Former Harlequins and Irealnd U20s star goes Dutch

Dutch side RC The Dukes has clinched Niall Saunders’ services, with the former U20 Irish international joining the side for the upcoming Ereklasse season.

The 28-year-old had been without a club for the past 20 months after his contract with RFC Los Angeles was terminated ahead of the 2025 season.

Saunders’ life in the pro leagues started in 2016, when Harlequins recruited the young scrum-half. In the same year, he won his first Ireland caps, representing the U20 side at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, where Ireland reached the final but were defeated 45-21 by England.

He made his official debut for the London club in 2017, coming off the bench to help defeat Worcester in round 2 of the Anglo-Welsh Cup, and would go on to play 21 games for the club before his departure in 2020.

At the time, the then-22-year-old backline operator announced his retirement from the game to prioritise his mental health. After a 12-month break, Saunders made a successful return, joining the Utah Warriors for the 2022 MLR season and scoring three tries in his first experience in the United States of America.

Following the sale and relocation of the Atlanta club to Los Angeles, Saunders remained with the franchise.

As the consortium held the rights to both franchises, Saunders saw out the remainder of the 2023 season with Tel Aviv Heat before making a permanent move to RFC Los Angeles ahead of the 2024 Major League Rugby campaign.

Despite his experience, Saunders’ contract was terminated in 2024, and he had to wait until August 2025 to enjoy a bit of rugby when he joined the second team of Piacenza Rugby on a one-year deal.

As RC The Dukes pursue their first Ereklasse title since 2008, the club is making a serious push ahead of the new season, with Niall Saunders the first of several signings expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

The 2026/2027 season of the Ereklasse is expected to begin in September.