Linde van der Velden: The experienced Exeter lock with big goals in her sights
Linde van der Velden has been on the Exeter Chiefs journey since the very beginning
©Exeter Chiefs
Linde van der Velden, one of the Netherlands and Exeter Chiefs' most loyal operators, is looking ahead to the next couple of months as both her club and nation look to claim what they have been chasing for a long time.
With the Chiefs having already secured a Premiership Women’s Rugby play-off spot and the Netherlands having a good shot of lifting the Women’s Rugby Europe Championship title, the Dutch lock has been playing a central role for both sides, showing that she still has what it takes to play top-level rugby.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t have expected that I would be enjoying this moment of form, because I’m at an age that I thought it was downhill from here!” says the 31-year-old.
“Fortunately, it has been the opposite, and I’m very pleased that I’m still able to help my teammates, club and nation.”
Looking to the Netherlands, in the last two years, the women’s Oranje have narrowed the gap to Spain, highlighted by their 27-17 loss last season.
“Last year, we came close to getting the result we have been pursuing in the last few years,” van der Velden adds.
“We were in a good position, but Spain was ultimately smarter than us, working better on their momentum.
“However, we have been taking it step by step, and we feel we are getting there. We just have to wait and see what happens in two weeks time.”
The Netherlands began their Rugby Europe Championship campaign with a comprehensive 59-0 victory over Portugal last weekend, with van der Velden and co now preparing to face Belgium on Saturday.
The Oranje came close to qualifying for the 2025 Rugby World Cup, and although they fell short, there was a sense that they were getting close to clinching their dream.
For the towering Dutch lock, two key components have pushed the Netherlands to become a more respected and feared side, starting with the increase in fixtures.
“For us to grow more, it was crucial to expand our calendar,” she tells TRU.
“We needed more game time. Without it, it would be difficult to experience improvement.
“Since 2024, we have managed to organise more games, including ones we went to Brazil for and hosted a few others. To be able to test what we practised in our camps more frequently has been key to developing more players.”
And what about the second key piece for their growth?
Youth.
The Netherlands have been working hard to develop its women’s programmes, mainly at youth level, which has been a bedrock for seniors to raise the stakes.
“For this year, we had several U18 girls joining the team, showing how the programme has evolved in the last few years as they were able to jump in and improve the squad’s depth.
“We need more time, for sure, but I think, as long as we keep ticking those smaller goals, we will reach the ultimate goal: qualify for the World Cup.”
Being one of the most experienced members of the Netherlands roster, the lock has been helping usher in the next generation of Dutch internationals, showing pride in those coming through the ranks, like former Harlequin Isa Prins.
“Isa Prins is a great example of a player who has developed massively in all areas, showing that the youngest members of our squad are pushing the team to reach a new level,” van der Velden says.
“Against Portugal, our team featured six girls who came from our U18 programme, showing the strong foundation of what we are doing in our country.”
But van der Velden’s life isn’t only about the Netherlands, with the Exeter Chiefs being a crucial part of her career.
Having been involved with the side since the club was founded in 2019, the lock believes the team has once again become a fiercer contender this term.
“One area that I think we have massively developed for this season was the amount of threats we have all over the pitch, giving us more solutions to strike, which puts us in a better position to win the PWR.
“But to claim that title, we need to be at our best in every new game. It is a fierce and very competitive league. You can’t make more than one mistake, or you will suffer the consequences.
“But, again, I do think the chance for us to win it is there.”
After reaching the finals in 2022 and 2023, Exeter have returned to the play-offs following a one-year absence.
Van der Velden believes that embracing a strong “one club” ethos has been central to their progress, helping them bounce back after narrowly missing out on the top four last season.
“If I had to pick three words to define us, they would be physical, resilient and family. We are a team that rejoices in the physical side of the game, has several players who are good at it, and we build momentum from it.
“We are also resilient and don’t accept the idea of giving up. And, family. We are there for each other. It doesn’t matter the nationality, we are a true family that will stick together.”
From last season to this one, the Devon outfit has clearly undergone an evolution, with the arrivals of Black Ferns’ Amy Rule and Italy’s Francesca Granzotto playing a role in that performance increase.
With more high-level and promising talents arriving on English shores, van der Velden shares her opinion about the league’s growth in numbers.
“Even before the World Cup, the PWR was the best league in the world with several top players looking to join its ranks”, she says.
“However, the league’s notoriety has grown exponentially since then, attracting players from all over the globe. Amy Rule, who joined our team, said that the PWR gives players more opportunities to play high-level games.”
However, while for some the arrival of high-profile players might change their status within their team, for the Dutch forward, it is a welcome challenge that will benefit the competition in the long run.
“The PWR will only grow more and more, and, amazingly, we have more players joining it. It means we have to step up every time, or another player will take our place. That’s what high-performance sport is and its athletes envision.”
And did the success of last year’s World Cup in England impact the women’s game besides the depth of PWR squads?
“Our fan base has definitely grown due to the World Cup,” van der Velden admits.
“We’ve noticed more young girls playing in grassroots clubs, and you can feel the enthusiasm. Look, I’m easy to notice because of my size and accent, but more fans are trying to find out about us, and that’s great for the game!”
The fact that she is recognised on the street shows how important the Dutch international has become to the Chiefs, as she is seen as a living legend and a role model for future athletes.
However, is the lock looking to remain in the club for the next few years? Without revealing too much, van der Velden offers an answer.
“I still have one year on my contract, and I want to enjoy it as much as I can. I don’t know if the club is going to make a contract renewal proposal, but I don’t think much about it as I want to enjoy being here and helping the club perform as well as it can.”
And before she heads off back into another practice of the Dutch ensemble, van der Velden departs by stating what she hopes to achieve in the next few years.
“I want to qualify the Netherlands for the World Cup and win the Premiership Women’s Rugby with Exeter.
“They are quite big goals, but I think we have been preparing to achieve those objectives. I hope we get there.”
