The ‘good pressure’ fuelling Spain’s latest push for maiden SVNS title

Try-scoring machine Jeremy Trevithick is confident the passionate crowd at SVNS Valladolid will give Spain a boost, as the home side looks to build on a nail-biting 26-21 win over the USA to kick off their campaign.

The crowd at Jose Zorilla Stadium let out a deafening cheer as Spain and the USA made their way out onto the field, setting the tone for the  Pool C clash. It’s a sound no one in attendance will soon forget, as fans seated in the comfort of some shade made their voices heard.

Trevithick featured in the starting side as Spain, who finished third at the Cathay/HBSC Hong Kong Sevens, looked to get their tournament off to a winning start. The USA’s Orrin Bizer briefly silenced the Spanish crowd with an early opener before Spain hit back with two quick tries.

Jaime Manteca and Enrique Bolinches touched down for a try each during the first half but Spain still went into the half-time huddle locked at 14-all. It was 21-all when the full-time siren sounded, but Angel Bozal secured the win with a runaway effort in the final play.

Steve Tomasin and Lucas Lacamp both stood out for the USA side, who gave themselves every chance of a statement upset. But in the end, the crowd let out a celebratory cheer not unlike the one from pre-game, which was utterly goosebumps-inducing.

“The USA, we knew they’re a very, very physical team. We knew they needed those points to stay in the run for next year and knew it was going to be one of the toughest games of the tournament,” Trevithick told RugbyPass in Valladolid, as Spain continues to chase a first-ever SVNS Series title.

“We tried to go out there [and] do our own plan… I think that home crowd gave us that extra boost we needed to win.

“No doubt there is a bit of pressure because we’ve been waiting for this moment the whole season but I think it’s good pressure, it’s what gives us that extra motivation to do that one more sprint or that one last defence to win the game.”

Spain sat in third on the World Championship standings ahead of the stop in Valladolid. South Africa have emerged as the team to beat after a remarkable run in the regular season and in Hong Kong China, and Argentina are another contender for the top prize.

These tournaments in Valladolid and Bordeaux will determine the World Championship winners for 2025/26, the eight teams that will compete in the first division next season, and the four sides that have to work their way back up from SVNS 2.

“We obviously don’t want to think about being world champions yet because we want to go step by step,” Trevithick said.

“First of all, we have to play a good tournament here and then we’ll think about Bordeaux.

“Every single game is important so the most important thing for us now is our game versus France.”

SVNS Valladolid marks another momentous occasion for Spanish rugby, two years on from the SVNS Grand Final in Madrid. In 15s, Spain have punched their ticket to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, which will be the first time in 28 years they’ll compete at the showpiece event.

Spain have been drawn in Pool C along with Argentina, who have claimed major wins over New Zealand and the British & Irish Lions in recent seasons. Fiji and Canada are also in the group, with Trevithick briefly opening up on the appeal of playing at the event in Australia.

“Every single rugby player, their goal is to play at the World Cup and the Olympics. I know everyone would love to play the World Cup but it’s not in our hands at the end of the day, we’re sevens players.

“If we get called up it’s just that we’re lucky about it.”