Rugby player
| Date of birth | (1995-02-20) 20 February 1995 (age 29) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Heemskerk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 92 kg (203 lb; 14 st 7 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Linde van der Velden (born 20 February 1995) is a Dutch rugby union player. She plays for the Netherlands at an international level and for Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Women's Rugby competition.
Personal life
Van der Velden started playing rugby at 17. She works as an assistant architect for Bailey Partnership, a construction consultancy firm. She also helps the Chiefs marketing team. Her sister and former team-mate, Inge van der Velden, died from cancer aged 30 in January 2023.
Rugby career
Professional
Van der Velden played for Castricumbe in the Netherlands and for Toulouse in France before joining Exeter Chiefs. She captained the side in their debut Premier 15s season, and scored the club's first-ever Allianz Premier 15s try against Gloucester-Hartpury in the opening round of the 2020–21 season. She helped the Chiefs to two Premier 15s finals and winning the Allianz Cup twice.
She played her 50th game for the club in the 2023–24 season. She signed a new contract with Exeter Chiefs in July.
International
Van der Velden has represented Netherlands in both fifteens and sevens. In 2016, she made her international debuts just four years after starting to play rugby. She scored her first World Series try for the Netherlands at the Langford 7s in 2017 and was also named Dutch Player of the Year for 2019.
Van der Velden is currently captain of the Netherlands fifteens side and recently helped the Netherlands qualify for the 2024 WXV 3 tournament in Dubai.
References
- ^ "Nederlandse rugbysters op jacht naar WK-ticket: 'Wij horen daar thuis'". nos.nl (in Dutch). 27 September 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ Chiong, Kel (20 September 2024). "Bailey Partnership's Linde van der Velden leads Netherlands in Rugby World Cup quest!". Bailey Partnership. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- "Rugby Europe Women's Championship begins with a win for the Netherlands | Women in Rugby". www.women.rugby. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- "Rugby-international Van der Velden op 30-jarige leeftijd overleden". nos.nl (in Dutch). 26 January 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Van Der Velden signs for the Chiefs". premiershiprugby.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Exeter Chiefs Women: Linde van der Velden first international to sign for Premier 15s newcomers". BBC Sport. 17 August 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- Powell, Jennie (4 October 2020). "Linde van der Velden to captain newly-formed Exeter Chiefs". 4 The Love Of Sport. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Linde van der Velden: Exeter's Netherlands forward signs new deal". BBC Sport. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- ^ "Van Der Velden agrees new Chiefs deal". www.ppauk.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
- Thomas, Martyn (28 September 2024). "'It shows the heart the girls have': Charge down secures dramatic draw for Dutch". www.rugbypass.com. Retrieved 29 September 2024.