It is Saturday, 7 March 2026, and on a misty dreary morning, Touch clubs from across the Netherlands make their way to the Luke Ramsey Stadium, the home of Rotterdam Rugby Club. It’s game day and week 5 in the Orange Series with teams representing The Hague, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Utrecht, Schiedam and a combined team from Amsterdam and Enschede.
With the Dutch Cup on the horizon, it is time that teams start gaining consistency in their performances before aiming to peak at the final on 6 June 2026.
For HRC Touch, confidence was high. In recent weeks training sessions have been coming together and this was evident on the field, with some fluid performances, game play, scores and aruthless defence. HRC Touch smashed it, ending up unbeaten scoring a total of 32 tries, and only conceding 8. A true testament to the coaching staff and leadership of our Captain.
First up HRC Touch enjoyed an encounter with Hermes DVS, resulting in a 7-2 victory. HRC Touch exposed the faultlines in DVS’s defence taking advantage of their weaknesses throughout the field. Granted DVS are an up and coming side and did well to expose some frailties. Lessons learned quickly and the litmus test would come in their next game against fierce rivals Amsterdam who presented a combined team with players from Enschede.
It was slow but eventually HRC Touch kicked into gear and put on a professional performance against a very dangerousAmsterdam/Enschede team. HRC Touch remained defiant and despite a scrappy affair, they ran out 5-2 winners setting the momentum for the rest of the day. A gritty victory and while not a vintage performance they started to connect and play fluid Touch which would set them up for the latter games in the Series. What happened next was unprecedented.
Next up the ever-determined Eindhoven Touch (ET) with their ever impressive all black outfits were unable to slow the stream of possession which was duly rewarded with an avalanche of tries. As fatigue kicked in the young ET team capitulatedending up losing 9-1. Without the ball, ET were a liability conceding mistake after mistake allowing HRC Touch to take advantage on the wings and dominate territory throughout.
Current Orange Series leaders are Utrecht Touch. HRC Touch power was too much with a display to remember. HRC not only scored another 9 tries, but they delivered in a style which was the envy of the Series. Utrecht are worthy of their current rankings and are amongst the favorites to win the Dutch Cup. HRC Touch, however, identified attack as their strength with some formidable performances and game play. They produced a masterclass of quick passing, drives, impeccably executed sub-box moves and a cutting edge as they approached the try line. Granted HRC Touch will be disappointed to concede two tries but that is a testament to the high expectations demanded by the club.
So to the final match against close neighbours Rotterdam Touch. Rotterdam as hosts did not want to disappoint their home fansand although losing their second game against Utrecht Touch, they subsequently won their next two games. Familiar faces tapped off against each other as the day was drawing to an endand we weren’t disappointed.
HRC Touch played impeccably. They defended not just with dogged determination but with heart, and mostly, their heads. Encounters with Rotterdam Touch are usually close affairs in recent times, and this was no different. Both sides dug deep but invariably the pressure placed upon Rotterdam Touch was too much and cynical in their finishing HRC Touch ran out 2-1 victors. HRC Touch had to hold out but they kept their line intact ending the day undefeated.
On this form, HRC Touch can defeat anyone. It is now down to maintaining this hard work with players consistently turning up for training to perfect existing moves and also developing new moves which they can all produce instinctively on game day.
Of note, all players took responsibility under the leadership of the Captain. It was encouraging to see youth represented in the team with the likes of Moses and Mahdi. Least not forget, on the eve of International Women’s Day we must recognize Irene, Lydia, Armance, Toeset, Olivia and Lina. Their dominance in defence was rutheless and their quick fire action to move up the field in attack was formidable.
Up next, the last of the Orange Series on 18 April 2026.
