Spain national rugby union team

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Spain
200px
Union Spanish Rugby Federation
Nickname(s) El XV del Leon (The Lion's XV),
Los Leones (The Lions)
Emblem(s) The Lion
Coach(es) Santiago Santos
Captain(s) TBA
Most caps Francisco Puertas Soto (93)
Top scorer Esteban Roque Segovia (257)
Team kit
Change kit
First international
 Italy 0 - 9 Spain 23x15px
(May 20, 1929)
Largest win
 Czech Republic 8 - 90 Spain 
(April 2, 1995)
Largest defeat
 Australia 92 - 10 Spain 
(September 1, 2001)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (First in 1999)
Best result No games won

The Spain national rugby union team is a national sporting side representing Spain at rugby union. Spain have been playing rugby since the late 1920s, playing their first international against Italy in 1929. They have qualified for one Rugby World Cup, in 1999 where they were pooled with Scotland, South Africa and Uruguay. Spain have also in the past contested the European Nations Cup. Spain plays in red and blue colours.

History

Early history

A Spanish XV played France, including Yves du Manoir, in 1927, but it was organised by a rebel governing body.[1]

Spain played their first officially recognised match in 1929, winning 9-0 over Italy in the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc.[1]

Throughout the 1930s the Spanish contested games against other European sides, winning the majority of them, losing only to Germany. The national Spanish rugby team did not participate in any rugby during the 1940s.

The Spanish returned in 1951, and throughout the decade found moderate success. Though the side lost regularly to sides such as West Germany. The side found success in the earlier years of the 1960s, though there was a lack of games played during the 1963-5. The latter half of the decade saw the Spanish win most of their fixtures against neighbouring European sides.

Spain competed regularly against sides such as Portugal, Romania, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Morocco and Czechoslovakia.

During the early 1980s Spain played Argentina for the first time, as well as consistently playing their old European rivals, New Zealand Māori also played the Spanish in 1982, Spain did however lose the match by over 60 points, and again in 1988, at Seville, losing by a minor margin, 12-22. Spain played the Soviet Union as well as other new opponents during the decade, including Zimbabwe, whom the Spanish played several times during the mid-1980s. In 1994 the Spanish played rugby heavy-weights, Wales, who won by over 50 points.

Professional era

Spain playing the Czech Republic

During the mid to late 1990s, Spain completed a nine-game winning streak, winning games against nine different European sides.

Spain began their quest for 1999 Rugby World Cup qualification in Pool 3 of Round B of the European qualification. They won all four of their games in the round, finishing first in the group above Portugal. They, along with Portugal advanced to the next pool round with Scotland. They finished second and qualified for their first Rugby World Cup.

For the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Spain were in Pool A, along with Scotland, South Africa and Uruguay. Their first ever World Cup game was played against Uruguay, with Spain losing 27-15. They lost their subsequent pool games to Scotland and the Springboks by 40 points, both of which were played at Murrayfield. They failed to score a try in the tournament, the only team in the World to have qualified but not scored a try in the World cup.

Spain began 2003 Rugby World Cup qualifying games in May 2002. Spain advanced to Round 3 after defeating Portugal. However, here they lost to both Italy and Romania, and moved through to face Russia for a place in the repechage competition. They defeated Tunisia and moved onto face the USA, who won the round and qualified into the World Cup.

For the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Spain finished at the top of Pool A or Round 2 of the European qualification and advanced to Round 3 where they went into Pool A. Here they won all four fixtures to finish at the top and advance to the play-off. There they faced Germany, and although they lost the first game, they won the second and went through on a 42-28 aggregate and went into Round 4 where they defeated the Czech Republic to enter Round 5. However they lost out to Romania and Georgia in Pool B, ending their hopes of reaching the World Cup in France.

Spain missed the qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Spain entered the top 20 in the IRB ranking in February 2012 for the first time following a 25-18 win over the higher ranked Georgia, and Spain remained in the top 20 throughout the year, ending 2012 ranked 18th.[2]

In 2014 they will participate in the IRB Tbilisi Cup.[3]

Record

Spain playing against Portugal.

European Nations Cup

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Season Division Games Won Drew Lost PF PA Points Position
2000 1 5 2 0 3 109 105 9 4th
2001–02 1 10 3 0 7 246 247 16 4th
2003–04 1 10 0 1 9 129 335 11 6th
2004–06 2 8 7 1 0 364 87 23 1st
2007–08 1 10 4 0 6 233 240 18 4th
2008–10 1 10 2 0 8 145 304 14 5th
2010–12 1A 10 5 0 5 225 275 26 3rd
2012–14 1A 10 2 2 6 159 243 15 4th
2014–16 1A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A

Note: Green signifies promotion; red signifies relegation.

2012–2014 European Nations Cup

Match Results
Date Opponent Score Venue
2 February 2013  Russia 9–13 Sochi
9 February 2013  Belgium 21–21 Brussels
23 February 2013  Romania 15–25 Gijón
9 March 2013  Georgia 18–61 Tbilisi
16 March 2013  Portugal 9–9 Santiago de Compostela
1 February 2014  Russia 25–28 Madrid
8 February 2014  Belgium 11–6 Madrid
22 February 2014  Romania 32–6 Cluj
8 March 2014  Georgia 17–24 Madrid
15 March 2014  Portugal 24–28 Lisbon

Rugby World Cup record

World Cup record World Cup qualification record
Year Finished P W D L F A P W D L F A
AustraliaNew Zealand 1987 Not invited
United KingdomRepublic of IrelandFrance 1991 Did not qualify 6 4 0 2 159 94
South Africa 1995 5 4 0 1 179 94
Wales 1999 Pool Stage 3 0 0 3 18 122 6 5 0 1 182 144
Australia 2003 Did not qualify 9 2 0 7 158 359
France 2007 14 10 1 3 528 224
New Zealand 2011 10 2 0 8 145 304
England 2015 10 2 2 6 159 243
Total 1/8 3 0 0 3 18 122 60 29 3 28 1510 1462

Current squad

Spain squad for the 21 November 2015 end-of-year test against Chile in Torrelavega.[4]

Head Coach: Spain Santiago Santos

  • Caps Updated: 7 November 2015

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Caps Club/province
Beñat Auzqui Hooker (1983-08-01) 1 August 1983 (age 40) 20 France Bordeaux Bègles
Juan Anaya Lazaro Hooker (1986-06-26) 26 June 1986 (age 37) 19 Ireland Galwegians
Francisco Blanco Prop (1988-06-30) 30 June 1988 (age 35) 6 Spain Cisneros
Xerom Civil Prop (1994-04-02) 2 April 1994 (age 29) 0 France Bordeaux Bègles
Jonathan García Prop (1983-04-16) 16 April 1983 (age 40) 0 France Bourgoin
Fernando Martin López Perez Prop (1986-03-14) 14 March 1986 (age 38) 7 France Massy
Aníbal Bonán Lock (1984-06-10) 10 June 1984 (age 39) 14 France Stade Bagnérais
David Barrera Howarth Lock (1989-07-05) 5 July 1989 (age 34) 17 France Vannes
Jesus Recuerda Nunez Lock (1986-09-29) 29 September 1986 (age 37) 36 France Libourne
Gauthier Gibouin Flanker (1989-03-24) 24 March 1989 (age 34) 23 France Montauban
Asier Usarraga Flanker (1994-12-31) 31 December 1994 (age 29) 0 France Biarritz Olympique
Jaime Nava de Olano Number 8 (1983-05-01) 1 May 1983 (age 40) 55 France Stade Dijonnais
Afa Taulí Number 8 (1990-04-29) 29 April 1990 (age 33) 0 Spain Santboiana
Gregory Maiquez Scrum-half (1985-09-07) 7 September 1985 (age 38) 6 France Bressane
Guillaume Rouet Scrum-half (1988-08-13) 13 August 1988 (age 35) 6 France Bayonne
Mathieu Bélie Fly-half (1988-02-20) 20 February 1988 (age 36) 0 France Perpignan
Christophe Ruiz Fly-half (1984-05-29) 29 May 1984 (age 39) 0 France Narbonne
Fabien Grammatico Centre (1985-05-16) 16 May 1985 (age 38) 1 France Carcassonne
Thibault Visensang Centre (1991-01-09) 9 January 1991 (age 33) 3 France Bayonne
Sergi Aubanell Wing (1989-09-04) 4 September 1989 (age 34) 12 France Aurillac
Sebastien Ascarat Wing (1988-05-30) 30 May 1988 (age 35) 8 France Montauban
Julen Goia Iriberri Wing (1991-12-12) 12 December 1991 (age 32) 8 France Mauléon
Brad Linklater Fullback (1985-05-16) 16 May 1985 (age 38) 5 Spain Getxo Artea

Notable players

Record by opponent

Their Test record against all nations (updated 23 June 2014):[5]

Against Played Won Drawn Lost Win %
 Andorra 3 3 0 0 100%
 Argentina 4 0 0 4 0%
Argentina Argentina Jaguars 1 0 0 2 0%
 Australia 1 0 0 1 0%
 Australia A 1 0 1 0 0%
 Belgium 14 12 1 1 85.71%
 Barbarians 1 0 0 1 0%
 Canada 1 0 0 1 0%
 Chile 4 2 0 2 50%
 Croatia 2 1 1 0 50%
 Czech Republic 8 6 0 2 75%
 Czechoslovakia 5 2 1 2 40%
 Denmark 1 1 0 0 100%
England England Saxons 7 0 0 7 0%
England England Counties 1 0 0 1 0%
England England under-23 2 0 0 2 0%
 Fiji 1 0 0 1 0%
 France 24 0 0 24 0%
 France A 2 0 0 2 0%
France France U 2 1 0 1 50%
France French protectorate of Morocco 4 1 1 2 25%
 Georgia 16 3 1 12 21.87%
 Germany 10 7 0 3 70.00%
 Hungary 1 1 0 0 100%
 Italy 27 3 1 23 11.11%
 Italy A 1 0 0 1 0%
Japan Japan XV 4 0 0 4 0%
 Kenya 1 0 0 1 0%
 Moldova 1 1 0 0 100%
 Morocco 17 10 1 6 58.82%
 Namibia 4 3 1 0 75.00%
 Netherlands 14 13 1 0 96.42%
New Zealand New Zealand Māori 2 0 0 2 0%
 Poland 16 10 0 6 62.50%
 Portugal 35 23 2 10 68.57%
 Romania 33 2 0 31 6.06%
United Kingdom Royal Air Force rugby team 4 0 2 2 0%
 Russia 18 3 0 15 16.66%
 Scotland A 1 0 0 1 0%
Scotland Scotland XV 5 0 0 5 0%
 Slovenia 1 1 0 0 100%
 South Africa 1 0 0 1 0%
South Africa Emerging Springboks 1 0 0 1 0%
 Soviet Union 7 0 0 7 0%
 Sweden 2 2 0 0 100%
  Switzerland 1 1 0 0 100%
 Tunisia 5 4 0 1 80%
 Ukraine 2 2 0 0 100%
 United States 3 0 0 3 0%
 Uruguay 8 4 0 4 50%
 Wales 1 0 0 1 0%
Wales Wales A 3 0 0 3 0%
 West Germany 10 4 1 5 40%
 Yugoslavia 4 4 0 0 100%
 Zimbabwe 7 5 0 2 71.43%
Total 344 138 14 192 40.11%

See also

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Richards, Huw A Game for Hooligans: The History of Rugby Union (Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 2007, ISBN 978-1-84596-255-5); Chapter 6, Gathering Storms, p129
  2. IRB.com, 2012 in review: Highs and lows in rankings, Jan. 7, 2013, http://www.irb.com/rankings/news/newsid=2064835.html
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. Convocatoria de la Selección Española XV
  5. "Team analysis – Spain – Test matches". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 17 June 2014.