Lionesses Spotlight: Hiske Blom’s journey from judo to leading the Netherlands

Hiske Blom was considering walking away from rugby when an invitation to try Rugby League reignited her love for the game. This Saturday, she will captain the Dutch Lionesses for the first time as they face Scotland.

Away from the pitch, Hiske teaches mathematics at a secondary school in Amsterdam and lives in Zaandam with her boyfriend and their three cats. Her weeks feature plenty of training and gym sessions, but she is equally happy at home with a book.

Her sporting journey began with judo. After earning her black belt, she wanted a new challenge—and a newspaper article spotted by her father opened the door to rugby.

“My dad read a piece in the paper about rugby sevens, and he encouraged me to try it.”

That first step eventually took Hiske into the Netherlands national sevens team. She also represented her country in Rugby Union fifteens, including an appearance at outside centre against Spain in 2021, and played club rugby with RC Waterland.

But when the national sevens programme ended, she struggled to find the same enjoyment elsewhere.

“After they pulled the plug on the national sevens, I was a little lost. I played for the national fifteens, but I didn’t enjoy it that much. I tried touch, but that wasn’t really my thing either. I thought about quitting rugby.”

Then her coach suggested Rugby League.

“She was in contact with Brett and told me I should try it. So I went to the first-ever training, and the rest is history.”

Learning together—and winning together

Hiske’s first memories of League combine humour with the excitement of discovering something new. Coach Brett’s colourful language certainly made an impression, but the trip to Greece for the Lionesses’ first international became a defining experience.

“The experience of going to Greece with two full teams was amazing. Most of us didn’t know the rules, and we just tried our best. The referee was really nice and helped us a lot by explaining the rules. And we won that first game!”

Learning alongside her teammates remains one of the things she values most about the Dutch Lionesses.

“Rugby League is such a small sport in the Netherlands that you get really close with the entire squad. It’s a way to grow together with everyone, because everyone is relatively new to the sport.”

Hiske has since helped the team build on those early foundations. She featured in the 2024 World Cup qualifying campaign and scored two tries in the Netherlands’ 34–0 victory over Greece in Rotterdam in December 2025.

Calling the shots

Hiske has played in the halves and at fullback for the Netherlands, but her preference is clear: she enjoys being involved in directing the attack.

“I like calling the shots, sending people into gaps and making half-breaks.”

Her development also takes her across the North Sea to play for Rochdale Hornets, where she often appears at centre—a position she enjoys for the opportunity to run hard attacking lines.

Playing regular club Rugby League gives her opportunities to develop her understanding of the game and bring that experience back to the Lionesses. It also demands plenty of travel, which makes her answer to a question about an unexpected personal fact particularly revealing.

“I travel a lot to play rugby overseas and abroad. But I really don’t like travelling at all.”

Her love of the game clearly makes the journeys worthwhile.

A first opportunity to lead

Saturday’s match against Scotland brings a new milestone: Hiske’s first time captaining the Dutch Lionesses.

For her, the responsibility is about helping her teammates perform with confidence and showing what they can achieve together.

“I’m looking forward to helping everyone get the best out of themselves. I can’t wait to see some of the girls run the hard lines I know they can run, and see the massive tackles I know we will make!”

Pulling on the Dutch shirt remains a source of pride.

“It’s an honour to play for my country,” she says. “It’s a chance to play against international squads and become a better rugby player.”

For other women and girls wondering whether Rugby League might be for them, Hiske has a simple invitation.

“Don’t wait—join our training! Even if you’re not that experienced yet, it will help you in union as well.”

A suggestion from her father first brought Hiske to rugby. Another from her coach helped her rediscover her enjoyment of it. Now, as she prepares to lead the Netherlands against Scotland, she hopes more players will take that same first step.

The Dutch Lionesses face Scotland on Saturday 17 October at Castricum Rugby Club, with kick-off at 14:00 local time.