With a place in the Rugby Europe Championship 2021 still at stake, Belgium and the Netherlands are busy preparing for their play-off match on May 29.
It has been confirmed that the tie will take place at Waterloo Rugby Club in Belgium, with both teams hungry to make the step up to the top-tier of Rugby Europe’s XV competition.
The Black Devils made their return to the field last weekend with a training match in the south of France against Union Cognac St-Jean-d’Angêly.
It was an entertaining affair with the visitors recording a single point victory 26-27, as Cognac player Maurice Decubber, representing Belgium, went over to score the decisive score.
It would have been a relief for head coach Frédéric Cocqu for his troops to have come through the battle reasonably unscathed.
Speaking to Sportkipik at full time the coach said, "We asked the players to be physically ready. They obviously played the game and did what we asked of them. This shows that even from a distance, in special conditions, we know how to mobilize. We must congratulate the players for that "
He added, "The players did what they were asked to do, with commitment, respect, and being able to look each other in the eye at the end of the game. And today they can do that."
The Netherlands have also been back in the swing of things as they got preparations underway with an internal game last weekend.
The top of the national competition in The Netherlands have been playing under an exceptional rule of the government in order for the national team to prepare for this game.
Netherlands Head Coach Zane Gardiner said, "We are looking forward to the challenge of playing against a Champion side.
So far, we have been really happy with the commitment and the mentality of our players and we are really looking forward to the 29th."
The game will be played behind closed doors but will be live steamed on Rugby Europe TV.
