Spain's Rugby Team: A Look at the WXV Global Series Challenger Squad
Spain's women's rugby team, Las Leonas, has announced a 36-player squad for the upcoming WXV Global Series Challenger tournament, which will take place in Hong Kong, China, in September. The tournament is an important step for Spain as they aim to qualify for the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup.
The squad includes several notable players, such as scrum-half Anne Fernández de Corres, who turned out for the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby Women's and won the Helen Taylor Award for Women's Player of the Year at the end of her debut season in Canberra. Other notable players include Claudia Peña, Cristina Blanco, and Alba Capell, all of whom are regulars in the JAECOO Premiership Women's Rugby.
The team will be led by head coach Regis Sonnes, who guided Spain to a Rugby Europe Women's Championship title in his first campaign as head coach. Sonnes will be looking to build on this success and lead Spain to further victories in the WXV Global Series Challenger.
The tournament will feature Spain playing against Fiji, Samoa, and Brazil across three consecutive weekends in Hong Kong, China. This will be a valuable opportunity for Spain to test their skills and strategies against strong opponents and gain valuable experience in preparation for the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup.
The WXV Global Series Challenger is an important early step for Spain, as they hope to gain qualification for the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup. The tournament hosts, Australia, as well as England, Canada, France, and New Zealand, have already qualified for the tournament in two years' time. However, Spain will need to perform well in the tournament to secure one of the remaining eight places that will be determined by the end of 2027.
The final qualifier will be announced at the WXV Global Series Challenger tournament in 2028. Spain will need to continue their strong performance and build on their success in the Rugby Europe Women's Championship to secure their place in the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup.
In conclusion, Spain's women's rugby team, Las Leonas, has announced a strong squad for the WXV Global Series Challenger tournament, which will provide valuable experience and preparation for the 2029 Women's Rugby World Cup. The team will be led by head coach Regis Sonnes, who will be looking to build on their success in the Rugby Europe Women's Championship and lead Spain to further victories in the tournament.
