Edinburgh Rugby wing Tim Visser has made the RaboDirect PRO12 ‘Dream Team’ for the fourth successive season, with the highest number of individual votes of any player (12).

His impressive strike rate is an undeniable feature of the wide man’s selection, sitting on the top of the try-scoring charts for the fourth year in a row (two ahead of fellow Dream Team’er, George North).

Six of the 24 British & Irish Lions selected by Warren Gatland to tour Hong Kong and Australia later this month have earned places in the 2013 RaboDirect PRO12 Dream Team.

The two youngest members of the 125thanniversary tour party, Glasgow Warriors full back Stuart Hogg and Scarlets wing George North, join Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies in the three-quarter line, while three of the Ospreys’ five Lions, Adam Jones, Alun-Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric.

For the first time in the three seasons in which there have been Italian clubs represented in the tournament, two of their players have been chosen.

Benetton Treviso forwards Leonardo Ghiraldini and Alessandro Zanni both feature in the RaboDirect PRO12 Dream Team pack as the efforts of their club in finishing seventh overall is reflected in their selection.

Once again the voting was carried out by the media from the four competing countries and no fewer than 81 players received nominations across the 15 positions. Players from all RaboDirect PRO12 clubs were nominated.

Joining Visser (12) as clear-cut winners in their positions are Leinster outside half Ian Madigan, who polled 11 votes, Scarlets’ North (10), flanker Tipuric (8) and Ulster No 8 Nick Williams (7).

The RaboDirect PRO12 Awards night is in Dublin on Sunday when the ‘Player of the Year’, ‘Coach of the Year’ and ‘Young Player of the Year’ will be announced.

2012/13 RaboDirect PRO12 Dream Team
: 15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)14 George North (Scarlets), 13 Luke Marshall (Ulster Rugby)
, 12 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), 11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby); 
10 Ian Madigan (Leinster Rugby), 
9 Niko Watawalu (Glasgow Warriors);1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors)
, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), 3 Adam Jones (Ospreys), 4 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 
5 Al Kellock (Glasgow Warriors), 6 Alessandro Zanni (Benetton Treviso), 7 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), 
8 Nick Williams (Ulster Rugby).

via Tim Visser makes fourth dream team | Edinburgh Rugby.

Tim Visser guided by the Dutch Sevens Ladies – Amsterdam Sevens 2013 – YouTube.

By The Holland Times Fri. 3 May 2013

One hundred and fifty youngsters aged between 12–18 from all around the Netherlands, took part in the Tim Visser youth rugby day on 27 April.

Tim ,a Dutchman currently plying his trade on the wing for Edinburgh and the Scottish National side, brought along his brother Seb, who plays for the Dutch men’s team and Scottish team mates Ross Ford, Grieg Laidlaw & Dave Denton plus Dutch Women’s Sevens player Mara Moberg.

The weather was friendly as the youngsters were able to participate in rugby specific drills, whilst rubbing shoulders with their sporting heroes.

Marc Visser, ex Dutch rugby international and the father of Tim and Seb was happy at the turnout and the promising skill levels on show.

The occasion marked another milestone for the development of rugby in the Netherlands, as 13-year-old Adriaan Have was on hand to meet NRB President Willem de Jong, who announced the Rugby Club Hilversum junior as the 10,000th registered rugby player.

Jan de Jong of Oudenbosch, Brabant was in attendance with his son and mentioned, “It was an exciting opportunity for him to play alongside top professional athletes.”

“It’s not every day you get this class of international talent giving clinic’s in the Netherlands,” exclaims Jan de Jong.

“The progress is positive and very pleasing from a Dutch Rugby Union perspective,” comments NRB President de Jong.

The Dutch Women’s Sevens team have also just returned from a training camp with the Dutch Special Forces, in Spain. They were busy putting the final touches on preparation for the final leg of the International Rugby Board Women’s Sevens World Series on 17/18 May to be hosted at Amsterdam’s National Rugby Centrum.

The series finale is held in conjunction with the 42nd Amsterdam Sevens tournament, where Tim was scouted by a professional English rugby outfit a few years ago.

On hand over the weekend was also the IRB 2011 Women’s Sevens player of the year Kelly van Harskamp, who alongside Tim are this years Amsterdam Sevens ambassadors.

It is a busy time of year for rugby in the Netherlands this time next year we could well be announcing the 11,000th registered player and several more Dutch players might be plying their trade on the international scene with the likes of Tim and Kelly.

(Photo: NRB)

via Rugby is on the rise in the Netherlands :: The Holland Times.

The final round of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series kicks off in Amsterdam in a fortnight

With just two weeks to go until the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series in Amsterdam kicks off, organisers in the Dutch capital have announced that international wing Tim Visser will be the ambassador for the event.

Visser, who is currently plying his trade on the wing for Edinburgh and Scotland, was born in the Netherlands and his father Marc played international rugby for his country.

“Naturally, I’m very excited to be involved with the Amsterdam Sevens,” said Visser.

“I’ve seen first-hand the work that has gone on behind the scenes and it’s all set to be a wonderful event.”

“Hosting the Women’s Sevens World Series is an important boost to Rugby in the Netherlands, and I’m expecting to see great crowds on the weekend of May 17 and 18.”

Rugby has been growing rapidly in the Netherlands. As Visser hosted a training camp for more than 150 youngsters in Amsterdam, the Nederlandse Rugby Bond (NRB) welcomed the 10,000th registered player in the country, 13 year old Adriaan Have.

“The progress is positive and very pleasing from a Dutch Rugby Union perspective,” said NRB President Willem de Jong.

“Events like the upcoming Amsterdam Sevens will really encourage young people to take up the sport, and that can only be a good thing.”

Twelve international sides from across the globe will compete in the last round of the inaugural Series on May 17 and 18.

And with Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 taking place just over a month later in Moscow, the Amsterdam round of the Series will be vitally important as teams prepare for the trip to Russia.

Series leaders New Zealand are eight points ahead of England, with world champions Australia a further eight points behind going into the final round.

CLICK HERE FOR THE AMSTERDAM MATCH SCHEDULE >>

via IRB Women Sevens World Series – Visser backs WSWS in Amsterdam.

Gymnastiek, karate, basketbal, zwemmen, voetbal en atletiek –Vox-reporter Linda van der Pol heeft alle sporten in haar thuisstad al gedaan. Nu ze aan de RU studeert gaat ze verder: voor Vox is ze op zoek naar meer exotisme. Ze neemt een kijkje bij tien verenigingen. Deze week: rugby.

Een voetbalshirtje? Linda begrijpt het nog niet helemaal… Foto: Erik van ‘t Hullenaar.

Ja hoor: op weg naar het sportcentrum, op de Sint Annastraat, vliegt mijn fietsketting eraf. Die vertraging komt eigenlijk wel goed uit. Rugby? Ter lering ende vermaeck dit filmpje gekeken, nu een beetje bang. Ruim een kwartier te laat sta ik warm te draaien – vraag me nog even af of ik op het goede veld sta. Gezellige meiden wel; ze zijn dan ook Sportteam van het jaar.

Ik stap in bij een spel dat Kick and chase genoemd wordt, maar van trainer Jacob Steyn moet ik eerst mijn schoenen uitdoen. ‘Dat doen we altijd als het lekker weer is, want het is goed om op blote voeten te lopen.’ Klinkt als mijn vroegere atletiektrainer. Prima, dat kunstgras loopt wel lekker. Oké, daar gaan we. Twee teams, elk zo’n zeven spelers, twee goals. Rugbybal wegtrappen met de voet  in de hoop dat een teamgenoot hem vangt. Zo niet: eropaf! De dames dragen geen hesjes, dus de eerste minuten zijn verwarrend. Naar wie moet die bal, welke kant moet ik op? Na wat hoofden ingeprent te hebben kan ik voorzichtig meedoen met gooien, vangen en trappen. Opluchting: er wordt niet gebeukt. Niet echt.

En ook de rest van de training blijft praktisch non-contact. Er doen vanavond meer meisjes mee die nooit eerder op een rugbyveld stonden en er is bovendien geen tijd om ons voor écht wilde spelletjes klaar te maken. Jacob: ‘Daarvoor moeten er heel veel spieren losgemaakt worden. Schouders, armen… Een heel lange warming-up.’ Dus volgen er gooi- en positieoefeningen. Tackles spelen we na door de balbezitter aan te tikken met twee handen tegelijk. ‘Want om iemand neer te halen moet je haar met minstens twee handen vastgrijpen’, vertelt speelster Alba (of Jannie, Anne of… rugbywedstrijden worden gespeeld met vijftien tegen vijftien, onthou al die namen maar eens).

In de buurt van een touchdown kom ik bij lange na niet – maar overgooien en tikken lukt aardig, geloof ik. Dus begint het aan het einde van de training te kriebelen. ‘Tot volgende week dan, hè’, zeggen de meiden. Vooruit, ik geef me op voor de Jonghe Honden Training. Stiekem benieuwd naar het echte werk.

NSRV Obelix traint op dinsdag- en donderdagavond op het rugbyveld van het USC. Zowel de dames als heren spelen competitie. De ‘Jonghe Honden Cursus’, voor nieuw talent, is net begonnen. Meer informatie?  http://obelix.ruhosting.nl en https://www.facebook.com/jonghehondencursus.

via Linda sport (8): non-contact bij rugby | Vox magazine.