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Tim Visser
Tim Visser
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Key Information

Tim Visser (Dutch pronunciation: [tɪɱ ˈvɪsər]; born 29 May 1987) is a Dutch rugby union player, who played as a winger for the Scotland national team and for English club Harlequins.

Early life

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Visser was born in De Bilt, Netherlands. He was brought up in Maartensdijk and played for RC Hilversum, the club where his father played.[2] He joined the Newcastle Falcons Academy as a teenager, after having been spotted playing in the Amsterdam Sevens. On moving to England he joined Barnard Castle School and went on to represent England Schools at under-18 level in 2005.

Newcastle Falcons

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Having signed a two-year contract with Newcastle in April 2007, he started the 2007–08 season on loan with the recently relegated Northampton Saints.[3]

Visser made his competitive debut in the English Premiership on 8 September 2006 against Worcester, coming on as a substitute and scoring the winning try. He played a further 10 games for the Falcons in his first season, scoring four tries in total, before finishing the season on loan to Darlington Mowden Park, a National Division Three club.[4]

The 2008–09 season saw Visser add another five tries for Newcastle in 21 appearances, but at the end of the season he chose to sign for the Celtic League club Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Rugby

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Visser was the top try scorer in the Pro12 league in each of his first four seasons for Edinburgh.

In his first season in the Scottish capital Visser became top scorer in the Magners League with 10 tries, winning the Young Player of the Season Award and being named in the Magners League Dream Team. In the 2010–11 season he again became top try scorer with 14 tries. He was again included in the Magners League Dream Team. Visser finished the 2011–12 Pro12 season with 13 tries, again being the league's top try scorer. With Edinburgh, Visser also reached the semi-finals of the 2011–12 Heineken Cup, scoring four tries in total during the competition, and was selected for the third consecutive season to the RaboDirect Pro12 Dream Team. In addition he was voted the Player's Player of the Season.[5]

In March 2015 it was announced that Visser would move on from Edinburgh at the end of the season to join Harlequins.[6]

Barbarians

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On 29 May 2011, his 24th birthday, Visser made his debut for the Barbarians against England. Visser scored two tries, including a last effort try which saw the Barbarians snatch away the victory from England at Twickenham.

International career

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Visser opted not to play for the Netherlands in order to become eligible to play test rugby for one of the Home Nations. World Rugby eligibility rules state that a player may play for a country's national team after 3 years of residency. Visser stated in 2011 that he wished to play for Scotland when he became eligible in June 2012.[7] Scotland coach Andy Robinson named Visser to the 28-player squad for Scotland's tour of Oceania in June 2012.[8] He completed his three years of residency on 12 June and thus was not available for the match in Australia on 5 June, but was available for their two remaining tests against Fiji and Samoa.[8][9]

Visser made his Scotland debut against Fiji on 16 June and scored two tries in a 37–25 win.[10][11] Visser made his home debut against New Zealand on 11 November 2012 during the autumn internationals, scoring two tries.

Two tries in the defeat of Italy in August 2015 helped Visser clinch a place in the 31-man squad for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

On 3 May 2018 Tim Visser announced his retirement from international rugby.[12][13]

International tries

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Awards/Records

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Tim Visser (born 29 May 1987) is a Dutch-born former professional player who represented the national team as a winger from to 2017. Known as "", he earned 33 international caps, scoring 14 tries, and enjoyed a club career with Newcastle Falcons, , and before retiring in 2019. Born in , , Visser began his professional career with Newcastle Falcons after being scouted while playing sevens rugby in his home country. He made an impactful debut for Newcastle by scoring the match-winning try and went on to play there until 2010. In that year, he joined , where he spent six seasons and established himself as one of Europe's premier wingers, becoming the Pro12's leading try-scorer for four consecutive seasons. Visser transferred to in 2015, contributing 39 tries in 66 appearances over four seasons in the English Premiership. Standing at 1.96 meters and weighing 109 kg, he was renowned for his speed, power, and finishing ability as an outside back. His international eligibility for came through residency, following in the footsteps of his father, who represented the . Visser's Scotland debut came in 2012 against Fiji, where he scored two tries in a 37–25 victory. Over his Test career, he featured in the RBS 6 Nations, summer tours, and the , including a notable try against . He retired from international rugby in 2018 to concentrate on his club commitments and family, later stepping away from the professional game entirely in 2019 to pursue opportunities outside of rugby. Post-retirement, Visser has worked in the property development sector in ; in March 2025, he appeared in court on a domestic abuse allegation, which remains ongoing as of November 2025.

Early life

Childhood and family background

Tim Visser was born on 29 May 1987 in , . He grew up in a rugby-oriented family in the , where the sport was a central part of his early life. Visser's father, Marc Visser, was a prominent figure in Dutch rugby, earning 67 caps for the national team and captaining the side for 15 years. This family legacy introduced Tim to the game at a young age; he began playing rugby through his father's influence and joined RC , the club where Marc had also played. Visser lived in the until the age of 16, developing his skills in a domestic environment that nurtured his passion for the sport. He has a younger brother, Sep Visser, who followed in the family tradition and became a professional rugby player, representing the and playing for clubs including Newcastle Falcons. The brothers' shared involvement in rugby underscored the sport's deep roots in the Visser household during Tim's childhood.

Discovery and move to

As a teenager, he gained attention in the Dutch rugby scene through his performances in sevens rugby, particularly at the Amsterdam Sevens tournament, where he impressed scouts from at around age 16. This discovery led to an opportunity for Visser to relocate to for further development, joining in to continue his education while focusing on rugby. At the school, his standout form on the wing earned him selection for the Schools Under-18 team in 2005, where he showcased his speed and finishing ability in international fixtures. Following his school success, Visser transitioned to professional rugby by signing with the Newcastle Falcons Academy, marking the start of his in . He made his senior debut for the as a replacement against , scoring a match-winning try in just his first appearance, which highlighted his potential as a prolific try-scorer early in his professional journey. This move from the to at a young age laid the foundation for his rapid rise in the sport, despite initial challenges adapting to a higher level of competition.

Club career

Newcastle Falcons

Tim Visser joined the Newcastle Falcons academy as a teenager after being scouted while playing sevens rugby in his native . He made his professional debut for the club on 8 September 2006 in a Premiership match against at Kingston Park, entering as a replacement for the injured and scoring a last-gasp try in the 80th minute to secure a 20–19 victory. In April 2007, Visser signed a two-year contract with Newcastle, but the 2007–08 season began with a spell to in the , where he gained further experience in competitive matches. He also spent time on at Mowden Park to build his development. Upon returning to Newcastle for the 2008–09 campaign, Visser featured more regularly, contributing to the team's efforts in the Premiership and European competitions while honing his skills as a powerful, try-scoring winger. Visser's time at Newcastle, spanning three seasons, marked the foundation of his professional career in , showcasing his speed and finishing ability that would later define his reputation. At the end of the 2008–09 season, he opted to leave the Falcons to join , seeking greater opportunities in the Magners League.

Edinburgh Rugby

Tim Visser joined in the summer of 2009 from the Newcastle Falcons academy, making an immediate impact in his debut 2009/10 Magners League season by scoring four tries in his first six appearances. He was named the Magners League Young Player of the Season for his performances that year, helping to establish himself as a key winger in the team's attacking lineup. Over the next four seasons, Visser became the Pro12's leading try scorer each time, tallying 14 tries in 2009/10, 12 in 2010/11, 13 in 2011/12, and 11 in 2012/13. His consistency earned him the RaboDirect Pro12 Players' Player of the Year award in 2012, along with selection to the Pro12 Dream Team that same year. Visser contributed significantly to Edinburgh's 2011/12 Heineken Cup campaign, where the team reached the semi-finals after notable victories, including a quarter-final win over . In total, Visser made 130 appearances for between 2010 and 2015, scoring 69 tries and accumulating 345 points, which established him as the club's all-time leading try scorer. His prolific finishing and physical presence on the wing were pivotal in several high-scoring games, such as a 2013 Pro12 against Zebre where he scored one of six tries in a 41-10 victory. Despite individual accolades, the team did not secure major silverware during his tenure. Visser's departure was announced in March 2015, as he sought a new challenge in the English Premiership, joining at the end of the 2014/15 season after six years with .

Harlequins

Visser joined in the summer of 2015 on a two-year contract, moving from to replace the retiring winger . The 27-year-old sought a new challenge in the English Premiership after establishing himself as a prolific scorer in the Pro12, where he had led the try-scoring charts for four consecutive seasons. director of rugby praised Visser's finishing ability, noting that players like him could make a decisive difference in tight games. During his four seasons with the club, Visser made 66 appearances and scored 39 tries, contributing 195 points overall through his try-scoring prowess. In the 2015-16 season, Visser contributed to ' run to the European Rugby Challenge Cup final, where they lost 19-26 to . He quickly adapted to the demands of the Premiership, scoring eight tries in his debut 2015-16 campaign despite the team's struggles. In the 2016-17 season, Visser notched a brace of tries against in the European Rugby Challenge Cup pool stage. His form continued into domestic matches, highlighted by a converted try in a 32-13 Premiership win over Wasps in April 2017. Visser's tenure peaked in the 2017-18 season with another eight tries in the Premiership, including a match-winning score in a dramatic 20-19 comeback victory against Saracens in December 2017. The following year, he led Harlequins in try-scoring with 11 in 20 appearances during the club's 150th anniversary season, helping them contend for the Premiership play-offs. Primarily deployed on the left wing, Visser's physicality—standing at 1.93 meters and weighing 102 kilograms—allowed him to dominate in the air and break defensive lines, though injuries occasionally limited his starts. In May 2019, at age 31, Visser announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the 2018-19 season, citing a desire to pursue new challenges with his young family outside the sport. He reflected on his spell as fulfilling, having contributed to a competitive squad that balanced Premiership and European ambitions, though the team did not secure major silverware during his time. Post-retirement, Visser has worked in the property development sector in . In March 2025, he appeared in Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with an offence under Section 1 of the Domestic Abuse (Scotland) Act 2018; he made no plea, was released on , and the case was committed for further examination (as of November 2025).

Invitational teams

Tim Visser represented the Barbarians, a prestigious invitational side in , during his career. His sole appearance for the team came on 29 May 2011, coinciding with his 24th birthday, in a non-capped international match against an XV at . Selected for the Barbarians squad alongside notable players such as and , Visser was chosen based on his prolific form as Rugby's leading try-scorer in the League for two consecutive seasons prior. The Barbarians, known for their invitational nature drawing top international talent, faced a youthful side in this end-of-season fixture, which served as a showcase for emerging players on both sides. In the match, Visser marked his debut with a standout performance, scoring two tries that contributed 10 points to the Barbarians' total. His first try came in the 49th minute, helping to ignite a second-half comeback after had led 29-12 at . Visser's second try, in the 79th minute, proved decisive as he touched down for the match-winner, securing a dramatic 38-32 victory for the Barbarians in a thrilling finish. This late surge overturned 's 17-point lead, highlighting the invitational team's reputation for entertaining, high-scoring rugby. No further appearances for the Barbarians or other invitational teams, such as the , are recorded in Visser's professional career.

International career

Eligibility and debut

Born in , , Tim Visser became eligible to represent through the residency qualification pathway, which requires three years of continuous residence in the territory of the union without playing for another national team. He began his professional career in the UK with Newcastle Falcons in 2007 before transferring to in the summer of 2009, starting the residency clock for on that date. By June 12, 2012, Visser had fulfilled the three-year requirement and expressed his long-standing desire to play international rugby for , having publicly stated his intentions as early as 2011. Visser's eligibility aligned with a period of debate in Scottish rugby regarding the use of residency-qualified players, often termed "project players," to bolster the national squad. He was included in Scotland's mid-year tour squad to the on May 16, , just weeks before his qualification date. This selection highlighted his rapid rise, having scored prolifically for with 43 tries in 74 appearances since joining the club. Visser made his Scotland debut on June 16, 2012, starting on the left wing against in , replacing the injured Joe Ansbro. In a 37-25 victory played in sweltering conditions, he marked the occasion with a brace of tries—his first coming in the 13th minute after a break by Matt Scott, and the second in the 55th minute to extend 's lead. This performance earned praise for his finishing ability and established him as a key attacking threat for the national team from the outset.

Scotland national team

Tim Visser earned 33 caps for the between 2012 and 2017, scoring 14 tries during that period. His international career began with a standout debut on 16 June 2012 against in , where he crossed for two tries in a 37-25 victory, marking an immediate impact as a powerful winger. Visser repeated the feat in his third appearance on 17 November 2012, scoring a brace against at Murrayfield in a 51-22 defeat, briefly giving a 14-3 lead early in the match. These early performances highlighted his finishing ability and physical presence on the wing. Visser's first game on Scottish soil came during the 2013 Six Nations against at Murrayfield, where he scored a try in a 34-10 win, contributing to Scotland's strong start in the tournament. He featured prominently in subsequent Six Nations campaigns, accumulating tries against key opponents, including one against in during the 2013 edition and another in the 2016 match at Murrayfield, a 29-18 victory that boosted Scotland's campaign. Overall in the Six Nations, Visser played 11 matches and scored three tries, often starting as a left wing and providing crucial go-forward ball. Beyond the championship, Visser represented in the , starting in both pool matches and scoring a vital try against the in a 39-16 win at , which helped secure progression to the knockout stages despite a subsequent loss to . His summer tours yielded further highlights, such as a try against the in a 24-6 victory during the 2014 Americas tour and one try in a 34-13 win over in on June 10, 2017. Across his international tenure, Scotland recorded 16 wins, two draws, and 15 losses in Visser's appearances, underscoring his role as a primary attacking threat.

International retirement

Tim Visser announced his retirement from international rugby on 3 May 2018, at the age of 30. By the end of his international career, he had accumulated 33 caps for since his debut in 2012, scoring 14 tries. His final appearance came in 's 27-22 defeat to during the 2017 summer tour. Visser explained that the decision stemmed from the demanding nature of international rugby, including extended periods away from his young family, as well as a wish to concentrate on his club commitments with and to create opportunities for 's rising players. In his announcement, he reflected, "Playing for has been the biggest honour of my life... I feel now is the time to say goodbye to international rugby and concentrate on my club career." Scotland head coach praised Visser's contributions, stating, "Tim made an excellent impact on and did very well at an international level for his adopted country." Visser's retirement allowed him to extend his professional playing career at the club level until 2019, while leaving a legacy as one of 's most prolific wingers in the post-professional era.

Try-scoring records and statistics

Club-level achievements

Tim Visser's club career was marked by prolific try-scoring, particularly during his time with , where he established himself as one of the top finishers in European professional rugby. Across his professional tenure, he amassed over 110 tries in competitive matches, with his peak productivity coming in the PRO12 (now United Rugby Championship), where he led the league in tries for four consecutive seasons from 2009/10 to 2012/13. At Newcastle Falcons from 2006 to 2009, Visser scored 13 tries in 57 appearances across the Premiership and European competitions, showcasing early promise as a finisher despite the team's struggles in the English top flight. His breakout came after moving to in 2009, where he became the club's all-time leading try scorer with 69 tries in 130 appearances between 2009 and 2015. In league play alone, he notched 57 tries in 95 PRO12 matches, including a standout 14-try season in 2010/11. In 2011/12, he repeated as top scorer with 13 tries, earning selection to the PRO12 Dream Team and the league's Players' Player of the Year award. Visser's scoring extended to European tournaments with Edinburgh, where he contributed 12 tries in 29 Heineken Cup and Challenge Cup games, including four during their 2012 semi-final run. He helped the team reach the 2015 Challenge Cup final, though they fell short as runners-up to Gloucester. Transitioning to Harlequins in 2015, he added 30 tries in 65 appearances over four seasons in the English Premiership. His debut season haul of nine tries in 11 Premiership starts highlighted his continued impact. At Harlequins, he featured in the 2016 Challenge Cup final, again as runners-up to Montpellier, and maintained a strong strike rate in the English Premiership, scoring eight tries in the 2017/18 campaign alone.
ClubAppearancesTotal TriesNotable Achievements
Newcastle Falcons5713Emerging talent in Premiership (2006–2009)
13069PRO12 top try scorer (4x); Club record holder; 57 league tries
65309 tries in debut Premiership season; finalist (2016)
These figures underscore Visser's role as a key offensive weapon, prioritizing explosive wing play that delivered consistent results across three major leagues.

International tries

Tim Visser scored 14 tries in 33 appearances for the between 2012 and 2018, establishing himself as a key finisher on the during his international career. His try-scoring prowess was evident from the outset, providing Scotland with vital points in both competitive and non-competitive fixtures, often capitalizing on his pace and finishing ability in wide channels. Visser's international account opened with a standout debut against Fiji on 16 June 2012 in Suva, where he crossed for two tries in a 37-25 victory, helping Scotland secure a series win on their Pacific tour. Later that year, he added another brace against on 11 November at Murrayfield, scoring in both halves during a 51-22 defeat that marked Scotland's highest points total against the All Blacks; these efforts made him the first Scot to score twice against since 1999. By early 2013, Visser had reached five tries in just seven Tests, including an early score against in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on 9 February, contributing to a 34-10 bonus-point win. In the 2013 Six Nations finale against on 16 March in , Visser produced a memorable length-of-the-pitch try from a turnover, converted by Ruaridh Jackson, in a 23-16 loss that ensured finished with the . He tallied three tries across 11 Six Nations appearances overall, with his final two coming in 2017: one against on 25 at Murrayfield, sealing a 29-13 victory and ending a 10-year winless streak, and another against on 18 March, part of a 29-0 that earned a bonus point under new head coach . These scores underscored Visser's role in Scotland's improving attack during the tournament, where he started all five matches. Beyond the Six Nations, Visser's tries included efforts in autumn internationals and tours, such as against the in , contributing to development matches that bolstered Scotland's depth. His international tally reflected a of approximately 0.42 tries per match, highlighting his efficiency as a winger in a team often reliant on structured play to create opportunities.

Awards and honors

Individual accolades

Tim Visser earned several individual honors during his professional rugby career, primarily recognizing his explosive try-scoring ability and contributions at club level. In his debut season with in 2009–10, he was named the Magners League Young Player of the Season, having scored 10 tries to lead the competition in that category. That same year, supporters voted him 's Player of the Season, highlighting his immediate impact after joining from Newcastle Falcons. Visser's standout 2011–12 campaign with brought further acclaim, as he topped the PRO12 try-scoring charts with 14 tries and was selected for the league's Dream Team. He capped the season by winning the RaboDirect PRO12 Players' Player of the Year award, voted by his peers for his pivotal role in Edinburgh's semi-final run. These honors underscored his transition from promising newcomer to one of the league's elite wingers. Later in his career with , Visser received recognition from fans, being named the club's Best Back in the 2017–18 Supporters' Awards after contributing to their Champions Cup campaign. While he did not secure major international individual awards during his 33 caps for —where he scored 14 tries—his club-level accolades affirmed his reputation as a prolific finisher.

Team contributions

Tim Visser's primary team contributions came during his tenure with from 2010 to 2015, where he played a pivotal role in the club's most notable European campaigns. In the 2011-12 Heineken Cup, Visser scored four tries across the tournament, helping Edinburgh become the first Scottish team to reach the semi-finals. His efforts were instrumental in key victories, including a dramatic 48-47 pool stage win over Racing Métro (where he scored two tries), and an upset 19-14 quarter-final win over four-time champions . Edinburgh ultimately fell 22-19 to in the semi-final at the Kingspan , but Visser's pace and finishing ability on the were central to the team's historic run. The following season, in the 2014-15 European Rugby Challenge Cup—the inaugural edition of the competition—Visser featured prominently as advanced to the final, their first appearance in a major European showpiece since 2012. He started in the 45-16 semi-final victory over Brive and played the full 80 minutes in the final against at Pere Noel Stadium in , where led early but lost 19-13 after 's comeback, including a red card to 's Bill Meakes. Visser's involvement in the backline provided consistent try-scoring threat throughout the campaign, with his seven tries in the pool stages underscoring his impact on the team's qualification and deep playoff run. This achievement marked 's best European finish during his time there, highlighting his role in elevating the club's continental competitiveness. At Newcastle Falcons from 2007 to 2009, Visser's early professional contributions included a match-winning try on his debut in 2007, which helped secure a narrow victory and established him as a promising talent in the Premiership. Over 57 appearances, he added nine tries, aiding the team's mid-table stability, though no major titles were won during his stint. Later, with from 2015 to 2019, Visser scored 39 tries in 66 games, including a club-high 11 in the 2016-17 season—their 150th anniversary year—supporting consistent top-eight finishes in the Aviva Premiership and quarter-final appearances in the European Challenge Cup, such as in 2017. His finishing prowess bolstered Harlequins' attacking output, but the club did not secure silverware in this period.

References

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