Dutch project taking shape

While England were the team with most to celebrate, having lifted the IRB title for the second tournament, there was another team with plenty to be cheerful about.

For the Netherlands this was their breakthrough tournament having become the first team last year to run a fulltime professional Sevens

Never have they played better, nor recorded the results they did and in such style too. In the space of two days they beat not only the leading team from last season, Canada, but the World Champions, Australia, too and they even lead England for a heady few minutes in the final.

And at the centre of it all was the figure of the Scrumqueens.com 2011 Sevens player of the year, 24 year-old Kelly van Harskamp freshly returned from two months with New Zealand club Havelock North, who have a strong reputation and record - in sevens, their mens team winning 13 championship titles since 1993.

Kelly worked and trained with the mens team, as well as being part of the womens side and helping them to the Hawkes Bay final only a couple of weeks after her arrival. It was a performance that attracted that attention of many, including New Zealand selectors who invited her to the national trials.

It was her crucial try for the Netherlands in the semi-final against Australia that turned the game for the Dutch.

We talked to her straight after the final, where she spoke about the Dutch teams delight in coming so far so soon less than a year after turning professional. We concentrate on nothing but sevens she said something that was clear to everyone watching. The Dutch impressed as a classic sevens team in London with their ability to keep the ball away from contact standing out, while Lorraine Laros kicking ability was also an important factor.

The way the Dutch also ran down the clock from 3:30 against Australia was an object lesson in tactics and professionalism.

Performances earlier this season had been disappointing, but it is true too that in Las Vegas and Hong Kong the team were not at full strength due to injuries and Van Harskamps unavailability.

In London the Dutch showed what they can really do when they are at full strength and, as van Harskamp said, this could be just the start.

Player numbers have grown by 15 percent in the last year, she said.

The Dutch project has its target aimed at 2016, and beyond and attracting new players is an important part of that with the Dutch players heavily involved in schools work.

For Netherlands, London was a wonderful experience, but almost a warm-up for what is to come not least their own Sevens this weekend in Amsterdam, a tournament hailed as one of the toughest events since the last World Cup.

Then it is on to the European Championships in Ameland and the World Cup qualifier in Moscow. Its a tough schedule, but for the Dutch squad, its all part of the job.