From Van IJzeren Huisch to the top of the world

From Van IJzeren Huisch to the world stage

Ascrum has never been the biggest club, and we don't need to be. What we do have is a steady stream of players who have made it to the absolute top of the game. From a Frenchman with 47 international caps to guys who walked through our doors without a single tackle to their name and went on to play for their country. This is what happens when you start playing rugby at Ascrum.

Bernard le Roux

Let's start with the most famous name. Bernard le Roux took his first steps in rugby at Ascrum, before moving to France and becoming a key figure for Racing 92, where he played from 2009 to 2023. But his achievements on the international stage are where things get truly impressive: le Roux earned 47 caps for France between 2013 and 2021, featuring in two Rugby World Cups (2015 and 2019). He also played in multiple Six Nations campaigns and won the French Top 14 title with Racing 92 in 2016. An Ascrummer who made it all the way to the French national team. That is where this story begins.

Internationals across borders

Le Roux is far from the only one. Deejee Putter, who also cut his teeth at Ascrum, went on to play for the Stormers in Cape Town, one of the premier rugby franchises in the world. Lenny Wiesen, who studied in Amsterdam in his early twenties and played for us, is now a German international, representing the German national 7s team.

And Oliver Nilsson, who spent three years playing at Ascrum, is currently a starting flanker for the Swedish national team. He is currently playing his club rugby for London School of Economics RFC in the United Kingdom.

Three players, three countries, and one club where it all started.

From complete beginner to international

This is where it gets really special, and this is exactly what sets Ascrum apart from the rest. Students can join as beginners; non-students need rugby experience.

Toine van den Bos joined Ascrum at eighteen without a single second of rugby experience. He picked up the sport during our clinics and worked his way up from the bottom. During his time at Ascrum, he and several teammates earned a spot in the Delta team. After graduation, he moved to The Hague to play for HRC, where he has since won two national titles. Best of all: Toine went on to represent the Netherlands, earning five caps since making his international debut in 2025.

Halil Kaynak followed the exact same path. Just like Toine, he started at Ascrum as a complete beginner in our "Jonghe Honden" team, learning the ins and outs of our beautiful sport. While playing for Ascrum, he made his debut for the Turkish national team. He remains a key international player and helped HRC secure a national title in his first season in 2026.

Two guys who walked in knowing absolutely nothing about the sport, and both went on to wear their national jerseys. That is no coincidence. That is how we do things.

The pathway to Delta

Many others have also made the jump to Delta during their time with Ascrum. In recent years, our roster of Delta players has included Bonheur van der Gronde, Daan Albers, Pieter Schoonraad, Quentin Verhagen, and Stijn Albers.

Pieter Schoonraad and Stijn Albers also went on to earn senior caps for the Netherlands national team after moving to RC Eemland and 't Gooi, respectively. Stijn even captained the Delta team.

And now, the story comes full circle: Quentin and Stijn are back playing for A.S.R.V. Stijn returned in 2025, and Quentin recently rejoined the squad to bolster our side now that we are back in the Ereklasse. They left, reached the top, and came back home.


Just as important: the coaches

A club is only as good as the people who brief you, train you, and guide you. Ascrum has a rich history of world-class coaches who look back fondly on their time at ASRV.

Look at AB Zondagh, for example. He was the attack coach for the Scotland national team under Gregor Townsend. Before that, his career took him to the Sharks and Toulouse, where he won both the Champions Cup and the Top 14 title in 2021. Or Norman Laker, who is currently the defence coach for the Stormers. And Johan Laker, who played super rugby for the Lions. Professionals of this calibre have stood on our pitch and regularly return to run guest training sessions.

What this means for you

Whether you join us as an experienced player looking to push your limits, or as a complete beginner who has never even held a rugby ball: at Ascrum, the journey to the top is not a fairytale—it's a tradition. We have seen it happen time and time again. The only question is: how far do you want to go?

Van IJzer.