Preview: Czechs v Nederland

The Czech Republic play their first match on away soil on Friday night (4th August) when they travel to RC Rotterdam to face a Dutch development side (kick off 20.00)

After the successful visit of the GB Student Pioneers to play internationals in Prague and Olomouc against European Rugby League?s newest nation recently, a 20-man Czech squad are making the trip to the Netherlands before returning home to face Serbia on 12th August.

Momentum for the code is building in the Republic and RL European Development Officer Kevin Rudd, who will be a keen observer on Friday, commented: ?This is really encouraging; I am pleased for the Czechs, they have shown great spirit taking up the challenge of learning a new sport. The British students were superb ambassadors for the code and I hope that we can encourage more clubs and University teams to get the touring bug and visit the new nations for what can be life changing experiences.?

The Dutch squad for the match is also an historic one, with all bar skipper Aaron de Jager ? who is with Huddersfield Underbank Rangers in LHF Healthplan National League 3 ? attached to their fledgling domestic competition.

Six players are included in the squad for the first time for a match that will be featured on local TV station RNN7, which covers the whole of the city of Rotterdam and its surrounding districts, giving the NNRLB their first major media exposure with a potential audience of over one million viewers.

NEDERLAND TASMAN
1. Rudy Stanford Smythe - Sparta
2. Jamie Groeneweg - Hoek van Holland
3. Ronald v/d Broek - Haagsche
4. Jon Mckenzie - Sassenheim
5. Chico de Ruiter** - WRC
6. Jorik Moree - RRC
7. Benji Blom - Sassenheim
8. Bernie van Holstein - Hoek van Holland
9. Benjamin Clingen** - RRC
10. Raymond den Engelsma - Hoek van Holland
11. Jason Brygoms - Sparta
12. Vincent Grimbergen - Sassenheim
13. Aaron de Jager - Underbank
14. Caine Roseboom** - Sassenheim
15. Justin de Heij - Sassenheim
16. Maarten v/d Meer** - WRC
17 Eric Isreal - Hoek van Holland
18. Duncan van Dam - RRC
19. Lorenzo Meirsto** - WRC
20. Luuk Herskamp** - Sassenheim
** Debutants

CZECH REPUBLIC
1. Priputen Michal (C)
2. Ciporanov Tom?
3. Mana Marcel
4. Mulhall Andrew
5. Paukner Martin
6. Ku?era Michal
7. Poledna Patrik
8. Br?dle P?emek
9. St??brn? Jaroslav (VC)
10. Holovsk? Tom?
11. Ku?era Josef
12. Verbich Petr
13. Mrt?nek Milan
14. Benda Jan
15. ?paldo? Petr
16. Kurka Tom?
17. Vineck? Roman
18. ?afr?nek David
19. ?im?nek Ji??
20. Hodan

Source: www.rlef.eu.com