The Nederlandse Rugby League Bond has hosted a coach education exercise as part of the EU-backed Training and Education Portal project, which saw 18 participants from their own and neighbouring Belgium’s community clubs take part.

RLEF Coaching Manager Martin Crick oversaw the busy five-day event with the Federazione Italiana Rugby League’s principal educator Tiziano Franchini, a member of the RLEF coach development squad, leading on the delivery of the level 1 sessions.

“It has been very productive in terms of development for the two countries,” said Franchini. “Enthusiasm levels and the will to learn were really high. I am sure both Holland and Belgium will grow a lot after this coaching course.”

Seven Dutch and four Belgian participants received their Level 1 qualification at Sparta Rugby Club in Capelle aan den Ijssel, which was delivered by NRLB educators Thijs van de Zouwen and Marijlou Bender, supported by their Belgian Rugby League Association counterparts Yves Kazadi and Zakaria Zoubir.

NRLB development director Jason Bruygoms commented: “From those in attendance there were three school teachers who are now going to try make rugby league part of their sports curriculum. This is proof that the sport is growing in the two neighbouring nations which we hope to exploit by working closely together.”

The TEP has received €466.000 from the EU’s Erasmus+ project. It is intended to build the capacity of the RLEF’s 21 European members through high quality training and mentoring.

Pictured: NRLB's Marijlou Bender delivers a drill.