Lucas Rabou is one of the initiators behind the Dutch National Student Championship (NSK) Sevens Rugby, which will take place on May 31 at Sportpark Eindhoven-Noord. The The Elephants player is thrilled that the tournament is finally happening and describes Sevens Rugby as “a very fast-paced sport where something is constantly happening on the field.”

All student teams compete in the regular Dutch rugby competition, where fifteen players per team take the field. Sevens Rugby is a much faster variation of the game.

“The focus is much more on running and agility, and far less on heavy contact. Players like that because it helps them stay fit heading into the summer, with a clear emphasis on agility. Of course, there are also jokes about how convenient it is for the players’ summer bodies.”

Another advantage of Sevens is that you can form a complete team with fewer players, Rabou explains. “In places outside the Netherlands, where rugby culture is less established, Sevens Rugby is often played for the same reason.”

Defending champions

The biggest advantage of the Sevens format is that a match lasts two periods of seven minutes, with a one-minute break in between. A traditional match consists of two forty-minute halves. “That means you can play many more matches in a single day and organize an entire tournament.”

Rabou sees the NSK—taking place after the regular competition season has ended—as a unifying event for student rugby players. “On top of that, The Elephants are the defending champions because we won the last Sevens NSK in 2018. That gave us a good reason to bring this format back to life.”

Not an easy task

Student Sports Netherlands requires that teams from at least six different cities participate in an NSK. “Only then can it officially be called an NSK. We managed to achieve that this year, but it was definitely tense.”

“Other associations have previously tried to revive the NSK, but unfortunately those attempts failed,” says co-organizer and The Elephants player Roan Brinkhorst. “That made many clubs hesitant about whether the tournament would actually happen this year. On top of that, it was very difficult to find a date when as many clubs as possible were available. This period is packed with club activities, which unfortunately take priority for some clubs.”

Recruiting teams from six student cities took a great deal of time. Rabou personally contacted every student rugby club in the Netherlands by phone to inform them about the tournament and remind them to register. In addition, coach and head trainer Paul Borst reached out through coaches from other student rugby associations to recruit participants.

Group stage

In the end, the organizing committee managed to secure participation from eight teams representing the required six cities. The Elephants from Eindhoven and USRS from Utrecht will each enter two teams. “That’s perfect for a tournament with a group stage.”

During the tournament, hamburgers will be grilled and visitors can grab a beer from the tap. The plan is to end the day with as many people as possible at Stratumseind bar LaRoute, the home pub of The Elephants. “Now all we need is some sunshine, and it promises to be an unforgettable day.”

Once in your life

“I recommend everyone come and watch,” Rabou continues. “You should experience a rugby match at least once in your life. There are very few places where brute strength, agility, and tactical insight come together the way they do in a Sevens match.”

“Rugby is played with an enormous amount of passion, and you really feel that when you’re standing on the sidelines. When two bodies collide at full speed or someone narrowly avoids a tackle with a clever sidestep, you become completely immersed in it—even as a spectator.”

And for those still unconvinced: “Rugby is also a sport built on camaraderie. While players are direct opponents on the field, they stand side by side off it. That culture will definitely be present on May 31. Rugby songs will be sung and the love for the sport will be celebrated.”

Non-stop

“This tournament in particular is great to watch because it’s a Sevens tournament. That means many different matches are played in quick succession, so you can enjoy non-stop rugby all day long. In short, you can spend the entire day being amazed by what happens on the field.”

For the players themselves, having an audience is also important. “It gives us energy. We take the matches more seriously,” Brinkhout concludes the campaign to attract spectators.

Because the tournament is officially an NSK, the winner will receive an invitation to the European Universities Championships in 2027. This is the European version of the student tournament, which will take place in Spain next year.

All visitor information can be found on the Instagram page of The Elephants. People staying at home can follow the semifinals and finals through a livestream.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.