. After serving on the board for over two years Ieneke and Dave van Zeijst withdrew and Justin Stook was appointed as the new Treasurer whereas the head coaching responsibilities were taken on by Jason Bruygoms as well.
Board
President: Timo Meinders
Development Officer: Jason Bruygoms
Match Official Coordinator: Misa Vakadranu
Treasurer: Justin Stook
Secretary: Marjolein Brouwer
Media Officer: Thijs van der Zouwen
2014
On May 30th 2014 Kane Krlic was appointed as new Head Coach for the National Team. Krlic came from the UK and worked for the RFL and Sheffield Eagles RLFC as a Community Officer for a number of years. During this time, he coached Sheffield Eagles u20s and Scholarship, coached on the Midlands RFL Pathway and University of Derby Head Coach as well as coaching numerous community teams. This would turn out to be an incredible signing that would greatly influence and shape the progress with and winning streak of the Dutch Lions XIII.
Timo Meinders and Thijs van der Zouwen made sure the NRLB was ratified by a notary; on July 21st 2014 they visited 010 Notaris located at Jan Leentvaarlaan 2 in Rotterdam. It was necessary in order to be recognized as an organization with full legal capacity since the NRLB was founded in 2009 with limited jurisdiction. Marjolein Brouwer withdrew the board after serving on the board since 2011 and her responsibilities were taken on by Justin Stook who already served as Treasurer.
Board
President: Timo Meinders
Development Officer: Jason Bruygoms
Treasurer and Secretary: Justin Stook
Media Officer: Thijs van der Zouwen
Match Official Coordinator: Misa Vakadranu
It did not take long, however, before Jan Harmen Fokkens was introduced as the 6th board member, and took on the role as Treasurer but he also assisted Thijs van der Zouwen on the subject of social media and sponsoring.
2016
Timo Meinders and Jan Harmen Fokkens both withdrew from the board in 2016. Thijs van der Zouwen was appointed President and Leslie Heron was assigned the role of Treasurer.
Board
President: Thijs van der Zouwen
Development Officer: Jason Bruygoms
Secretary: Justin Stook
Treasurer: Leslie Heron
Match Official Coordinator: Misa Vakadranu
In December 2016 progress was made regarding the pathways for up and coming talented players, when Joe Storm, Daniel van Waas, Joe Collins, Matthew Rigby and Daan van Rossum partook in an open trial with the South-Wales Ironmen. They tried out on Saturday 3rd December at the Wern, in Merthyr, Wales.
2017
In June 2017 the RAF Regiment 75 toured the Netherlands and played two friendlies against a collaboration of Dutch Clubs and a friendly match was scheduled against a Dutch Select XIII. Harderwijk. Even though all three games showed the huge gap in the level of play between the RAF & the Dutch sides, the Dutch players enjoyed the chance to play a top quality side. The NRLB thanks Shaun Griffin, his staff & the RAF Regiment Rugby League team for making the tour happen.
In 2017 James Geurtjens who played prop for the Coventry Bears in Betfred League One, came over to the Netherlands to play against Germany. Geurtjens was eligible because his grandfather was of Dutch heritage. His knowledge and communicative skills inspired and improved many of our domestic players. On October 27th Shadan Lavia, one of the promising players of the Rotterdam Pitbulls headed to Coventry to try out for the Bears.
At the 2017 AGM meeting Justin Stook resigned as Secretary, after having served two full terms. Benjamin Cueni was chosen to be his replacement. Jason Bruygoms stayed on as Development Officer after having served two terms in that position already.
Board
President: Thijs van der Zouwen
Development Officer: Jason Bruygoms
Secretary: Benjamin Cueni
Treasurer: Leslie Heron
2018
2018 was a big year for Rugby League in the Netherlands. The kind people tasked with promotion of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup gave a two-day seminar in Rotterdam on October 6th and 7th on how to govern and promote a Rugby League Club; they also brought the World Cup to put on display. The seminar saw a high number of attendees and many pictures were pictures taken with the Paul Barrière Trophy. On October the 8th members and staff of the National Team headed to the British Ambassador’s Residence in the Hague for another promotional event. The event saw key influencers from the world of business, the public sector and Rugby League coming together to hear details about the Rugby League World Cup, which will take place in 2021 in England. James Simpson, who lost both legs on a tour of Afghanistan in 2009 but fought himself back to captain of England’s Wheelchair Rugby League squad was there and delivered an inspirational address as well.
Thijs van der Zouwen switched back from the role of President to the position of Secretary at the 2018 AGM. He was replaced by Benjamin Cueni as President. Leslie Herons first term expired but he stayed on for another term. After dedicating almost a decade of his life to the development of Rugby League in the Netherlands Jason Bruygoms withdrew from the Board; Daan van Rossum was assigned as the new Development Officer. The position of Media Officer which had been vacant since 2016 was filled with the appointing of James Cavell.
Following the RLEF’s 15th annual congress held in Belgrade, the Nederlandse Rugby League Bond was elevated from observer to affiliate member status.
Board
President: Benjamin Cueni
Development Officer: Daan van Rossum
Secretary: Thijs van der Zouwen
Treasurer: Leslie Heron
Media Officer: James Cavell
2019
2019 was a tough year for the NRLB. James Cavell and Benjamin Cueni resigned as Media Officer and President. Daan van Rossum was bombarded to interim-president, and suddenly the board only consisted of three members with only Thijs van der Zouwen and Leslie Heron remaining. Thijs van der Zouwen withdrew formally as well at the 2019 AGM, after being a vital part of the board since 2013. This meant that there were many poisitions to fill. Stephanie van Diepen was assigned as Secretary, and Hannes Bavius took on the role of Development Officer. Matthew Rigby got elected as National Teams and Competition Manager and Leslie Heron remained Treasurer, a position he fulfilled since 2016.
Board
Interim-President: Daan van Rossum
Development Officer: Hannes Bavius
National Teams and Competitions Manager: Matthew Rigby
Treasurer: Leslie Heron
Secretary: Stephanie van Diepen
2020
There was not much possible in 2020 due to Covid-19 but the Netherlands Rugby League Board provided three consecutive clinics for over sixty students of the Alfrink College in Zoetermeer in October. Hopefully this will be our stepping stone to launch more of these clinics at schools in the future.
Daan van Rossum was officially voted in as President at the 2020 AGM and Stephanie van Diepen replaced Leslie Heron, who had resigned as Treasurer. Sjoerd Botterblom was assigned the role of Secretary.
The current board structure is as follows:
President: Daan van Rossum
Development Officer: Hannes Bavius
National Team and Competition Manager: Matthew Rigby
Secretary: Sjoerd Botterblom
Treasurer: Stephanie van Diepen
English