Spain are proving to be a burgeoning force in world rugby, writes CHRIS FOY, after Los Leones continued their rise with victory over Tonga

Forget about Doha, please, all roads should lead to Madrid. Spain may be awash with football mania once more, but it is also primed for lift-off in rugby.

Perhaps the most significant result during a busy Test weekend was Spain’s 29-20 win over Tonga in Nuku’alofa. While the hosts were chronically limited, Los Leones had come close to upsetting Samoa in Apia six days earlier, so there is no doubting that they are on the rise, despite the savage setback of being thrown out of the last World Cup, as excessive punishment for fielding an ineligible player in qualifying.

Hours after their momentous victory, Spanish players danced around their hotel after the country’s Under 20s fought back from a 14-0 deficit to beat Fiji and retain their place in the junior global showpiece next year. It was another result which reinforced the sense of momentum and vast potential across the Iberian peninsula – after Portugal’s heroics at the World Cup late last year.

Rugby’s authorities must move heaven and earth to unleash that emerging region. Spain must be nurtured, urgently, having demonstrated that there is an oval-ball culture, underneath the blanket of football fanaticism. Crowds of 25,000 for domestic finals and 40,000 when the Classic All Blacks visited Madrid are proof of interest and now the national team are climbing the rankings and mixing with more established nations.

Officials should be seizing the moment to encourage expansion in Spain. To their credit, EPCR have chosen to return to Bilbao for another Champions and Challenge Cup finals weekend and that is to be applauded. But more can be done. Hosting the Under 20s tournament in the country would be a logical step.

At a time when the powers-that-be are weighing up whether to accept an offer from Qatar to host the Nations Championship finals from 2026, here is a stark message – don’t. The sport can abandon any pretence of retaining its cherished ‘core values’ if it goes down that path. The reputational damage would be profound, due to human rights concerns and the prospect of empty stands in the searing heat of Doha, for supposedly marquee matches. Broadcasters would soon back away.

Qatar lie 90th in the World Rugby rankings and there is no genuine market and no potential, just a dubious source of quick-fix revenue which will be unsustainable. Spain lie 19th – before the rankings are updated in their favour. There is a market and vast potential.

Europe offers so much scope for growth. Portugal’s young side were eventually overwhelmed by world champions South Africa in Bloemfontein on Saturday, but the visitors played with a typical daring streak and showed more glimpses that they can belong if suitably supported. The audacious brilliance of their rookies shone through, not least Simao Bento at full-back, with his one-handed carries and nifty footwork. What a talent.

Georgia took the Wallabies to the wire in Sydney – scoring some stunning tries before losing 40-29. The previous night, further up Australia’s east coast, Wales snatched a narrow win over Queensland Reds reserves, which was not the statement result they so desperately need. Yet, the Georgians are locked out of the Six Nations and the Welsh are safe and sound in that closed shop, which is an annual showcase of the game but also a barrier to expansion.

No country should have a divine right to remain in a cosy elite. Even if the northern balance of power shifted dramatically and it was England or France at the bottom of the pile, they should have to fight to survive. A true meritocracy would be transformational.

Imagine if it reached the stage where a bona fide European Championship was feasible, as it is in football. Imagine if Spain are nurtured and supported, so they can form a new hub of the sport as ambitious neighbours and rivals. Imagine if Germany were similarly encouraged to invest and develop the game there, in another hub alongside Belgium and the Netherlands.

It doesn’t have to be far-fetched, but it does require bigger-picture vision and collaboration and patience. These are not qualities rugby’s authorities are renowned for. Now is the time to show those qualities. Start with Spain – and Portugal too. Don’t let this moment pass.

 

England’s young stars are on the rise once more

England Under 20s’ junior World Cup triumph in Cape Town is a heartening sign that talent pathways have been repaired at last, after the seismic upheaval when John Fletcher and Peter Walton – hugely popular age-group coaches – were sacked by the RFU in 2018.

England had not reached a junior final since, until this year’s powerful crop were honed into a formidable force by Mark Mapletoft and his assistants. Now, these impressive rookies need to play; in the Premiership or at least on loan in the Championship, in order to fulfil so much potential.

The leap to senior rugby claims a lot of casualties, even among those who have been part of successful Under 20 campaigns, so these latest prospects must be handled with care. With the Premiership salary cap going back up, some of them could be held back as clubs seek quick fixes.

This is where an imminent new agreement with the union must create a mutually beneficial structure which allows for young, home-grown talent to flourish. England need a new generation to be brought through, especially the forwards.

 

All Blacks talisman agrees seismic move

Most rugby transfers are all about financial gain, career progression or both, but Ardie Savea has more profound motives for agreeing to join Moana Pasifika.

The All Black No 8 and reigning World Rugby Player of the Year has signed a three-year deal with the Auckland-based Super Rugby side – which is made up of players with Pacific island family backgrounds – because both of his parents were born in Samoa.

‘It will be huge to give back to my heritage and culture in such a meaningful way,’ he said. The 30-year-old is a magnificent player and an outstanding role model who uses the platform he has with an acute sense of responsibility.

Many felt he should have been named New Zealand captain by Scott Robertson and he would have handled the role with distinction and with statesmanlike authority. Instead, he has remained in the ranks but continues to show supreme leadership, as he will do to help develop and promote Samoan and Tongan rugby with Moana.

His arrival will strike a chord with hordes of passionate rugby followers across the South Pacific and is sure to create an enduring legacy.

Vannes ticket scramble highlights French boom

The ticket sales chaos experienced by Vannes last week was yet another indication of the on-going boom in French rugby.

Following their promotion to the Top 14, the club’s website collapsed under the strain as 50,000 people scrambled to buy season tickets. The town has a population of 54,000.

Another out-post in the north has added to the spectacular and rapid spread of the sport across the Channel. Vannes have been in frantic recruitment mode and it certainly doesn’t hurt their efforts that they are based in such a beautiful, coastal part of Brittany, with a host of nearby beaches and islands, along with an array of historical architecture.

It is easy to understand what persuaded Mako Vunipola – and may also convince Leigh Halfpenny – to head that way…

The Last Word

When it comes to showcasing and spreading the sport, the RFU have wasted a prime opportunity by arranging for England ‘A’ to play their Australian counterparts at The Stoop on November 17.

The fixture should be taking place elsewhere in the country, not across the road from Twickenham, the day after the senior national team face South Africa there. No doubt Harlequins were keen to act as hosts and the club have a fine track record of staging marquee events, so using their ground is a good, safe bet.

There are also logistical benefits of having two England teams in close proximity, but that could have been the arrangement until the Thursday or Friday, before the ‘A’ side went off to play in an area where the Red Rose is less visible.

They could have played the back-up Wallabies at Darlington Mowden Park’s fine stadium, or at the smart, modern home of York City, where the seniors trained. They could have raised the flag along the south coast or over in East Anglia – regions where interest in the sport is under-represented at elite level. Come on, mix it up, take a leap; don’t just stay in familiar territory.