The Yorkshire Post’s James O’Brien chronicles the ‘Amsterdam Challenge’ as Hull KR and York Knights head to the Netherlands to help spread the appeal of Super League ...
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00:00Well, I never thought I'd find myself outside an airport at 4.15 in the morning, waiting
00:17to go watch two English teams, two Yorkshire teams, play in Amsterdam.
00:23Rubber League is full of surprises and they're not always nasty ones, it should be a really
00:28interesting day. I'm not expecting too much from the game itself, it's pre-season friendly
00:33after all, but it's about the bigger picture, it's about the event itself and taking games
00:41on the road to places like Amsterdam can only be a good thing for the game and the game
00:45in England as well, to grow that product and take it into different markets. Yeah, it should
00:52be a good one.
00:53So Jared, you're obviously not playing today, but what's it like being part of this Amsterdam
00:57takeover?
00:58It's fantastic, you know, it's my first time here in Amsterdam. Heard so many good stories
01:06about it, but to be here to try and grow our game, to bring a fixed game over here, it's
01:13fantastic, you know. For the community, the game in itself and both clubs, really excited
01:20to be here.
01:27How pleased are you that your vision has come to life now, not just you but the whole club?
01:38Yeah, absolutely delighted. A lot of staff have been here for over a week now in the
01:42foundation, we've talked rugby to over a thousand school kids, there's a great crowd here today,
01:47it's been a fantastic weekend for the fans, many of them have come over on the ferries
01:51or flown in for the last 24-48 hours. And do you know what, this is for the fans really,
01:56it's just a different way to enjoy being part of the club.
02:05I think it's fantastic, I think OKR in particular and York have done a great job in organising
02:12the event. I know a lot of English have come over, but if we can tap into the local market,
02:18we all know Rugby League is the best sport out there and the best product to watch, so
02:24if we can get a few of the Dutch locals interested and enthused, I think it would be fantastic
02:31because we keep banging the drum and to expand in different areas where we've not got a foothold
02:38is great, so both clubs and the game should be commended.
02:43An enjoyable weekend in Amsterdam comes to an end, a really great event put on by Hulk
02:56AR and York on Saturday. Just really unique, a completely different experience to what
03:03you're used to in England of course, being in the Dutch capital. I think everyone recognises
03:11that Rugby League needs more of these events. I think it's high time that Super League took
03:16games to places like this on the road. Amsterdam, Dublin, going to these untapped markets and
03:26showcase Rugby League in those places and of course for the fans it's an amazing experience,
03:31a chance to experience something different to the norm. It's great going to Wilderham
03:38Road, places like that, but if you can hop on a plane or a ferry and come to a city like
03:43Amsterdam for the weekend and enjoy getting Rugby League and what the city has to offer
03:48then it's a no-brainer in my opinion.