Netherlands national rugby union team (sevens)

The Netherlands national rugby union sevens is a minor national sevens side. They have competed in the Hong Kong Sevens since the 1980s.

History

They are traditionally seen as "minnows", but have not been completely unsuccessful - for example in the 1989 Hong Kong Sevens, they beat Bahrain by a large margin: 24-4.^[1]

In the 1988 Hong Kong Sevens, one of their players, Marcel Bierman broke his neck in a tackle, subsequently requiring a wheelchair as an assistive device. Naturally, this did not do rugby union in the Netherlands many favours.^[2]

In the 1989, Hong Kong Sevens, the Dutch team had another claim to fame: it included no less than four brothers Hans, Andre, Mats and Peter Marcker.^[2]

McLaren was particularly impressed by Bart Wierenga

"the player who made the biggest impression was a gangly lad with a head of hair like a wind-blown thatched cottage, Bart Wierenga, who ran his heart out in a series of tingling performances."^[2]

On the team's lap of honour, Wierenga wheeled Marcel Bierman around the pitch, who had been paralyzed the previous year to loud cheers and claps from the audience.^[2]

Hong Kong Sevens

Year	Venue	Cup			Plate
		Winner	Final Score	Runner-up	Winner	Runner-up
1989 Details	Government Stadium	New Zealand	22-10	Australia	Tonga	Netherlands

References

• McLaren, Bill A Visit to Hong Kong in Starmer-Smith, Nigel & Robertson, Ian (eds) The Whitbread Rugby World '90 (Lennard Books, 1989)

1. ^ McLaren, p70
2. ^ ^{a b c d} McLaren, p72