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Fernández de Corres targets historic World Cup: 'It is something bigger than us'
Anne Fernández de Corres del Rio is no stranger to fans of SVNS rugby. A leader for Spain in multiple campaigns, she has poured passion, skill, and her trademark ganas into every season.
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Swift like the wind flowing through the Basque Country mountains, the utility back has built a solid career out of rugby. Earning her first Test Match cap when she was only 17, and making her 7s World Series debut just one year later, Fernández de Corres has been schooled in the world of elite rugby.
Having amassed more than 134 games between 15s and 7s, Fernández de Corres is a staple of the Leonas and understands her role in encouraging more young female players to take up the sport.
“It is something bigger than us. It isn’t just playing rugby; it is a matter of being an example for them. Sometimes I get overwhelmed when a girl comes up to me asking for my autograph or a picture with me. It is always going to be bigger than any of us; we are here to help the new generation to share the stage with us.”
Having her life with rugby started when she was seven, Fernández de Corres recalls those early days. At the time, there were only a few girls of the same age playing at the local rugby club. However, 20 years later, things have certainly progressed, as she states.
“It has definitely gone bigger, as more girls are playing and getting involved with the game. I know that people have heard this from other players, but I mainly played with boys while growing up.
“Every time I shared with someone that I played rugby, they would turn their faces to me with a shocked look. Now there are even women-only teams, for example. It has progressed, and we are going to keep broadening our limits.”
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Born and raised in the beautiful city of Vitória-Gasteiz, Fernández de Corres tried out different sports, but none made a strong impression. Well, at least until she discovered rugby, which changed her life forever.
“How could I not have liked rugby from the get-go? I made so many friends after that first Saturday, and I felt happy. I played and tried so many sports, but rugby was the only one that made me fall in love with it.”
From 2005 onwards, Fernández de Corres was fully committed to the oval ball cause, growing at each new day and becoming recognised as one of Spain’s newest talents. However, she never considered turning professional or becoming a Test Match player until a special event occurred in her life.
“The turning point that pushed me to work even more and believe I could become an international player was when some friends represented Spain in the Youth Olympic Games. The chance to clash against the best and go abroad were very compelling factors for me to fight for bigger goals. I wanted that for myself, and so I started working for it.”
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However, Fernández de Corres never thought she would become one of the leading figures of the Spanish 7s national setup before playing in a 15s Rugby World Cup. All she ever wanted was to challenge herself.
“I just wanted to be a good player, and I never thought that I would get the chance to call rugby my job and career.
“For me, being a professional player isn’t a sacrifice; it is quite the opposite. I sometimes feel bad that I can call this my job, as it sounds weird when I hear my friends talking about their 9-5 jobs. I love what I do, even at the worst of times. Rugby has always been my life.”
Whilst she tries to feel guilty for loving her job, Fernández de Corres recognises that there’s something more to this link between her and the oval ball.
“Passion. That’s the word to explain my connection with rugby. I am positive about it all, even when I sustained career-threatening injuries. I looked at my knee injuries as an opportunity to come back stronger and better. That’s my mantra and mindset. Giving up is a non-existent couple of words in my lexicon.”
Debuting as a Test Match player when she was months away from blowing her 18th birthday candles, Fernández de Corres recalls the first steps as a member of the Leonas pride, namely her first international experience.
“My first Test Match experience was against Scotland, but it was like two development sides, so it doesn’t count on paper.
However, I can recall that game better than my first cap, mainly the way I played. I was carefree with it all, as I just wanted to have fun and not overthink what I had to do next. I went with the flow, enjoying every second of it.”
Having reached the top of the game at a very young age, Fernández de Corres would overcome a heavy sequence of injuries at the age of 19 to land a place in the Spanish team that was bound to play in the 2017 Rugby World Cup. For her, that journey through Ireland remains one of the most special moments of her life.
The 2017 Rugby World Cup remains one of her fondest memories, not just for the competition, but for the camaraderie. “The senior players made us sing, dance, and take part in ridiculous challenges,” she laughs. “It was tough, but unforgettable.”
For Fernández de Corres, the chance to play alongside former Exeter Chiefs and Leonas great Patricia García was a dream come true.
“I grew up looking up to some players, and Patrícia García was one of the few women whom I followed closely.
“I had a collection of pictures of her playing on a wall next to my bed. So, imagine my face when I got to play next to her in the World Cup. I actually had the chance to play alongside one of my role models, and I learned so much from her.”
After 2017, Fernández de Corres shifted her focus to 7s, becoming a key figure for the Leonas. Even through injuries, she guided younger players and celebrated what she calls her “favourite season” in 2024, when Spain bounced back from Olympic disappointment. Now, with her second Rugby World Cup looming, her attention is back on 15s.
“That SVNS season was by far my favourite season. It was the first one that I had not sustained any injuries, and the team was able to build on after missing the Olympic qualification. It showed where we could go as a team, and I was profoundly proud of how the team performed.”
While she still has the will to play for at least six more years, the rapid decision-maker enjoys sharing her vast experience with the team’s newest members, in the hope that it can lead them to the same dream she has been pursuing since the 2010s.
“Something that I try to share with my youngest teammates is my mindset, like ‘how would you play/practice/talk with your teammate today, if you couldn’t play tomorrow’. Since we never know when our last game will be, I believe it’s important to give my best today without looking ahead.”
While her 7s chapter is still far from finished, Fernández de Corres is now solely focused on helping the 15s assemble. As she has the chance to play in her 2nd Rugby World Cup, the scrum half makes a revelation.
“I have more ‘ganas’ to play in this World Cup than the one from 2017. It was like a prize, and we won it fair and square. We deserve to enjoy the spoils of our qualification.”
Reflecting on her past experiences, Fernández de Corres is more conscious of the enormity that qualifying for the sport’s global showpiece holds for Spanish Rugby.
“I was very young back in 2017; it was all new to me, so even if it was special, it didn’t have the same weight as this one. The team endured a long journey to get to this point. I value more what they did in the last four years.”
Fuelled by the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2021 tournament, Fernández de Corress stressed that the team were fuelled by the desire to avoid that pain once again. Believing that they could turn the ship around, Fernández de Corres retells her emotions after the Leonas beat Fiji in the WXV3 2024 to reach the World Cup once again.
“I remember tasting a mix of emotions. We were profoundly happy and relieved, especially because of how things had ended in the previous qualification.
“While I know I was part of the team, for me it was more special and important to see players like Lourdes, Laura and others rejoicing, as they had been fully committed to the 15s for the last three years. They had to endure it all and had the strength to overcome the odds.”
With the World Cup only days away, Fernández de Corres is focused on giving everything back to the Leonas. “It’s more than rugby,” she says. “It’s a privilege to wear this jersey. It has shaped who I am, and I want the world to see that passion when we take the field in England.”
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