The Dutch love that stuff.
But going by the smile on his face yesterday, it has been worth it.
The giant Dutch lock-cum-loose forward has been named in the New Zealand Schools team.
He will join King’s High School team-mate and halfback Dylan Pledger and Southland Boys’ High School winger Kiseki Fifita in the side.
Pledger, 18, made the side last year as well, but this time the year 13 pupil will have a team-mate along for the journey.
And what a journey it has been for Holland. The 18-year-old followed older brother Fabian Holland out to New Zealand to chase his dreams of one day playing professional rugby, and he appears to be on the right track.
Fabian Holland has already carved out a niche for himself with Otago and the Highlanders and his brother has the potential to join him.
Quinten Holland arrived in New Zealand in July last year. He grew up watching Super Rugby — he was a Chiefs fan which is unforgivable — and playing the oval-ball game in the football-mad village of Castricum near Amsterdam.
"This is a childhood dream and it is quite surreal to be selected for something like this," he said.
"It [the move here] has been great to be honest. I love learning about new cultures and I think I’ve adapted really well.
"I’m still learning, obviously. I’m still a bit fresh here."
Pledger said he was thrilled to make the team again this year. He missed some games through injury, so was not sure whether he had done enough.
"It is way more exciting this time, because last year I went by myself and I was probably a bit nervous. This time I’ve got Quinten to come along."
The last time King’s had two pupils in the New Zealand Schools side was in 1997 when Carl Hayman and Tom Willis made the team.
Both Willis and Hayman when on to play for the All Blacks and the class of 2023 have the same dreams.
The New Zealand Schools teams, which is coached by Highlanders talent development manager Kane Jury, will assemble in Hamilton early next week to prepare for its games against the New Zealand Barbarian under-18 team and the New Zealand Maori under-18 team.
There will be some familiar faces in both those lineups.
Kyan Rangitutia (Dunedin), Riley Lucas (Green Island) and JJ Fisher (Southland Boys’) have been named in the Barbarian team, and Amaziah Mitchell (Southland Boys’), Hoani Nikora-Wilson (Southland Boys’), Joe Parkinson (Otago Boys’) and Phoenix Tapatu (Otago Boys’) have made the Maori team.
Highlanders defence coach Dave Dillon will coach the Barbarians.
