Senior International Matches (Women)

Sat 13th December 2025   - KO  12:00 - Rugbyclub Sparta, Rotterdam , Netherlands

Netherlands

34

FT

0

Half Time
8 - 0

Greece

Tries

Hiske Blom (25,52)
Monischa Hiermons (32)
Nicole Kennedy (44,59,62)
Sydney Kalf (57)

Goals

Fiona Kalf (0/1)
Kaylee Geerlings (3/5)
Lisanne van het Schip (0/1)

Match Preview: NETHERLANDS AND GREECE WOMEN NAME SQUADS FOR LAST RUGBY LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL OF THE YEAR

Netherlands and Greece women will play the final senior international of 2025, for world ranking points, on Saturday, December 13 at Rugby Club Sparta, Rotterdam, (kick off 2pm, local time).

The game marks the two-year anniversary of Netherlands’ first women’s game that took place against Greece in Athens, which they won 14-0.  Both nations come into the fixture on the back of defeats, after Greece lost to USA 46-0 in Las Vegas last time out and Netherlands went down, 42-6, at home to Ireland.

Netherlands could hand out a number of debuts with Merel van den Bosch, Elien de Graaf, Sydney Kalf, Lara Kingma, Lisanne van het Schip and Jiske van Velzen called into their squad. Netherlands women’s head coach, Matt Rigby, commented: “We’ve had a strong last couple of years and to celebrate that milestone by playing a repeat of our first ever match against Greece is special. This will be a completely different challenge. We’ve made 13 changes to our 19-player squad so it’s a big test for a vastly different group. But it’s one we’re excited for and will show just how far we’ve come in such a short space of time.”

Greece have named seven players who could make their first start, Kalliopi Angelakopoulos, Christina Faitakis, Katerina Niavradakis, Ymke Keppel, Georgia Pournara, Cretian Gunner Sidar Timurturkan and Efrosini Tsiritaki.

Greece women’s head coach, Nikolas Stephanou, noted: “I am looking forward to this match to finally see our girls put on display their hard work. Now having a women’s league up and running with new teams, it’s a breath of fresh air to see their journey. We are looking forward to playing Netherlands again, this time on their soil. They will be a good challenge.”

Once the result is known, International Rugby League will update the world rankings for the year.

Netherlands (squad): Nicole Kennedy (London Broncos), Eva Peroti, Hiske Blom, Kaylee Geerlings, Lisa Berding, Vera Van Der Zwan (Rochdale Hornets), Elien de Graaf, Eline Zomer, Fiona Kalf, Hannah van Beukering, Iris Hansman, Jiske van Velzen , Lisanne van het Schip, Merel van den Bosch, Michelle Jurgens, Monischa Hiermons, Rixt Aerts, Sydney Kalf, Ymke Keppel (unattached)

Greece (squad): Dimitra Papoutsi, Magdelini Stavrianou, Paraskevi-Anna Daldaki (AEK), Anna Limperi, Asimina Mastoraki, Effie Skouroliakou, Efrosini Tsiritaki, Georgia Kalomenopoulou, Kalliopi Angelakopoulos, Maria-Eleni Gkirlemi, Sotiria Skouroliakou, Triantafyllia Vasilogianni (Aris Eagles), Christina Faitakis, Georgia Pournara, Katerina Niavradakis, Ourania Koutsikou, Sidar Timurturkan, Sofia Anagnostopoulou (Cretan Gunners), Vasiliki Roumpi (Panionios)

12 December 2025
1 Hiske Blom
Full Back
Sofia Anagnostopoulou 1
2 Hannah van Beukering
Right Wing
Sotiria Skouroliakou 2
3 Michelle Jurgens
Right Centre
Anna Limperi 3
4 Nicole Kennedy
Left Centre
Sidar Timurturkan 19
5 Monischa Hiermons
Left Wing
Magdelini Stavrianou 5
6 Vera Van Der Zwan
Stand Off
Georgia Kalomenopoulou 6
7 Rixt Aerts
Scrum Half
Ourania Koutsikou 7
8 Eva Peroti
Prop
Kalliopi Angelakopoulos 8
9 Merel van den Bosch
Hooker
Asimina Mastoraki 9
10 Fiona Kalf
Prop
Triantafyllia Vasilogianni 15
11 Lisa Berding
Second Row
Dimitra Papoutsi 11
12 Sydney Kalf
Second Row
Katerina Niavradakis 21
13 Kaylee Geerlings
Loose Forward
Maria-Eleni Gkirlemi 13
14 Lisanne van het Schip
Int 1
Efrosini Tsiritaki 14
15 Iris Hansman
Int 2
Paraskevi-Anna Daldaki 10
16 Ymke Keppel
Int 3
Georgia Pournara 16
17 Jiske van Velzen
Int 4
Vasiliki Roumpi 17
18 Elien de Graaf
Reserve 1
Effie Skouroliakou 18
Match Report: Netherlands keep a clean sheet at home to Greece women

A dominant second half, which saw centre Nicole Kennedy run in an 18-minute hat-trick, saw Netherlands women run out 34-0 winners against Greece at Rugby Club Sparta, Rotterdam. The Oranje women led only 8-0 at half time against determined opponents but finished with seven tries in a comprehensive display to end the international year.

Netherlands women’s head coach, Matt Rigby, commented: “I’m really happy with the girls’ work ethic and commitment towards what we’re building here. It was a tough first half, but they really shone through in the second, taking control of the game and fully deserving the result. I’m delighted with the clean sheet as well; the defensive performance was exceptional.”

In their two meetings with Greece to date, Netherlands have yet to concede a point. In cold but clear conditions, it took 25 minutes for the deadlock to be broken with Hiske Blom getting on the end of a set play in midfield to open the scoring, Fiona Kalf unable to convert.

Seven minutes later, Monischa Hiermons found her way over out wide, Lisanne van het Schip wide with the conversion attempt. London Broncos’ Kennedy got the Netherlands off to a dream start after the break with the first of her three tries, Kaylee Geerlings now on kicking duty adding the goal.

Fullback Blom added her second out wide, Sydney Kalf following her in and Kennedy’s second and third scores, either side of the hour-mark, put the game beyond doubt, Geerlings adding two further conversions.

“Regardless of the score, we said before the match to celebrate the small wins, which the girls did supporting each other and not giving up,” said Greece women’s head coach Nikolas Stephanou. “I’m happy that even within the match we could see the girls grow and adjust.

“Sidar Timurturkan stepped up by playing both at centre and second row for a full eighty minutes. She is of Kurdish heritage and has faced difficulties in the past in matters of nationality, but through the beauty of rugby league she proudly represented Greece today. The next plans are to carry on progress and increase the number of 13-a-side games we have back home in our domestic programme.”

13 December 2025