Spain national rugby union team (sevens)

Spain
Union Spanish Rugby Federation
Coach(es) Igancio Inchausti
Captain(s) Pablo Feijóo
Team kit
Change kit

The Spain national rugby union team (sevens) represents Spain in international rugby sevens competitions. The team trains together at the country's Olympic training facilities in Madrid, which itself has been a result of the sport entering its first Olympic cycle.[1] Spain is one of the 15 "core teams" participating in all nine tournaments during the 2012–13 IRB Sevens World Series.

Spain started off the 2012–13 IRB 7s Series with a bang at the 2012 Gold Coast Sevens, defeating Tonga, Wales and England to finish ninth and win the Bowl. Spain was led in scoring in the 2012 Gold Coast Sevens by Pedro Martin (5 tries and 27 points), and by Pablo Feijoo (4 tries and 22 points).[2]

Spain was elevated to "core team" status for the 2012–13 IRB Sevens World Series, following its performance in qualifying at the 2012 Hong Kong Sevens. At that tournament, Spain defeated Zimbabwe, Philippines, Tonga and Japan to reach the finals, where it lost to Canada. Spain participated in other events during the 2011–12 IRB Sevens World Series. In that season, Spain played in the 2012 Scotland Sevens, reaching the Bowl finals, and the 2012 London Sevens, reaching the Cup quarterfinal.

Coach

Ignacio "Tiki" Inchausti played in Spain's only ever appearance at a Rugby World Cup in 1999, and also played at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2001 in Mar del Plata. He was in charge of the nation's women's set-up before coaching the men's side, including leading them to the inaugural women's RWC Sevens in Dubai in 2009. In 2010, 'Tiki' was handed the task of coaching the Spanish Sevens men's team, and in 2012 he masterminded their qualification as a core team.[3]

Current Squad

Squad to 2014 London Sevens:[4]

2012 Hong Kong Sevens

Further information: 2012 Hong Kong Sevens

Spain Sevens squad for 2012 Hong Kong:

Player
 Shirt
Ignacio Martin 1
Carlos Blanco 2
Javier Canosa 3
Pablo Feijóo (c) 4
César Sempere 5
Martín Heredia 6
Pedro Martín 7
Juan Cano 8
Angel Lopez 9
Matías Tudela 10
Ryan Le Roux 11
Marcus Poggi 12

2008 Hannover Sevens

Group A matches

  POR GEO ESP GER RUS ROM
Portugal – 26–10 28–5 14–12 45–5 38–0
Georgia – – 28–5 26–0 5–0 12–0
Spain – – – 26–22 7–29 14–0
Germany – – – – 17–12 24–21
Russia – – – – – 19–19
Romania – – – – – –
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/- Pts
 Portugal 550015132+11915
 Georgia 54018131+5013
 Spain 520357107−509
 Germany 52037599−249
 Russia 511374100−268
 Romania 501431100−696

References

  1. ↑ IRB.com, Spain Sevens all set for Series challenge, 25 September 2012
  2. ↑ IRB.com, HSBC Sevens World Series, Statistics
  3. ↑ IRB.com, Spain Sevens all set for Series challenge, 25 September 2012
  4. ↑ 2014 London Sevens