Leichhardt Oval may be thousands of kilometres away from the Netherlands but flyhalf Pleuni Kievit has found herself right at home guiding the NSW Waratahs in their quest for a three-peat.
Dutch international Kievit was thrust into her debut against the Fijiana Drua last weekend after arriving at Daceyville during pre-season on the recommendation of centre Georgina Friedrichs.
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The recruitment more than delivered as the Sevens international starred for the Waratahs, laying on several try assists in the 42-29 win over the Drua.
Her family watched from over 16,000 kilometres away, with the 29-year-old soaking it all in.
“It’s a shame my family couldn’t be there but I was still proud to represent the Netherlands. It was nerve-wracking, but the girls were really supporting and I was in my zone…the girls made a poster of my mum in the stands so she was there, the family weren’t too far for me," she told Rugby.com.au
“We called after the game and they were really happy for me because it has been a dream for me playing overseas, especially in Australia for the Waratahs.”
Success has followed Kievit across the world, helping Nagato Blue Angels to the Japanese Sevens title in 2024 whilst also delivering several champions to the Honey Badgers in the Rugby Tens Championship.
It's this Tens experience that connected her to the Wallaroos superstar Friedrichs, the centre quickly becoming her 'agent' after the Waratahs lost Arabella McKenzie at the end of the 2025 season.
Kievit had already had experience in Australia in Sevens, winning AON Uni Sevens in 2019 with Uni of Queensland alongside future superstars Bella Nasser, Kaitlin Shave and Sidney Taylor.
“We met each other 11 years ago when I came to Australia in 2016 playing Sevens, and since then we’ve been talking about playing in the blue jersey, so she got me over in January as my agent," she said on Friedrichs.
“It was pretty special and when you look back at the photos [from that first try] I was smiling already throwing the ball because I knew she was going to score.
“It was quite a release and celebration because we’ve played Sevens and Tens together but not really 15s so it’s good to have her on my side.”
Sunday's contest against the ACT Brumbies provides a unique match-up in the halves, who have recruited Spanish international Anne Fernandez de Corres, with the pair relishing the chance to learn their craft down under ahead of the 2029 Rugby World Cup.
“You mostly see Australians going overseas to play in England or France and for us in Europe, we look up against a Super Rugby competition so it's a privilege to be able to play down here," Kievit added.
"It's opening up for international players so we can both learn from each other, not just in one direction, going to Europe, but also the other way around.
