Rugby Situation in Spain
I’d like to talk about rugby in Spain, just like that, directly. In recent years, honestly, the level of the national teams has improved a lot, but I have some doubts when it comes to the clubs—and let me explain.
The federation has been doing great work with the teams that represent it, even in some regional federations. Just look at how the men’s team has climbed in the world rankings, and the work being done with the women’s team, the sevens teams, and youth rugby. Without a doubt, as I said before, it’s excellent work. But also, after everything that’s happened in recent years, maybe it’s been a federative strategy to clean up their image. Still, I truly don’t want to take any merit away from it—it’s very good work.What I wanted to focus on is one fact: after rising in the global rankings, maybe now is the time to consider, across all of rugby in Spain, the professionalization of both players and coaches (including technical directors), and perhaps even some board members. Why do I say this? Simply because I believe that’s the next step to keep climbing in the world rankings—and with that, to raise the level of rugby in the country.Is it easy? No, in fact, it’s very difficult. But let’s set big goals, let’s be ambitious. Time will eventually place us where we deserve to be. But if rugby has taught me anything, it’s not to take a knee, and to keep pushing in the scrum. The match itself will show me where I stand. The opponent might beat me, they might be better, but they’ll have to work for it. I’ll never lower my arms—never, I repeat, never will I give up.That’s the spirit rugby in Spain should have: to fight, to grow, and to do so every day, without rest. One of the pillars—perhaps one of the most important ones—must be the training of coaches. Better coaches mean better players.The federation’s training plan is, just to be clear, very good—actually, excellent. The only very small suggestion I would make is that coaches based in Spain and abroad—and I’m not the only one, there are others—could occasionally have the opportunity to participate in the training sessions. That way, we could show that the technical level of our coaches is high and has real professional value in many European countries.
Well, maybe it’s just a dream, maybe even a fantasy—but it’s what I believe in, and I act accordingly. Right now, I’m in Germany, and I keep telling them to look into the same mirror Spain once did. Unless I’m mistaken—and if I am, feel free to correct me—some 15 to 20 years ago, Spain’s ranking, both for the men’s and women’s teams, wasn’t great. And today, both teams’ positions have improved significantly, and the level of the players has grown exponentially. Now might be the time to transfer that progress to the clubs.And honestly, that’s a responsibility that falls on the federation, the regional federations, and of course the clubs themselves. In rugby, no one is indispensable.
