Archive July 3, 2025

As the Dutch-born lock prepares to make his All Blacks debut against France on Saturday, New Zealand coach Scott Robertson has described Fabian Holland’s rise as “movie stuff.”

In the first Test at Dunedin, Les Bleus will face the 22-year-old in the starting XV.

Holland, a native of Castricum in the Netherlands, moved to New Zealand five years ago to pursue his dream of playing professional rugby after watching the All Blacks Sevens team play there in 2014 at the age of 11.

He appears to be excited. Robertson said on Thursday that he was moving from Zeeland to New Zealand.

He has come a long way, he says. It’s a fantastic tale. A youngster felt the need to travel to another country to play a game he loves, and he saw the All Blacks as the best option.

It’s “film stuff, isn’t it?”

When Holland and his teammates trained at Castricum Rugby Club, where he had been a five-year player, DJ Forbes and Akira Ioane, the All Blacks sevens team, met.

In an interview in 2021, Holland stated that “as soon as I was on the field, I was a different little boy, to be honest.

There aren’t many nations like New Zealand when it comes to passion for rugby, and I’ve since developed an even greater passion for it.

“I’ve always wanted to go, but it never materialized for me.” I was 16 when I was given the chance to travel to New Zealand, and I’ve since done the same. It still makes me feel real even though it is real.

Holland first arrived in New Zealand for Christchurch Boys’ High School for six months, but he quickly rose.

He signed a professional deal with the Super Rugby side the following year and began a developmental contract with the Highlanders in 2021.

Christian Lio-Willie, who is also expected to make his All Blacks debut, will join him on Saturday along with his former Otago and Highlanders teammate Christian Lio-Willie.

Forsyth Barr Stadium, home to the Highlanders, would be the ideal venue for Holland’s first cap, according to Robertson.

Tommy O’Brien and Darragh Murray will make their debuts for Saturday’s Test against Georgia, according to interim Ireland head coach Paul O’Connell.

Jimmy O’Brien and Jacob Stockdale complete the back three for Ulster, who won the United Rugby Championship. O’Brien starts on the wing, and O’Brien has impressed for Leinster.

Connacht’s Murray will also make his first appearance for the game at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium (18:00 BST), and he will play alongside Cormac Izuchukwu from Ulster in the second row.

Michael Milne and Jack Aungier, the son of Ulster head coach Richie, and Connacht scrum half Ben Murphy, both of whom are debuting off the bench, could make their debuts.

The back line is completed by Jamie Osborne and Stuart McCloskey at the beginning.

The front row includes Leinster’s Ryan Baird, Ulster’s Nick Timoney, and Munster’s number eight Gavin Coombes, while Murray and Izuchukwu start at lock and are joined by Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, and Thomas Clarkson.

Caelan Doris and center Robbie Henshaw are both injured, and Ireland are without 16 players who are serving in Australia as members of the British and Irish Lions.

After injury-related campaigns, Iain Henderson and Rob Herring, two other experienced campaigners, were not chosen.

In preparation for this two-test tour, the squad’s application impressed me, and Saturday’s game offers a fantastic opportunity for this group of players, O’Connell said.

I wish Tommy and Darragh the best of luck and that the squad is determined to make it a memorable occasion for them and their families, as well as the four others who will be ready to make their mark from the bench.

Although the squad has few international caps, there is still a good mix of experience.

O’Connell will lead the Lions’ head coach against Georgia and Portugal in Lisbon a week later, under the direction of Andy Farrell, who is already in charge.

In their absence, O’Connell is joined by provincial coaches Denis Leamy, Mike Prendergast, and Colm Tucker on tour with Farrell’s assistants, Simon Easterby, John Fogarty, and Jason Goodman.

Ireland have won all five of their previous Test matches against Georgia, but this is their first encounter with a cap in Tbilisi.

Ireland: J O’Brien, T ‘OBrien, J Osborne, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, S Prendergast, C Casey (capt), J Boyle, G McCarthy, T Clarkson, C Izuchukwu, D Murray, R Baird, N Timoney, and G Coombes.

When France play France in their Group D opener on Saturday (20:00 BST), reigning champions England kick off their Euro 2025 campaign.

Who should head coach Sarina Wiegman choose, in your opinion?

Owen Farrell, the former England captain, will be eligible for a remarkable call-up for the Australian tour of the British and Irish Lions.

Utility back Elliot Daly has been ruled out with an arm injury he sustained in Wednesday’s win over the Queensland Reds, and coach Andy Farrell will turn to his son in the interim.

After a difficult season in Paris with Racing 92, 33-year-old Owen Farrell recently made his Saracens debut.

Before taking a break from England duty after the 2023 Rugby World Cup, he won 112 caps for his nation.

There is no denying Farrell’s credentials because he was a Test Lion on the 2013 and 2021 tours.

However, his request is contentious.

After suffering a concussion while playing for Racing against Lyon on May 4, his final game for the Top 14 side, Farrell hasn’t played international rugby in nearly two years and hasn’t played at all in nearly nine weeks.

Other contenders have been training and getting ready for competitive rugby with their respective national teams, including Blair Murray from Wales and Tom Jordan from Scotland.

However, Andy Farrell confirmed that Owen, despite not having any international rugby, was in contention for a place in the Lions squad when he named them on May 8th.

The Lions’ midfield could change with Farrell’s inclusion, with the Saracens playmaker comfortable at both the fly-half and inside center.

Finn Russell, Bundee Aki, and Sione Tuipulotu are the clear favorites to start the Test series at fly-half, as of right now.

Marcus Smith had yet to have the opportunity to start in his preferred position of number 10, while Fin Smith had been scheduled to serve as Russell’s backup.

After the Lions defeated the Queensland Reds 52-12, Andy Farrell suggested even if Daly was ruled out, they still had “lots of full-backs.”

Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn, who both arrived late following Toulouse’s Top 14 victory, have both struggled with injuries and illness, respectively.

Four days later, the Lions take on the ACT Brumbies in Canberra before hosting the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.