Rouen star Peter Lydon in Netherlands squad to face Canada

Rouen Normandie fullback Peter Lydon has been named in the Netherlands squad to prepare for this weekend’s test against Canada. The 30-year-old is Dutch-born but grew up in Ireland. A prolific goal-kicker, he has scored over 1,300 points as a professional in France and England.

Lydon is one of seven newcomers named in the squad by head coach Lyn Jones. Mont-de-Marsan flyhalf Willie du Plessis and former Otago winger Leroy van Dam, from South Africa and New Zealand respectively, are also named.

The other uncapped players are loosehead prop Ramzi Ouarssani, hooker Jessy Wagemaker, No8 Stijn Albers, and flyhalf Kevin Lenssen. All four play locally and have represented Delta, the Dutch entry into the Rugby Europe Super Cup.

Nine of the 29 players selected are based abroad. Among them are heavyweight Caldy prop Andy Darlington, towering Bourg-en-Bresse lock Koen Bloemen, and promising loose forwards Spike Salman and Wolf van Dijk. Dynamic hooker Michael Mbaud plays in Scotland and former Spain u20 lock Louis Bruinsma is at Massy Essonne in France.

The Netherlands are currently ranked 28th in the world, six spots below Canada. In addition to the Super Cup, they compete internationally in the Rugby Europe Championship. This will be the first encounter at test level between the two sides.

LOOSEHEAD PROP
Kevin Ebing (The Dukes / Delta)
Hugo Langelaan (Eemland / Delta)
Ramzi Ouarssani (Hoek van Holland / Delta)

HOOKER
Ross Bennie-Coulson (Eemland / Delta)
Michael Mbaud (Southern Knights, UK)
Jessy Wagemaker (DIOK / Delta)

TIGHTHEAD PROP
Andy Darlington (Caldy, UK)
Delano Jansen van de Sligte (Eemland / Delta)

SECOND ROW
Koen Bloemen (Bourg-en-Bresse, FR)
Jim Boelrijk (Gooi / Delta)
Louis Bruinsma (Massy Essonne, FR)
Niels Roelfsema (Hilversum / Delta)

BACK ROW
Stijn Albers (ASRV / Delta)
Christopher Raymond (Haarlem / Delta)
Spike Salman (Racing 92, FR)
Wolf van Dijk (Agronomia, PO)
Dirk Wierenga (Castricumse / Delta)

SCRUMHALF
Mark Coebergh (Gooi / Delta)
Amir Rademaker (Haagsche / Delta)
Rik van Balkom (Oisterwijk / Delta)

FLYHALF
Willie du Plessis (Mont-de-Marsan, FR)
Kevin Lenssen (Hoek van Holland / Delta)

MIDFIELD
Daily Limmen (Castricumse / Delta)
David Weersma (Haagsche / Delta)

OUTSIDE BACKS
Té Campbell (Gooi / Delta)
Peter Lydon (Rouen Normandie, FR)
Siem Noorman (Haagsche)
Leroy van Dam (Taupiri, NZ)
Daan van der Avoird (Gooi / Delta)