Rugby may be a fledgling sport in the Netherlands but the ongoing World Cup in London has boosted club membership by 16%, broadcaster Nos says on Wednesday.

The tournament has been broadcast by RTL7 – the first time it has ever been shown live on Dutch television.

‘Our membership has been growing steadily for years but this is a real boost,’ Coen Potters, of Rugby Nederland, told Nos. He puts the increase partly down to people being fed up with football and ‘all the fuss around world football body Fifa’.

There are currently 83 rugby clubs in the Netherlands – from Alkmaar to Zwolle – but that total is also continually rising, Potters said.

The first Dutch player to play the game professionally is winger Tim Visser who now turns out for London side Harlequins and represents Scotland at an international level.