2025 ended in a very special way for Dutch Girls Rugby (DGR). In faraway Cape Town, the DGR U18 players took the field against South Africa WXV U18. A match much bigger than just the scoreboard!
This event in South Africa is one that will go down in history. For the first time ever, the South African WXV U18 played international games, and Dutch Girls Rugby WXV U18 was so fortunate to receive the invitation from the South African Rugby Union for a joint 10-day training camp including two matches. This resulted into a unique milestone for girls’ rugby in both countries. The Dutch also wrote history by winning convincingly. Twice!
Being in South Africa, a rugby country par excellence, is a victory in itself, and shows how far these young talents have come: with courage, perseverance, and a heart that beats for rugby. They have proven that passion, teamwork, and character can push boundaries. These Dutch girls have been together since 2022.
Over time, it soon grew into a highly ambitious team that achieved great successes on European level from U14 onwards, and that has now even made waves beyond their own continent. In Europe they played international series against Scotland and Wales WXV U16, and won from French top teams such as SUA Agen, Stade Toulousain and Stade Rochelais. Last year, our DGR U18 team won the Heidelberg 7s U18 tournament where they competed against the national teams of Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Germany. Teams that all compete in the Rugby Europe 7s U18 Cup!
What is the correlation between Dutch Girls Rugby and Rugby Nederland U18? Because of DGR’s many successes, its long-term development program has proven to be an excellent breeding ground for formal national selections. Following the success of Dutch Girls Rugby, The Rugby Netherlands Union organized its first selection days for girls in 2024, aiming for an official Nederland U18 team. Resulting in a 90% overlap with DGR’s Performance Squad.
Dutch Girls Rugby stands out by having an accredited, dedicated and internationally experienced coaching staff, and operating on a year-round schedule, in contrast to the official Rugby Netherlands Girls U18 who are bound by a seasonal limit and that is only operational between May and August of each calendar year. Dutch Girls Rugby is not limited to a timespan, has her own signature playing style, is self-funded and therefore can take on all opportunities that come on her path: both for Development and Performance Squads.
We are very much looking forward to new challenges and opportunities that come our way in 2026 for both our U15 and U18 teams, and perhaps even U20. Disciplines: 15’s,10’s and 7’s.
DGR is not the official Netherlands U18 team but a traveling franchise
