{"id":152629,"date":"2023-03-28T15:45:23","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T13:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=152629"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:42","slug":"underdog-rugby-team-surprises-a-lot-of-people-including-themselves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/03\/28\/underdog-rugby-team-surprises-a-lot-of-people-including-themselves\/","title":{"rendered":"Underdog rugby team surprises a lot of people, including themselves"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a crucial match between the student rugby teams from Rotterdam and Utrecht the Rotterdamse Studenten Rugby Club (RSRC) claimed a hard-fought 32-19 victory and a place close to the division’s top. This came as quite a surprise for the club on Sunday, which has not played in the first division since 2014.<\/p>\n

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Both teams compete for the ball.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

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Head Coaches Barro Kessler and Michiel Snijders.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

RSRC is a bit of an underdog. Unlike most teams in the first division, they don\u2019t have professional rugby players with years of experience. But their ambition to compete at the hightest level is becoming reality. That exceeds the expectations of head coaches Michiel Snijders (52) and Barro Kessler (44), who guided the team to first-division promotion in their first year in charge. \u201cInitially, we just wanted to stay in the first division, we would have been proud and happy with that\u201d, admits Snijders.<\/p>\n

Now, they have their sights set on promotion to the Ereklasse (honors class), which is the highest level of rugby in the Netherlands. \u201cUntil two weeks ago, we were on a ten-game winning streak, and we started realising that the first division is also doable. As a coach, I know that we\u2019re better than we think we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

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RSRC team talk after the victory.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Winning mentality<\/h2>

The breakthrough to top-level rugby, while simultaneously juggling a university degree, comes with certain sacrifices. \u201cMake use of your resits!\u201d, reveals club president and player Mees Konijnendijk (22). He is also completing a double degree in Business Administration and Law. \u201cI didn\u2019t make a few of my exams this year, but I still have the resits to come in the summer. The board year ends in May, so I planned to do my resits when I\u2019m finished with the board year.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Club president and player Mees Konijnendijk.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The students may not have as much professional experience, but that is not stopping them from dreaming big. The winning mentality was helped be installed by the Italian captain of the team, Matteo Avitable (21, third-year International Business Administration). \u00a0\u201cPlaying against these opponents is bloody tough, but we put our feet on the floor and said: \u2018Screw this, we\u2019re going to work and prove something here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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Team captain Matteo Avitable.<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAysha Gasanova<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The underdog-turned-league leaders have also proven to others, and themselves, that anyone can achieve such a feat in rugby. \u201cWhen a bunch of idiots who drink a bit too much and didn\u2019t seem to have much going for them won the second division last year, a lot of people said that we would not achieve much in the first division. I think we surprised a lot of people, and ourselves!\u201d<\/p>\n

Tight-knit<\/h2>

RSRC is a student association, after all; drinking was one of the few social activities that created a culture of fun and unity at the club. \u201cStudents are a much tighter-knit group than non-student clubs\u201d, claims head coach Michiel. \u201cThe non-student clubs are more individuals who only come together on a rugby night. Our student teams live together, eat together, and train together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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Een lijst van afbeeldingen<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t
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