Rugby World Cup 2021 - Symbol
Sign up for the latest news and ticket information.
Sign Up
Worldwide Partners
Worldwide Partners
Rugby World Cup 2021 - Symbol Rugby World Cup 2021 - Symbol Rugby World Cup 2021 - Logo
Listen Live
  • Matches
  • Knockouts
  • VIDEO
  • Store
  • Video
  • Matches
  • Knockouts
  • Teams
  • Stats
  • Store
  • Play Predictor
  • Play Dream Team
  • Where to watch
  • News
  • Officials
  • Visit
  • POI
  • Official App
  • About RWC 2021
  • Hospitality
  • Sustainability
  • ChildFund Rugby
  • Media
  • Qualifying
  • Women In Rugby
  • Contact us
  • ← Rugby World Cup
  • ← World.Rugby
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
Website language
English
  • English
  • Français
  • Español
  • 日本語
  • Play Predictor
  • Play Dream Team
  • Where to watch
  • News
  • Officials
  • Visit
  • POI
  • Official App
  • About RWC 2021
  • Hospitality
  • Sustainability
  • ChildFund Rugby
  • Media
  • Qualifying
  • Women In Rugby
  • Contact us
  • ← Rugby World Cup
  • ← World.Rugby

Our Social Channels

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Latest News
England v France - TikTok Women's Six Nations

Women in Rugby

Jessy Trémoulière's message to the next generation

Fly-half and full-back Jessy Trémoulière brought the curtain down on an exceptional career after her 78th and final cap against England in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations 2023. But before leaving the world stage, she wanted to pass on one last message to her team-mates.
Thu 4 May, 2023
· 5 min read
Eden Park

RWC 2021 Media Services

Venues Info

Mon 17 April, 2023
RWC 2021 Brand Mark

RWC 2021 Media Services

Resources and Toolkits

Mon 17 April, 2023
Childfund Cointoss NZL-ENG

RWC 2021 Media Services

Partners

Mon 17 April, 2023
World Rugby logo - one to use for generic releases

RWC 2021 Media Services

Contacts

Mon 17 April, 2023
Latest Videos
Best Moments Of The Tournament
03:01 mins

Best Moments Of The Tournament

Fri 18 November, 2022
RWC Best Scrums
02:16 mins

RWC Best Scrums

Fri 18 November, 2022
RWC Best Offloads
02:33 mins

RWC Best Offloads

Fri 18 November, 2022
RWC Best Kicks, Steps, Dummies
04:01 mins

RWC Best Kicks, Steps, Dummies

Fri 18 November, 2022
RWC Top Speedsters
01:31 mins

RWC Top Speedsters

Fri 18 November, 2022
Rugby World Cup 2021
Tuesday 07 September, 2021
· 2 min read

Spain ready for date with destiny in Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe qualifier

Presented By
Spain are ready to face their biggest challenge yet if they want to advance to Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand.
  • label.share.via_facebook_messenger
  • label.share.via_whatsapp
  • label.share.via_facebook
  • label.share.via_twitter
  • label.share.via_copy
    URL Copied

Las Leonas have left no stone unturned in their preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe qualifier, spending crucial preparation time in the Spanish Pyrenees and a brief visit to Toulouse so that they can hopefully finish four years of hard work and sacrifice by securing a place at Rugby World Cup 2021, to be played next year in New Zealand.

José Antonio Barrio’s side will be in prime condition after working on their fitness and specific game scenarios ahead of three matchdays taking place from 13-25 September at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, in Parma, Italy.

“We believe that the European Qualifying Tournament will be tight and short, where you put on the line the work of four years under many variables,” the coach tells World Rugby, focusing on his team’s first game against Ireland on 13 September.

Soon after, games against Scotland (19 September) and the home side Italy (25 September) will decide one qualifier and a team to play in the Final Qualification Tournament, date and venue to be announced.

Barrio has been working with a new squad since Rugby World Cup 2017 and “all the players are now standouts, both in the national team and the Liga”.

When asked specifically about Alba Vinuesa, who scored four tries in Spain’s last game against the Netherlands, he says: “She is a young player, who works hard. She has a lot of talent and has grown and matured both on the physical aspect but also as captain of her club side. She came to the team young and she is on the verge of big things.”

A lot is expected of her and her team in Italy.

“Those four tries were team tries,” she says from Toulouse.

“That was in the European Championship; we’d been in camp for a month preparing to play against Ireland (a game eventually cancelled due to the pandemic) and I felt comfortable in the team, in my position.”

Hailing from a rugby family, with a brother that is also in Los Leones, Vinuesa only started to play rugby five years ago, leaving behind basketball. Her father is Rugby Director at her club Complutense Cisneros, in Madrid. Vinuesa joined Barrio’s team as he sought to renew it after Ireland 2017.

“I am a member of the new generation, the leaders are the older players,” she says, ready to travel to Italy for what she describes will be “the greatest”.

“We’ll play against Six Nations teams that we don’t often play against and because of that, we have to prove we are ready to compete against them. We’ve been preparing for five years; we have chances.

"We can win every game!” she adds.

For that, Spain will have to play their accustomed “open, varied and continued style,” says Vinuesa. “I am not the fastest, but I am strong and have good hands. I think that is what I can bring to the team.”

In the post-Ireland 2017 cycle, Spain have only played Scotland out of their three rivals in the Europe qualifier. “Of the other two we know little, only what we’ve analysed from videos. At the moment, we are only focusing on Ireland.”

As she says, the focus is on what lies right ahead and not in New Zealand and what promises to be an unforgettable Rugby World Cup.

“Today, it is game by game. This European qualifying will be a big challenge playing against Six Nations teams. We must prove that are worthy of playing at that level.

“If we qualify, then will be the time to think on New Zealand.”

Read more: Match schedule and match officials confirmed for Rugby World Cup 2021 Europe Qualifier >>

Rugby World Cup 2021 - Logo

Teams

Video

News

Volunteer

Tickets

  • Rugby World Cup Limited © 2007 - 2023. All Rights Reserved.
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookies Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Rugby World Cup
  • World Rugby Media Zone