How Spain has become a must-watch stop on the SVNS Series

Across the history of the HSBC SVNS circuit, few places have left an impression as quickly as Spain.

While some venues like Dubai and Hong Kong have an esteemed history in the competition, regarded as focal points of the shortened format, the growth in popularity of Sevens on the Iberian Peninsula has come hand in hand with the growing popularity of rugby at large.

As the second round of the World Championship converges on the north-western city of Valladolid, it is easy to forget how many big moments have occurred within the Spain SVNS, and this tournament only marks the fourth iteration ever to be played.

Rugby union dates back to 1901 in Spain, with the national side playing their first match in 1929, defeating Italy 9-0 in Barcelona.

Across their history, the side played across the European Nations Cup & FIRA Trophy, achieving victories against Tonga, Romania, Italy, Georgia and one victory over the France XV, the secondary side to Les Bleus.

However, it was the side’s inclusion in the 1999 Rugby World Cup that saw the sport start to explode in popularity, with clubs rising up in the likes of Madrid, Catalunya and Valencia.

Since the introduction of the world rankings in 2003, Spain has been one of the slow achievers, climbing from 33rd in 2005 to 15th by 2025, achieving poll position in seven of the last ten European Nations Cup matches.

The ride hasn’t been smooth, with the side expelled from the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup tournaments after an investigation into ineligible players.

However, the side bounced back to qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, marking just the second time they’ll appear at the longer format’s greatest tournament.

This growth has come hand-in-hand with a growth in community rugby, with nearly 40,000 male players and over 300 registered clubs currently across the nation.

This has expanded into the women’s game with participation rising rapidly.

The women’s game particularly has promise, as Spain hosted the 2002 Women’s Rugby World Cup and has played in seven of the ten tournaments so far, making the quarterfinals at home.

Spain has also been a previous member of the women’s iteration of the Six Nations, holding the distinction of having a winning head-to-head record with Wales, Italy and Ireland and defeating every other Six Nations side, including the high-flying Red Roses.

With this success and potential, Spain has become increasingly regarded as a sleeping giant of world rugby, with all signs pointing to the nation becoming a strong contender in the coming years.

It wouldn’t be until 2022, however, that the shortened format of the game would arrive on Spanish shores, as the first iteration of the tournament since the COVID-19 pandemic kicked off with two events each in Dubai and Spain.

Both Málaga and Seville hosted the men’s and women’s events, with South Africa sweeping the men’s competition, while the United States and Australia won in the women’s competition.

The events proved a success, so much so that the HSBC SVNS World Series opted to return to Spain for the 2023-24 Series final, this time taking place at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.

What unfolded that weekend were results that stunned the world of SVNS rugby, as France blew away the competition to win in the men’s final, while Australia ended New Zealand’s four-tournament winning streak to win the women’s competition and their second title on Spanish shores.

Now, after a year’s break, the SVNS returns once again to Spain, with Valladolid, a city with strong historical ties to Spanish rugby, set to host the event for the first time.

Once again, like history repeating itself, New Zealand come in having dominated the regular season in the women’s competition, while South Africa looms as the side to beat in the men’s competition, looking to win here for the first time in four years.

However, this time, plenty of questions swirl around the tournament.

Can Australia, who boast a strong record in Spain, pull the rug out from under the Kiwis and force the women’s finals into a winner-takes-all thriller in France?

Can the Spanish women’s side continue their run from Hong Kong and knock out Great Britain to qualify for the World Series?

Can Spain’s men’s team, the hosts and one of rugby’s rising stars, back up their third-placed finish in Hong Kong and create a piece of history for Spanish rugby, winning their first-ever SVNS title on home soil?

All will be answered at José Zorrilla Stadium at the end of May.