Netherlands Association AFBN Region Europe (IFAF Europe) Founded 1987 IFAF affiliation Colors Orange, black, white Head coach Fred Armstrong Team manager vacant
The Dutch Lions is the Dutch national American Football team. The team represents the Netherlands in international competition and is made up entirely of Dutch national players, typically but not exclusively playing in the AFBN and GFL competitions.
History The Lions first competed internationally in 1986. After failing to progress further than the first qualification round in 1987 (in Finland) and 1989 (in Germany), they achieved a 3rd-place finish in the 1991 European Championship in Finland. After failing to qualify for the tournament in 1993, combined with upheaval at home within the Dutch governing bodies, the Dutch national team had a long absence from international competition.
Nine years after their previous incarnation, the Dutch returned to the international American Football scene in 2002 under the name Dutch Lions, finishing 5th in the 2003 EFAF C Group European Championship in Denmark after losses to Russia and Italy. Two more losses, this time to Switzerland and Norway in the 2007 EFAF C Group European Championship, led to another 5th place. Five years later, under new head coach Winston Ronde, the Lions improved on those results by finishing 3rd in the 2012 EFAF C Group Championship, this time in Austria, with a close loss to Serbia and a win over Russia.
In 2013 and 2014, the Lions played a series of practice games against Poland, Belgium, Czech Republic and Catalonia, losing only the game against Czech Republic in Prague. In 2015, head coach Winston Ronde resigned, and was replaced by Reyhan Agaoglu. After an away loss in a practice game against Switzerland, the Dutch Lions succeeded in qualifying for the 2016 European Championship Qualifying Tournament by defeating rivals Belgium in Waalwijk.
The Lions played host to Ireland in their first ever international practice game, again in Waalwijk, in 2016 as a warm up to the then-upcoming tournament in the United Kingdom. The Lions were comfortably ahead 20-0 when the game was abandoned early in the third quarter due to lightning.
In September 2016 the Dutch Lions travelled to Worcester, United Kingdom to compete in the qualifying tournament for the 2018 European Championship. Despite leading 13-0 at half time, an injury to quarterback Richard Bouthoorn contributed to a 20-13 loss in the semi-final, thereby ending the dreams of competing in the 2018 finals. The Netherlands bounced back in the bronze medal game to defeat Russia 17-6. The Lions ended the 2016 season by taking a makeshift squad to face Poland in Lublin in an exhibition game, losing 42-14.
In August 2017, American Football Bond Nederland made a decision to put the Dutch Lions programme on hold until 2018. After the resignation of head coach Reyhan Agaoglu, the federation chose Fred Armstrong as a new head coach following the summer break in the same year.
The Dutch Lions have never qualified for the IFAF World Championship.
Most recent squad (2016) + 2016 Dutch national American Football team playing squad (qualifying tournament) Quarterbacks Richard Bouthoorn (Alphen Eagles) Sven Janssen (Amsterdam Panthers)
Running backs Sean Richard (Amsterdam Crusaders) Kevin Wesseling (010 Trojans) Miquel Castelen (Amsterdam Crusaders) Rody Vink (Spijkenisse Scouts)
Wide receivers Ananias Semedo (Amsterdam Crusaders) Revilinho Graanoogst (Amsterdam Crusaders) Ashneal Werlemann (Amsterdam Crusaders) Dylan van Gerhardt (Amsterdam Crusaders) Jasper van Dooren (London Blitz) Tom van Duijn (Braunschweig Lions)
Offensive linemen Samuel Verweij (Zurich Renegades) Kenny Verlaan (010 Trojans) Joey Odijk (Arnhem Falcons) Stefan Meertens (Amsterdam Crusaders) Ryan Kreijne (Amsterdam Crusaders) Errol Zeefuik (Alphen Eagles) Ishmar Reiph (Alphen Eagles) Barry De Boer (Amsterdam Crusaders) Defensive linemen Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe (San Diego Chargers) Christiaan Van Den Bosch (Hilversum Hurricanes) Kevin Bourne (Amsterdam Crusaders) Dennis Nijmeijer (Amersfoort Untouchables) Peter Van Vliet (Alphen Eagles) Semmie Gyasi-Radji (Lübeck Cougars) Nick Meijers (Troisdorf Jets) Shaquille Peters (Amsterdam Crusaders) Axel Kootstra (North Greenville University) Kevin Verlaan (010 Trojans)
Linebackers Kaspar Bongaerts (Troisdorf Jets) Bas Berkhout (Nijmegen Pirates) Dijohn Ronde (Amsterdam Crusaders) Lennard Harris (Arnhem Falcons) Idemar Benedicas (Alphen Eagles) Bram van Adrichem (010 Trojans) Rajiv Hooi (Amsterdam Crusaders)
Defensive backs Dennis de Wit (Hilversum Hurricanes) Calvin Dey (Amsterdam Crusaders) Nicky Bakker (Amsterdam Crusaders) Chebio Tower (Alphen Eagles) Stephan Van Der Veen (Alphen Eagles) Jose Van Oosten (London Blitz) Daniël Vreugdenhil (Berlin Bears)
Most recent coaching staff (2016) COACHING STAFF 2016 Name Position Reyhan Agaoglu Head coach / Linebackers Pepijn Mendonca Offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach Carel Aijelts Averink Receiver coach Pascal Matla Offensive line coach Orlando Mercelina Running backs coach Michel Strom Defensive coordinator / Defensive line coach Robbie Hiensch Defensive backs coach Steve Sheppard Special teams coordinator
Most recent support staff (2016) SUPPORT STAFF 2016 Name Position Claudio Bartolozzi General manager Dave Sahalessi Team manager Dennis Hemelrijk Equipment manager Yelmar Opstal Equipment manager Jip Regtop Trainer Mailys Petrini Trainer Danny Gips Trainer Kay Constandse Video crew Nienke Kers Video crew
All time results Date Opponent Venue Result Competition Result2 November 1986 Alexander Stadium, Birmingham, GB EFAF European Championship qualifier Loss16 November 1986 "The Queen's own" Field, Soesterberg, NL EFAF European Championship qualifier Loss16 August 1991 Unknown Stadium, Finland EFAF European Championship semi-final Loss1991 Unknown Stadium, Finland EFAF European Championship 3rd place Win29 October 2002 GERManiacs (German Universities) The Hague, Netherlands Exhibition match Win29 July 2003 Glostrup Stadion, Denmark EFAF C Group Championship Loss31 July 2003 Glostrup Stadion, Denmark EFAF C Group Championship Loss14 August 2007 Sportstadion Wolfsberg, Austria EFAF C Group Championship Loss16 August 2007 Sportstadion Wolfsberg, Austria EFAF C Group Championship Loss15 September 2012 Gründenmoos Stadium, St. Gallen, Switzerland EFAF C Group Championship Loss17 September 2012 Stadion Herrenried, Hohenems, Austria EFAF C Group Championship Win14 September 2013 Stadion Polonii, Warsaw, Poland Exhibition match Win19 July 2014 Sportpark de Schorre, Ostend, Belgium Exhibition match Win6 September 2014 Slavia Prague Athletic Stadium, Prague, Czech Republic Exhibition match Loss18 October 2014 Catalonia Estadi del GEiEG, Girona, Spain Exhibition match Win 19 September 2015 Lachenstadion, Thun, Switzerland Exhibition match Loss24 October 2015 Mandemakers Stadion, Waalwijk, Netherlands IFAF B-Group Qualification Match Win27 August 2016 Mandemakers Stadion, Waalwijk, Netherlands Exhibition match Win 16 September 2016 Sixways Stadium, Worcester, United Kingdom IFAF Euro qualification Tournament Semi-Final Loss 18 September 2016 Sixways Stadium, Worcester, United Kingdom 17–6 IFAF Euro Qualification Tournament Third Place Game Win 8 October 2016 Arena Lublin, Lublin, Poland 42–14 Exhibition match Loss 10 November 2018 Shotgun field, Beringen, Belgium 14–7 Exhibition match Loss
See also List of American football teams in the Netherlands
References
External links Dutch national American Football team official website American Football Bond Nederland website