Fabian Holland (rugby union)
Date of birth | 9 October 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
Early life
Holland grew up in Castricum, a small village near Amsterdam. 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
After leaving high school, Holland signed with the Highlanders, joining the under-20 squad. [5][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
Holland played for the New Zealand under-20 team in 2021[6] and the New Zealand Barbarians under-18 team in 2020.[7] 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. [5]
Reference list
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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
- Fabian Holland at ItsRugby.co.uk
- [1]