Men's 2nd XV win promotion play-off at Gouda
A 20–17 win away to RFC Gouda, settled by a late penalty, lifts AAC 2 into the Eersteklasse for 2026–27, a fourth straight promotion in four years.
AAC’s Men’s 2nd XV are up again. A 20–17 win away to RFC Gouda on Sunday 17 May, settled by a late penalty, lifts the side into the Eersteklasse for 2026–27. It is their fourth promotion in four seasons.
The play-off closed a long campaign: third in the 2e Klasse Heren Noord league phase in the autumn, then nine wins from ten in the spring cup phase to top the table and earn the promotion fixture. Gouda, fighting to keep their first-ever Eersteklasse place, absorbed early AAC pressure and led 17–12 through tries from Daud IJsselstein and Pieter van Woerden. A kickable penalty in the closing minutes made it 20–17, and the hosts could not answer.
Etienne Jonck was named man of the match. Head coach Jim Crick has run the side for the full 2025–26 season with Edward Good as assistant coach. The same group that began the year now takes AAC 2 into the first division.
Pre-season continues through the summer at Sportpark De Eendracht. New players welcome at any session.
