Exiles Triumph with Flying Dutchman on wing

The Exiles U19’s beat the Welsh Exiles 35-13 at Old Deer Park on Sunday 24th October. Prominent for the Irish Exiles was winger Johan van Breda, an 18 year old from Holland who has an Irish mother. Johan played for the Dutch U18’s side in the U18 European Championships in Italy this year.

He contacted the Exiles Development Manager through the Exiles web site in early September this year. After reviewing his rugby CV the U19’s Team Manager and coaches, in their pursuit of eligible players capable of playing for Ireland underage sides, decided to include him in their U19 side to play the Welsh. After watching him in their morning pre-match squad session the coaches decided to put Johan into the starting line up. He didn’t let them down with some telling breaks down the right wing. By the time he was substituted in the second half he had scored one try and made another with a break from inside his own half to within 15 metres of the opposition try line.

At 6′ 3, 77kg and pace Johan does have the raw talent, that if nurtured, can take him further.