Last season the Netherlands painted Prague Oranje as they concurred in the U20 Championship, they will be looking for another excellent performance from their two teams competing this weekend.
Writer Francisco Isaac sat down with fly-half Tim Boers representing his country at U18 level.
Hello, Tim! Is your team ready for the 2024 Men’s Rugby Europe U18 Championship? What goals have you set as a team? And how have you prepared for the tournament?
We have set some goals for the 2024 Men’s Rugby Europe U18 Championship. Rugby in the Netherlands is rapidly growing, and we are happy that we are playing a part in it. Our first goal is to continue building on the strong foundation laid by last year’s U18 squad, as they achieved an impressive 4th-place finish. Our goal is to at least achieve the same and, hopefully, and in the best case, push even higher. At the end of August, we went to Wales for more than a week to do a Rugby Europe Championship simulation tournament, to help us grow as a team. Besides the game we played we got a little taste of what the intensity and the days will look like. What is even more important is that we grew as a team and discovered what kind of team we wanted to be. But outside of the result, our goal is to show that the Netherlands is a growing country in terms of the level of rugby. We want to be known as a hardworking, determined team that other countries should not underestimate. We want the opponent to know that we will work hard and will bring intensity to every match. We hope to inspire younger players in the Netherlands to continue putting the work in and developing the sport in the country. We take the responsibility as a team to set an example for them, both on and off the field.
What can you tell us about you? What’s your style of play, at what do you excel most and what can you promise to do in the competition?
I am Tim Boers, and I have played rugby since I was 4 years old. My father always played rugby as well. I play for the Haagsche Rugby Club and like to play a quick game of rugby with fast rucks, quick thinking and skilful passing to create opportunities for my team. I think I can say that I have good game management skills and an intuitive attacking approach to keep defences on edge. In the competition, I will obviously give my all on the field and try to deliver my best performance in every match. With regards to our tactics and plays for the competition, let’s just say they are like a secret recipe – if we told you now, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise for the opposition, would it? Let's keep them guessing until game day!
How has rugby been important for you?
Rugby has been really important for me in so many ways. It has taught me how to work as part of a team and that success comes from everyone giving their best together. The values of respect and discipline have helped me not just on the field, but outside of it — whether it’s learning to respect opponents and coaches. It also taught me to be more considerate in general. Rugby has also made me more resilient; it’s shown me how to push through tough moments and come out stronger. And beyond the game, it’s given me a sense of belonging and confidence, surrounded by teammates who always have my back.
Can you define your team in three words? Can you explain why?
If I had to define our team in three words, they would be: effort, Intensity and Opportunity.
Effort: In everything that we do we want to put in 100% effort, whether this is in training, a match, or even in our personal lives like school. To perform well on the pitch, we have to first excel off of it. As I already mentioned, intensity plays a big part for us. Beyond the effort we put in, we want to turn up the intensity as high as possible, to create a good atmosphere so everyone stays motivated and focused. The more we push our intensity, the more we can push our limits. Each game we get is an opportunity to learn, improve and show what we can do. It is a moment to grow as a squad and as an individual.
What message would you like to share with your team’s fans?
To all the fans, we want to say a big thank you for the support, we’re proud to represent the Netherlands, and we’ll be working hard every game to make you proud as well. The cheers you will give us when we are on the field and the messages on social media are a big motivator for us and it brings our energy up.
Tim Boers will play a role in the U18s, but he won’t be the only one, as there are other talented youngsters ready to shine.
Diederik Verdaasdonk (U18 / fullback): it will be Diederik Verdaasdonk’s second U18 Rugby Europe Championship, and after a great first showing we expect big things from one of Netherlands' best tacticians.
Niek Doornenbal (U20 / utility back): a fast and slick playmaker, Niek Doornenbal is a talented backline unit capable of setting the tone of any game. Watch out for his high-pressure kicks, as they tend to create good attacking opportunities for his side.
Gabriel Cashay (U20 / number-eight): for the fans that have been following the Rugby Europe youth competitions, Gabriel Cashay isn’t an unfamiliar name, as the number-eight has already left his mark in the U18s thanks to his bulldozing physicality and focused mindset. If the opposition gifts him an inch, he will take it as an invitation to go all in and create something special for his team.
