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Cristina Blanco Herrera: From PWR despair to finding home at Trailfinders
In the Premiership Women’s Rugby wilderness, Harlequins, Sharks, Bears, and others roam around looking to assert their dominance in a vibrant and challenging league.
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However, between the foliage of scrums, lineouts, rucks, and tackles, be wary of ‘El Tigre’ (the Tiger), one of Trailfinders most devoted and hardworking enforcers.
But who’s this ‘El Tigre’ you might ask? She’s Cristina Blanco Herrera, Spanish international, former Wasps player and gifted hooker who has been showing her claws in the PWR since arriving in 2021.
You might be wondering why the ‘El Tigre’ nickname, and to answer that Cristina Blanco Herrera provides a great explanation.
“I would love to tell you that it came from some spectacular side story but… well, it is still pretty spectacular,” she said before carrying on, “So, there’s a character in the show ‘Community’ called Señor Chang. At some point, he makes a point to his students who are learning Spanish and says ‘In español my nickname is El Tigre’.
One day, Oli Bishop, who was our coach at Wasps, was giving a pre-match interview for the BBC. He was talking about players, and then he saw me coming in and said to the interviewer ‘And here comes our hooker, who’s called EL TIGRE’. He had watched that episode a few days before the game, and it stuck with him and then it proceeded to stick with me.”
Like her Spanish teammate Lourdes Alameda, Blanco only started playing rugby when she went to university, taking one (huge) step at a time. In 2019, she earned her first cap, and in 2021, she embarked on a journey to England, a turning point in her life.
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“I was completing my masters in physiotherapy and also recovering from our failed bid to qualify for the 2021 World Cup when the opportunity presented itself. Unfortunately Wasps were dealing with some financial issues, and there was a chance for me to play some good minutes for them.
“As we played most of the games with only 18 players, I ended up having a central role in the team. You might think it wasn’t the most enjoyable of times, but it was.”
During that time Wasps were plagued with several problems that eventually led to their exit from the league, an earth shattering moment for all. However, even if all came crashing down, the hooker still remembers her time with the Coventry-based club fondly.
“It was like an earthquake. I might’ve just joined the team, but there were players who had devoted a lifetime to the club, be it as professionals or not. It was hard for us all. I remember playing against teams packed with the best international players while we couldn’t field a full 23. Even so, I only have good memories from those times.
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“It taught me a valuable lesson: no matter what position you play, you can add something to the team. I played as a front-rower, back row, had a short stint as a lock, and even had a chance to feature as a center for a couple of minutes! It was crazy, but it was important for me to understand that my value as a player wasn’t defined by the position I played.”
With the Wasps demise, Blanco Herrera had to look for options, and started reaching out to several clubs, with Harlequins and Bristol approaching but failing to reach an agreement. Thankfully, a new door opened with a little bit of help from someone special.
“Giselle Mather was the common link. She was the one who brought me to Wasps and would again be the one inviting me to join Trailfinders. So, I grabbed the phone and called Giselle. And she said, ‘Yes!’ It was the best outcome, as I didn’t have to move from where I was living, I knew the staff well, and would play with people who were my friends.”
In Ealing Cristina Blanco Herrera would find out a totally different experience.
“It was a change of pace, mindset and focus. As the team had good resources and we had more than 30 players, the training sessions were intense and dynamic. It was a completely new chapter in my life.”
In her first season with the Trailfinders, Blanco Herrera was a driving force, helping her forward pack to be one of the most threatening of the PWR, whilst bagging a couple of hard-earned tries. At the end of that 2023/2024 season, she won the Players’ Player of the Year award.
“I was not expecting it. I still think it was a dream. We had so many superstars in our team that played a key role in that opening season. But in the end, it was me. It meant so much to be recognised as a valuable player and team member.”
For Blanco Herrera the chance to play alongside superstars like Abby Dow, Kate Zackary, Chloe Rollie, Liz Crake and such, have propelled her to become even better at her job.
“I feel very fortunate, by playing with so many world class players I have grown as a player. It is like a fountain of knowledge, and I get to drink from it every day. It has taken my game to another level, especially my leadership skills.”
After a tremendously successful first year, the 29-cap international had to endure long spells on the sidelines, due to a couple of injuries.
Having penned a new contract that will see her playing for Trailfinders for another season, the hooker confides that she took her time before making a decision.
“To be 100% honest, I didn’t say yes right away. I had to think about it. I needed time to have a serious think. As it is World Cup year, we have been practicing more than usual and we have been under heavy pressure. I had to be 100% sure if this was what I wanted. In the end, my heart, body and soul said ‘yes’.”
With the World Cup just a few months away from kick-off, the 29-year-old has fully recovered from her injuries and is ready to tackle the biggest goal of her career head-on, starting with the task of taking on the reigning world champions- the Black Ferns- in Pool C in York.
“It is a dream come true. When you play at a high level, you always have the goal to reach the World Cup. It doesn’t matter if you play in England, Spain, or Japan, the goal is the same for all. For me, personally, (qualifying) was a defining moment of my career.”
And for those left wondering if Blanco Herrera has ever done anything with her ‘El Tigre’ nickname, well, she departs by sharing a final revelation.
“When I was playing for the Wasps, I did do the ‘El Tigre’ emote. It was in our last game, and I had the pleasure of scoring one of our team’s tries.
And then… bang, I did the emote! I did my part, no one can accuse me of not paying homage to ‘El Tigre’!”
