Delgado starts for Spain

By Harry Scott-Munro
26/2/21

Club friendships will be put to one side on Saturday afternoon as Laura Delgado prepares to come up against her club captain Linde van der Velden’s Dutch side in the final match of the delayed 2020 Rugby Europe Championship. 

With both players starting for their respective sides, it’s sure to be an entertaining encounter with Spain needing to avoid defeat to mathematically secure the title and with it, a place in a European World Cup play-off match against Ireland. 

Should Spain win the title, it will be their fifth consecutive Rugby Europe Championship title.

Last weekend saw Spain play their first competitive match since they lost to Scotland in January 2020, as they secured a comprehensive 56-7 victory over Russia, including a hat-trick from second-row Anna Puig to keep themselves on track for a shot at securing a place at Rugby World Cup 2021.

Looking ahead to this weekend’s encounter with the Dutch, Head Coach José Antonio Barrio was optimistic about his side’s chances:

“We could win our eighth Rugby Europe Championship and be closer to the World Cup. We have to concentrate on our own game and show that we're ready for anything and that - despite injuries, Covid and other difficulties - we are a good side which is playing well.”

There are a number of changes from last weekend’s victory over Russia, with Cristina Blanco, Carmen Castellucci, Paula Medin, Alba Vinuesa and Maria Losada coming into the starting XV, with Medin taking her place as captain on her return, after Delgado had deputised in her absence last week.

They will take on a Netherlands side captained by van der Velden, that will be something of an unknown entity, with no fewer than eight players making their international debuts. Barrio admits that his team “don’t have a lot of information” on the Dutch, however, they will still be ready to go come kick-off time.

The match will be livestreamed on Rugby Europe TV, with kick-off at 3pm UK time to watch both Laura and Linde in action.

SPAIN TEAM TO FACE THE NETHERLANDS

15. Amalia Argudo
14. Alba Vinuesa
13. Lide Erbina
12. Amaia Erbina
11. Bea Dominquez
10. Anne Fernandez de Corres
9. Lucia Diaz
1. Saioa Jaurena
2. Cristina Blanco
3. Laura Delgado
4. Anna Puig
5. Carmen Castellucci
6. Olivia Fresneda
7. Paula Medin (capt)
8. Maria Losada

16. Monica Castelo
17. Marta Estelles
18. Sidorella Bracic
19. Lourdes Alameda
20. Maria Calvo
21. Iera Echebarria
22. Uribarri Barrutieta
23. Elisabet Segarra