'Thank you for giving me the best ending': Ex-Spain captain announces retirement

Ex-Spain captain Laura ‘Bimba’ Delgado has confirmed that she will retire at the conclusion of the Premiership Women’s Rugby season.

The 36-year-old Harlequins prop, who only took up rugby 15 years ago, has played domestic rugby on three continents and won 53 caps for Las Leonas prior to her retirement from international rugby after Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025.

Delgado will retire having won eight Women’s Rugby Europe Championships, two PWR titles, WXV 3 in 2024, a Farah Palmer Cup and an Allianz Cup.

“To my family and friends, thank you for being the roots of my career,” Delgado said. “I never forgot where I came from and that has made everything even more special.

“To every one of my teammates and coaches, to the staff and to all those who have supported me, none of this would have been possible without you. Thank you.

“Cádiz CF, Sanse Scrum, Sel. Madrileña, Tarbes Pyrénées, CRAT A Coruña, Sel. Andaluza, Philadelphia RFC, Universitario Sevilla CR, DMP Sharks, Exeter Chiefs, Central, Hawkes Bay, Gloucester Hartpury and Harlequins. It has been an honour to wear these colours. To my Leonas, you have been my engine.

“To my Harlequins family, thank you for giving me the best ending you possibly could, on and off the pitch.”

Delgado has played for four PWR clubs across three spells. In 2019 she joined DMP Sharks before spending two seasons with Exeter Chiefs in Devon.

After a spell with Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand in 2022, she joined Gloucester Hartpury and helped the West Country side to the first two of their English league titles.

Since moving to West L0ndon in 2024, the 36-year-old has become a key character with Harlequins and has played alongside her international teammate Claudia Peña Higaldo at the Twickenham Stoop.

“I want to take the time to congratulate Bimba on her incredible career,” Ross Chisholm, Harlequins Women head coach, said.

“From playing across the world, to captaining her country and appearing at World Cups, she is a player who has been a real trailblazer for Women’s sport in Spain.”

“Since being a part of the Club, it’s been easy to see why she has had the career she has had. She is passionate, hard-working and an incredible player and person. We want to wish her all the best in her retirement from playing and the next stage of her career.”