Spain women's national rugby union team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Spain
Nickname(s)Las Leonas
UnionSpanish Rugby Federation
Head coachJosé Antonio Barrio
CaptainAroa González
Most capsAroa González (74)
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current10 (as of 23 November 2020)
First international
 Spain 0-28 France 
(2 May 1989)
Biggest win
 Spain 119 – 0 Finland 
(30 April 2011)
Biggest defeat
 Spain 0-97 France 
(11 November 2017)
World Cup
Appearances5 (First in 1991)
Best result6th 1991

The Spain women's national rugby union team played their first match on 2 May 1989, against France, losing 0-28. The team played the Women's Six Nations from 2000 to 2006, but they were replaced by Italy for 2007, in order to mirror the men's tournament.

History[]

Top 20 rankings as of 22 November 2021[1]
Rank Change* Team Points
1 Steady  England 096.26
2 Steady  New Zealand 088.58
3 Increase1  France 088.43
4 Decrease1  Canada 088.15
5 Steady  Australia 078.68
6 Steady  United States 076.63
7 Steady  Ireland 076.54
8 Steady  Italy 076.43
9 Steady  Scotland 073.48
10 Steady  Spain 072.10
11 Steady  Wales 071.02
12 Steady  Japan 065.49
13 Steady  South Africa 063.39
14 Steady  Russia 061.10
15 Steady  Kazakhstan 060.45
16 Steady  Samoa 059.72
17 Steady  Netherlands 058.27
18 Steady  Hong Kong 057.89
19 Steady  Sweden 057.73
20 Steady  Germany 057.72
*Change from the previous week

Currently there are over 200 clubs in Spain and a league similar to that of male rugby. The first steps were taken in 1913, when women played in secret in schools, but rugby first began to be played seriously at training camps at the School of Architecture of Madrid in the early 70s by a group of architecture students. They formed a group of about 20 girls who trained regularly twice per week and as they were the only ones who practiced, played sided games between themselves. They played well

In the late seventies a group of female PE students taught by Jose Antonio Sancha, a professor of Rugby at Barcelona INEF, decided to train with the men's rugby and played the game seriously (though they were not recognised by the Catalan Federation rugby until 1983).

The first game was played in Barcelona between the BUC and INEF clubs and other clubs quickly formed in different parts of Spain but mainly in the early years only came from Barcelona and Madrid. In a few years female rugby spread to Madrid, the Basque Country and Valencia. In 1991 27 women's teams participating in regional competitions.

The national team first played in Cardiff (Wales) at the Rugby World Cup, where they won the fifth place behind the United States, England, France and New Zealand. In 1994, the Spanish team was unable to come to Scotland because of budgetary problems, however Spain remained one of the top teams in Europe. In 1995 Spain became the unexpected champions of the first European Championship by defeating rival France, in the final 21-6. The 1996 European brought a repeat of that final but this time the Spanish lost by 15-10.

In January 1997 a tour of England took place where Spain and were in the lead against the World Champions until 10 minutes from the end of the match. Only a last minute try by England gave them the win and in European (the first where all the British teams competed) played the final but Spain came 3rd. Spain qualified for the World Championships in Amsterdam and managed a creditable 7th place. Spain again reached the European final in 1999 against France, losing 13-5, after beating Wales (14-8) and Scotland (11-9).

The 2002 World Cup was held in Barcelona, New Zealand retaining its title in defeating (19-9) to England in the final at the Olympic Stadium Lluis Companys. France took the bronze after beating Canada (41-7), while Spain finished in 8th place after yielding to the United States (23-5).

Spain were also members of the Five and Six Nations from 2000 to 2006, finishing third on three occasions and winning 10 of the 33 games they played. However, in 2007 they were replaced by Italy because the Six Nations Committee wished to align the women's tournament with the men's. This has severely reduced Spain's opportunities to play top level international rugby, and may have been a factor in Spain's failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. However, they were compensated a little in 2010 when they won the "double" of the European 15s and 7s titles without losing a game.

Competitive record[]

Results[]

Summary[]

Full internationals only

Correct as of 31 March 2019
Rugby: Spain internationals 1989-
Opponent First game Last game Played Won Drawn Lost Percentage
 Australia 1998 1998 1 0 0 1 0.00%
 Belgium 2010 2016 2 2 0 0 100.00%
 Canada 1991 2014 3 0 0 3 0.00%
 Czech Republic 2016 2016 1 1 0 0 100.00%
 England 1991 2017 16 1 1 14 6.25%
 Finland 2011 2011 1 1 0 0 100.00%
 France 1989 2014 19 5 0 14 26.32%
 Germany 1996 2018 3 3 0 0 100.00%
 Hong Kong 2015 2018 4 4 0 0 100.00%
 Ireland 1997 2008 9 5 0 4 55.56%
 Italy 1991 2017 13 10 0 3 76.92%
 Japan 1991 2002 2 2 0 0 100.00%
 Kazakhstan 2006 2014 2 2 0 0 100.00%
 Netherlands 1996 2019 8 8 0 0 100.00%
 New Zealand 1998 1998 1 0 0 1 0.00%
 Russia 1997 2019 3 3 0 0 100.00%
 Samoa 2006 2014 3 3 0 0 100.00%
 Scotland 1997 2016 19 7 0 12 36.84%
 South Africa 2014 2018 2 2 0 0 100.00%
 Sweden 2004 2013 5 4 0 1 80.00%
 United States 1998 2017 3 0 0 3 0.00%
 Wales 1998 2017 10 6 1 3 60.00%
Summary 1989 2019 130 69 2 59 53.85%

Players[]

Current squad[]

The following players were named to the squad for the friendly match against Scotland on 20 November 2019.

Caps updated: 18 November 2018
  • Team Manager: José Antonio Barrio
  • Head Coach: Juan González

Recent call-ups[]

The following players were named to a squad in the last call-ups.

Previous squads[]

World Cup 2014
World Cup 2017

Results[]

Full internationals[]

See Women's international rugby for information about the status of international games and match numbering

[32]
1989-05-02 Spain  0-28  France ? [1/16/1]
[50]
1991-04-06 (WC) England  12-0  Spain Swansea [8/2/1]
[58]
1991-04-10 (WC) Italy  7-13  Spain Glamorgan Wanderers [9/3/1]
[61]
1991-04-11 (WC) Japan  0-30  Spain Cardiff [3/4/1]
[66]
1991-04-12 (WC) Netherlands  0-30  Spain Cardiff [26/5/1]
[67]
1991-04-11 (WC) Canada  19-4  Spain Cardiff [8/6/1]
[64]
1992-06-13 France  14-10  Spain Agen [22/7/2]
[118]
1995-04-12 (FIRA) Italy  0-5  Spain Trévise [11/8/2]
[120]
1995-04-16 (FIRA) France  6-22  Spain Trévise [32/9/3]
[132]
1996-04-09 (FIRA) Spain  29-0  Netherlands Madrid [10/28/2]
[134]
1996-04-10 (FIRA) Spain  53-0  Germany Madrid [11/9/1]
[138]
1996-04-14 (FIRA) Spain  10-15  France Madrid [12/35/4]
[148]
1997-01-05 England  17-15  Spain Leeds [29/13/2]
[158]
1997-04-02 (FIRA) Spain  27-0  Ireland Nice, France [14/15/1]
[161]
1997-04-04 (FIRA) Scotland  11-10  Spain Nice, France [22/15/1]
[166]
1997-04-06 (FIRA) France  8-25  Spain Nice, France [42/16/5]
[179]
1997 Spain  17-12  Russia ? [17/8/1]
[192]
1998-05-02 (WC) Spain  28-18  Wales Amsterdam [18/32/1]
[200]
1998-05-05 (WC) Spain  16-38  United States Amsterdam [19/26/1]
[209]
1998-05-09 (WC) New Zealand  46-3  Spain Amsterdam [18/20/1]
[216]
1998-05-12 (WC) Australia  17-15  Spain Amsterdam [9/21/1]
[227]
1998-05-16 (WC) France  9-22  Spain Amsterdam [49/22/6]
[231]
1998-12-05 Spain  3-5  Scotland Madrid [23/34/2]
[246]
1999-04-19 (FIRA) Spain  14-8  Wales Belluno, Italy [24/41/2]
[251]
1999-04-21 (FIRA) Spain  11-9  Scotland Belluno, Italy [25/40/3]
[255]
1999-04-24 (FIRA) France  13-5  Spain Belluno, Italy [56/26/7]
[260]
2000-01-09 Spain  10-42  England Barcelona [27/55/3]
[262]
2000-02-06 (5N) England  31-7  Spain Banbury [56/28/4]
[264]
2000-02-18 (5N) Spain  13-9  Scotland Murcia [29/42/4]
[268]
2000-03-18 (5N) France  38-5  Spain Dax [60/30/8]
[271]
2000-04-01 (5N) Spain  18-10  Wales Majadahonda, Madrid [31/48/3]
[275]
2000-05-08 (FIRA) Spain  58-16  Italy Roquetas, Spain [32/27/3]
[280]
2000-05-10 (FIRA) Spain  13-10  Scotland Almería, Spain [33/47/5]
[284]
2000-05-13 (FIRA) Spain  0-31  France Almería, Spain [34/63/9]
[300]
2001-02-03 Spain  42-0  Ireland Madrid [35/34/2]
[302]
2001-02-18 (5N) England  28–12  Spain Worcester [67/36/5]
[304]
2001-03-03 (5N) Spain  6–0  France Madrid [37/65/10]
[307]
2001-03-18 (5N) Scotland  19-8  Spain Melrose [52/38/6]
[309]
2001-04-08 (5N) Wales  0–5  Spain Wrexham [55/39/4]
[311]
2001-05-06 (FIRA) Spain  34-3  Italy , France [40/31/4]
[322]
2001-05-10 (FIRA) England  8-15  Spain Lille, France [72/41/6]
[329]
2001-05-12 (FIRA) Spain  3-15  Scotland Lille, France [42/55/7]
[343]
2002-02-02 (6N) France  24–0  Spain Bègles [71/43/11]
[347]
2002-02-16 (6N) Spain  14–17  Scotland Barcelona [44/59/8]
[350]
2002-03-02 (6N) Spain  20–0  Wales Madrid [45/62/5]
[358]
2002-03-25 (6N) Ireland  6–8  Spain Limerick [43/46/3]
[360]
2002-04-07 (6N) Spain  14–53  England Madrid [47/82/7]
[367]
2002-05-13 (WC) Spain  62-0  Japan Barcelona [48/12/1]
[375]
2002-05-18 (WC) Spain  5-13  England Barcelona [49/83/8]
[383]
2002-05-21 (WC) Spain  16-23  Scotland Barcelona [50/65/9]
[390]
2002-05-25 (WC) Spain  5-23  United States Barcelona [51/44/2]
[397]
2003-02-15 (6N) Wales  44–0  Spain Cardiff Arms Park [73/52/6]
[401]
2003-02-21 (6N) Spain  0–16  Ireland Madrid [53/50/4]
[403]
2003-03-09 (6N) England  69–0  Spain Harlequins RFC [88/54/9]
[406]
2003-03-22 (6N) Spain  7–27  France Girona [55/83/12]
[410]
2003-03-29 (6N) Scotland  48–7  Spain Meadowbank [72/56/10]
[412]
2003-05-01 (FIRA) Italy  5-29  Spain Malmö, Sweden [40/57/5]
[414]
2003-05-03 (FIRA) France  10-16  Spain Malmö, Sweden [86/58/13]
[429]
2004-02-15 (6N) Spain  3-71  England Pinares de Venecia, Zaragoza [59/94/10]
[433]
2004-02-21 (6N) France  24-0  Spain Perpignan [88/60/14]
[435]
2004-03-06 (6N) Spain  6-5  Scotland Lalin, Pontevedra [61/76/11]
[438]
2004-03-20 (6N) Ireland  7-8  Spain Thomond Park, Limerick [57/62/5]
[441]
2004-03-27 (6N) Wales  7-12  Spain Arms Park, Cardiff [82/63/7]
[443]
2004-05-01 (FIRA) France  24-5  Spain Castres, France [92/64/15]
[452]
2004-05-05 (FIRA) Spain  31-5  Sweden Toulouse, France [65/35/1]
[456]
2004-05-08 (FIRA) Ireland  20-12  Spain Toulouse, France [61/66/6]
[477]
2005-02-05 (6N) Spain  19-17  Ireland Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid [67/63/7]
[478]
2005-02-12 (6N) Spain  10-10  Wales , Ourense [68/89/8]
[482]
2005-02-26 (6N) Scotland  19-3  Spain Anniesland, Glasgow [85/69/12]
[485]
2005-03-12 (6N) England  76-0  Spain Imber Court, London [109/70/10]
[489]
2005-03-19 (6N) Spain  0-39  France San Boï de Llobregat, Barcelona [71/99/16]
[521]
2006-02-04 (6N) Ireland  25-10  Spain Donnybrook, Dublin [69/72/8]
[525]
2006-02-11 (6N) Spain  3-86  England Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid [73/116/12]
[529]
2006-02-25 (6N) France  38-0  Spain Saint Jean De Luz, Biarritz [104/74/17]
[530]
2006-03-10 (6N) Wales  10-0  Spain Sardis Rd, Pontypridd [98/75/9]
[535]
2006-03-18 (6N) Spain  12-16  Scotland Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid [76/95/13]
[560]
2006-08-31 (WC) Spain  0-24  Scotland , St. Albert [77/96/14]
[567]
2006-09-04 (WC) Canada  79-0  Spain , St. Albert [57/78/1]
[572]
2006-09-08 (WC) Spain  14-12  Samoa , St. Albert [79/11/1]
[582]
2006-09-12 (WC) Spain  17-12  Kazakhstan Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton [80/1/36]
[584]
2006-09-16 (WC) Samoa  5-10  Spain Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton [13/81/2]
[627]
2007-04-28 (FIRA) Spain  15-6  Italy , Spain [82/58/6]
[631]
2007-04-30 (FIRA) Spain  54-3  Russia , Spain [83/23/2]
[635]
2007-05-02 (FIRA) Spain  22-22  England , Spain [84/132/13]
[640]
2007-05-05 (FIRA) Spain  37-0  Netherlands , Spain [85/80/3]
[684]
2008-05-17 (FIRA) Ireland  41-7  Spain Amsterdam [90/86/9]
[689]
2008-05-20 (FIRA) Sweden  0-20  Spain Drachten, Netherlands [48/87/2]
[701]
2008-05-24 (FIRA) Scotland  27-25  Spain Amsterdam [114/88/15]
[741]
2009-05-17 (FIRA) Germany  0-74  Spain Stockholm, Sweden [56/89/2]
[747]
2009-05-20 (FIRA) Sweden  11-6  Spain Enköping [53/90/3]
[751]
2009-05-23 (FIRA) Italy  7-12  Spain Stockholm, Sweden [77/91/6]
[807]
2010-05-08 (FIRA) Netherlands  12-26  Spain Longwy [96/92/4]
[813]
2010-05-12 (FIRA) Belgium  0-66  Spain Metz [25/93/1]
[824]
2010-05-15 (FIRA) Italy  13-31  Spain Stade de la Meinau, Strasbourg [85/94/8]
[866]
2011-01-03 Spain  28-13  Scotland Madrid [95/136/16]
[885]
2011-04-30 (FIRA) Spain  119-0  Finland University of A Coruña [96/9/1]
[886]
2011-05-04 (FIRA) Spain  18-3  Sweden University of A Coruña [97/72/4]
[941]
2012-05-13 (FIRA) England  61-0  Spain Rovereto, Italy [187/98/14]
[944]
2012-05-16 (FIRA) France  60-3  Spain Rovereto, Italy [164/99/18]
[946]
2012-05-19 (FIRA) Italy  54-3  Spain Rovereto, Italy [101/100/9]
[965]
2012-12-03 Italy  29-12  Spain Roma [102/101/10]
[986]
2013-04-20 (WCQ) Spain  55-0  Sweden Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain [102/75/5]
[987]
2013-04-23 (WCQ) Spain  78-0  Netherlands Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain [103/109/5]
[994]
2013-04-23 (WCQ) Spain  38-7  Italy Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain [104/110/11]
[1053]
2014-07-01 Spain  3-37  France Valladolid, Castile and León [105/185/17]
[1058]
2014-08-01 (WC) Canada  31-5  Spain FFR Headquarters, Marcoussis [104/106/3]
[1065]
2014-08-05 (WC) England  45-5  Spain FFR Headquarters, Marcoussis [216/107/15]
[1070]
2014-08-09 (WC) Spain  41-5  Samoa FFR Headquarters, Marcoussis [108/21/3]
[1077]
2014-08-13 (WC) Spain  18-5  Kazakhstan Marcoussis [109/62/2]
[1082]
2014-08-17 (WC) South Africa  0-36  Spain Marcoussis [40/110/1]
[1121]
2015-11-22 Spain  10-34  Scotland Valladolid, Castile and León [111/167/17]
[1122]
2015-12-19 Spain  57-0  Hong Kong Majadahonda [112/30/1]
[1151]
2016-10-06 (RE) Spain  76-0  Belgium Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain [113/33/2]
[1153]
2016-10-09 (RE) Spain  97-0  Czech Republic Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain [114/8/1]
[1158]
2016-10-15 (RE) Spain  35-7  Netherlands Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain [115/116/6]
[1164]
2016-11-18 (WCQ) Scotland  5–10  Spain Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow [173/116/18]
[1170]
2016-11-26 (WCQ) Spain  15–10  Scotland Estadio Nacional Complutense, Madrid [117/174/19]
[1193]
2017-06-03 Spain  41–18  Hong Kong Estadio Municipal, Medina del Campo [118/34/2]
[1202]
2017-07-08 Wales  26–21  Spain Cardiff [179/119/10]
[1205]
2017-08-17 (WC) England  56-5  Spain UCD Bowl, Dublin [247/120/16]
[1213]
2017-08-13 (WC) United States  43-0  Spain UCD Bowl, Dublin [112/121/3]
[1219]
2017-08-17 (WC) Italy  8-22  Spain UCD Bowl, Dublin [134/122/12]
[1225]
2017-08-22 (WC) Spain  31-7  Hong Kong Queen's University Belfast [123/40/3]
[1229]
2017-08-26 (WC) Italy  20-15 (a.e.t)  Spain Queen's University Belfast [136/124/13]
[1251]
2018-02-27 (RE) Spain  44-0  Germany Waterloo [125/65/3]
[1253]
2018-03-03 (RE) Spain  40-7  Netherlands Waterloo [126/118/7]
[1275]
2018-11-11 Spain  60–5  Hong Kong El Pantano, Villajoyosa [127/-/4]
[?]
2018-11-17 Spain  17–5  South Africa El Pantano, Villajoyosa [128/-/2]
[1292]
2019-01-20 Spain  29–24  Scotland Madrid [129/188/20]
[1299]
2019-02-23 (RE) Spain  41–0  Russia Madrid, Spain [130/-/3]
[1311]
2019-03-30 (RE) Spain  54–0
 Netherlands Madrid, Spain [131/-/8]

Other matches[]

[-]
2002-01-19 Spain  5-10  England A [-/-/-]
[-]
2003-02-01 Spain  0-34  England A [-/-/-]
[-]
2004-01-31 England A  35-5  Spain [-/-/-]
[-]
2006-01-07 Basque Country  5-54  Spain Plaiaundi, Irun [-/-/-]
[-]
2008-02-09 Spain  5-22  England A Madrid [-/-/-]
[-]
2009-02-07 England A  29-0  Spain London Welsh [-/-/-]
[-]
2010-02-14 Spain  5-10  England A Gijón [-/-/-]
[-]
2010-05-10 (FIRA) France A  5-22  Spain Verdun [-/-/-]
[-]
2011-03-19 England A  34-7  Spain Guildford [-/-/-]
[-]
2011-05-02 (FIRA) Spain  12-11  France A University of A Coruña [-/-/-]
[-]
2011-05-07 (FIRA) Spain  3-5  England A University of A Coruña [-/-/-]
[-]
2013-01-05 Wales XV  7-0[2]  Spain National Centre of Excellence, Cardiff [-/-/-]
[-]
2013-02-23 Spain  29-19 Celeste e Blu.png Nomads Las Mestas, Gijón [-/-/-]
[-]
2013-01-20 Ireland XV  39-7  Spain Ashbourne [-/-/-]
[-]
2014-07-05 Spain XV  20-36  Ireland XV Valladolid, Castile and León [-/-/-]
[-]
2015-12-15 Spain XV  59-12  Hong Kong XV Hortaleza, Madrid [-/-/-]
[-]
2016-09-10 Basque Country  0-116  Spain Gamarra, Vitoria-Gasteiz [-/-/-]
[-]
2017-01-14 Spain XV  0-39  Wales XV El Pantano, Villajoyosa [-/-/-]
[-]
2017-03-11 Spain XV  cancelled  England A [-/-/-]
[-]
2017-03-25 División de Honor All-Star 7–53  Spain XV Valle del Arcipreste, Majadahonda [-/-/-]
[-]
2017-05-30 Spain XV  19–8  Hong Kong XV Estadio Pepe Rojo, Valladolid [-/-/-]
[-]
2017-07-22 England A  7–15  Spain XV Brunel University London [-/-/-]
[-]
2017-11-05 Spain XV  5–24  Scotland XV , Majadahonda [-/-/-]
[-]
2017-11-11 Spain XV  0–97  France XV Estadio Pedro Escartín, Guadalajara [-/-/-]
[–]
2018-01-21 Scotland XV  cancelled  Spain XV Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow [-/-/-]

Others teams[]

[-]
1990-10-21 Catalonia  4-0  Wales Barcelona [-/-/-]
[-]
1995-05-06 Germany  3-75  Catalonia Rottweil [-/-/-]
[-]
1996-??-?? France A  0-32  Basque Country ?? [-/-/-]
[-]
1998-??-?? Com. of Madrid Flag of the Community of Madrid.svg 15-0  Basque Country ?? [-/-/-]
[-]
1998-??-?? Andalusia Flag of Andalusia.svg 5-12  Basque Country Seville [-/-/-]
[-]
2000-03-31 Catalonia  21-50  Italy Aubagne, France [-/-/-]
[-]
2000-??-?? Basque Country  86-0 Flag of Aragon.svg Aragon ?? [-/-/-]
[-]
2001-??-?? Basque Country  5-5 Flag of Navarre.svg Navarre ?? [-/-/-]
[-]
2006-??-?? Basque Country  46-5 Flag of Navarre.svg Navarre ?? [-/-/-]
[-]
2009-04-21 Netherlands  24-10  Catalonia [-/-/-]
[-]
2010-03-14 Catalonia  12-17  Basque Country Lleida [-/-/-]
[-]
2010-12-05 Basque Country  15-22  Catalonia Durango, Biscay [-/-/-]
[-]
2012-02-05 Portugal  16-7   Estádio Universitário de Lisboa [-/-/-]
[-]
2016-02-06 Basque Country  5-42  France U20 Hernani [-/-/-]

Most capped Spanish players[]

# Player Position Career Caps
1. Catalonia Aroa González hooker 1997–2017 74
2. Basque Country (autonomous community) Inés Etxegibel fly-half 1994–2007 64
Galicia (Spain) Rocío García prop 2003–2017 64
4. Basque Country (autonomous community) Isabel Rodríguez scrum-half 2003–2011 56
5. Catalonia Bárbara Plà centre 2004–2017 53
6. Community of Madrid Pilar López lock 1996–2003 49
Basque Country (autonomous community) Nerea Otxoa de Aspuru prop 2003–2013 49
8. Balearic Islands Mercedes Batidor flanker 1995–2002 47
9. Castilla–La Mancha María Isabel Pérez wing 1991–2002 46
10. Basque Country (autonomous community) Karitte Alegria number 8 1994–2005 43
Catalonia Coral Vila fullback 1996–2003 43
Galicia (Spain) Helena Roca centre / fly-half 2001–2014 43

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  2. ^ http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/24555.php#.UOnUrG9JqSp

External links[]

Retrieved from ""