Fabian Holland (rugby union)
| Date of birth | 9 October 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 204 cm (6 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 124 kg (19 st 7 lb; 273 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Christchurch Boys' High School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Otago | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fabian Holland (born 9 October 2002) is a Dutch rugby union player, who plays as a lock for Otago in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship competition[1] and for the Highlanders in Super Rugby.[2]
Born in the Netherlands, he represents the New Zealand national rugby union team, having lived in the country since 2019.
Early life
[edit]Holland grew up in Akersloot, a small village near Alkmaar, in the Netherlands. Holland began playing rugby at Castricumse Rugby Club at age five. In 2014, the All Black Sevens team held a training camp at Holland's club, further inspiring his pursuit of rugby and a passion for the All Blacks.[3]
Holland moved to New Zealand in early 2019 to study and play rugby at Christchurch Boys' High School for what was initially meant to be a stay of six months. [4]
Career
[edit]After leaving high school, In 2021 Holland moved to Dunedin and signed with the Highlanders, joining the under-20 squad. He also joined the Dunedin Rugby Football Club (Inc) where he has played for the Premier team when available.[5] [6][4]
In 2021, he signed a high performance contract with the Highlanders and played for the Highlanders development team, known as the Bravehearts.[4] On 23 June 2022, the Highlanders announced that Holland had signed a three-year (fully professional) contract with the Dunedin-based franchise.[2]
International career
[edit]Holland played for the New Zealand under-20 team in 2021[7] and the New Zealand Barbarians under-18 team in 2020.[8] In 2020, Holland made the New Zealand Schools team.
In June 2025, Holland was named in the All Blacks squad for the 2025 France tour of New Zealand. [6]
Reference list
[edit]- ^ "2022 Bunnings Warehouse NPC Players". Otago Rugby. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Youth and experience to bolster 2023 squad" (Press release). Highlanders. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ "Passion propels unlikely new NZ U20 rep". Otago Daily Times. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Meet Fabian Holland, the teenage Dutch lock chasing his All Blacks dream". Stuff NZ. 6 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ https://www.sporty.co.nz/dunedinrfc/About-2/Club-Annual-Reports#
- ^ a b "Three Otago players picked in national under-20 squad". Otago Daily Times. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand Under 20 ready for home campaign". New Zealand Rugby. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand Barbarian Under 18 rugby squad announced". College Sport. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
External links
[edit]- Fabian Holland at ItsRugby.co.uk
- [1]
- Dutch rugby union players
- Living people
- Rugby union locks
- Otago rugby union players
- People educated at Christchurch Boys' High School
- 2002 births
- Highlanders (rugby union) players
- Dutch expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand
- Sportspeople from North Holland
- Dutch expatriate rugby union players
- Expatriate rugby union players in New Zealand
- 21st-century Dutch sportsmen
- New Zealand rugby union players
- New Zealand international rugby union players