The Netherlands beat Colombia 33-11 in Amsterdam on Saturday to become the first team to book their place in WXV 3 2024.
A Dutch record crowd for a women’s test of more than 1,000 packed into the National Rugby Center to watch the match that pitted the team that finished bottom of the WXV 3 2023 standings against the highest ranked nation not to compete in the inaugural edition of World Rugby’s annual global women’s 15s competition.
The hosts started the match 13 places higher than Colombia in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini, in 15th, but it was Las Tucanes who opened the scoring with 10 minutes on the clock.
Isa Prins got the Netherlands on scoreboard within five minutes, however, and Lieve Stallman added a second try before the break, both converted by Jet Metz, to help give the home side a 14-8 lead at half-time.
Netherlands captain Inger Jongerius scored her side’s third try early in the second half, but Colombia soon narrowed the deficit with a second penalty.
And the match was in the balance until the final 10 minutes, when Gaya van Nifterik and Mariet Luijken crossed the whitewash to add some gloss to the Netherlands’ victory.
It means the Netherlands will make their WXV 3 debut in Dubai when the tournament kicks off later this year.
The Netherlands remain 15th in the women’s rankings, while Colombia are still 28th.