Sharks' Alba Capell named in Las Leonas' SVNS 2 squad

Spain Women’s Sevens have set themselves the task of qualifying for the HSBC SVNS Series upon announcing their squad for the first HSBC SVNS 2 stop.

Head coach María Ribera has included Sale Sharks flanker Alba Capell in  her squad for Nairobi, ahead of games with South Africa, Argentina, China, Brazil and Kenya this weekend.

This weekend’s tournament marks the start of every team’s ambition to get to the HSBC SVNS Series. In previous years a number of the 12 teams have competed at the top table, with the top four men’s and women’s teams after legs in Nairobi, Montevideo and São Paulo qualifying for the HSBC SVNS World Championships.

There is particular reason for Spain’s Women to qualify for the World Championships, with the second event taking place in Valladolid. At the end of last season, the reformatting of HSBC SVNS competition meant that the side fell out of the top tier.

“The team’s feelings are very good,” Ribera said. “I have a lot of confidence in all of them and in all the work we have been doing from the staff. Both those who are here, and those who stay out. We have had last minute casualties, but the group is always above everything.

“We arrived here with a lot of desire, confidence, for everything put on the field in the last training camp in Bonalba against Belgium and Kenya and with the conviction of putting that individual work and that search for our best version on the pitch.

“That demand both mental and physical; that ambition, desire and the enjoyment of the process is what as a collective will make us perform and what we want to return us to the world top eight.”

Spain Women’s Sevens squad for Nairobi

Olivia Fresneda
Dennise Gortazar
Marta Fresno
Marta Cantabrana
Paula Requena
Juana Stella
Carmen Miranda
April Camacho
Anne Fernandez de Corres
Silvia Morales
Maria Garcia Gala
Alba Capell