Spain's Blanco Herrera: 'We want to punch above our weight and fight to win silverware'

After the 2025 Rugby World Cup, the Spanish Rugby Union reshuffled its coaching staff, selecting Frenchman Régis Sonnes as their new head coach.

Under the new management, they have defeated Belgium and Portugal in the Women’s Rugby Europe Championship (WREC) and are just one win away from securing another piece of silverware.

However, for Cristina Blanco Herrera, the second-most capped player in the squad, the focus is not only on winning titles but also on finding new energy and a way forward.

“It is unquestionably a new cycle for us, as the team changed quite a bit since our last game.” said the Trailfinders Women’s hooker. “Between retirements, debutants, and some tinkering in the way we play, we are walking towards a new path.”

For the experienced front-rower, the departures of legends Monica Castelo, Anna Puig, Alba Vinuesa and Laura Delgado have impacted the team, but she feels that the new blood coming through has promise and the potential to take them to the top.

“The newcomers have brought a lot of good energy. It has been important for the veterans of the team to feel that, as it gives us more confidence in the future. For me, it is proof that the Las Leonas spirit really passes down from one generation to the next.”

As already mentioned, Sonnes and his staff have been working hard to improve Las Leonas’ play, as the former Stade Toulousain coach seeks to bring new dynamics and energy to the team.

“Régis has brought a lot of joy and excitement to the squad, as seen in how he wants us to play the game. I know there’s a long road ahead of us, as the next World Cup is three years away, but the team is looking forward to this new cycle.”

Although Blanco Herrera had to miss the first two games of the Sonnes era in the WREC due to her club commitments, she is looking forward to returning to play for her country.

“For me, it is always a pleasure and a joy to represent Las Leonas. The team met in January and February for a few camps before the competition started, which were important to us as they marked the beginning of a new chapter and era.”

With the WREC fast approaching its closure, Spain will travel to Amsterdam to face the home side, the Netherlands, in a winners-take-all game. Although 2026 is the very beginning of a new cycle, Blanco Herrera and her teammates are focused on bringing the title home.

“We are determined and focused on delivering another win for our community. However, that doesn’t mean we haven’t tried new stuff or given some new players a chance to star.”

One of those debutants was the Argentinian-born centre Anael Fernández, who, for Blanco Herrera, is a staunch example of the promising talent brimming inside the Spanish camp.

“She was incredible in our victory over Portugal, not only because of the two tries she scored, but also because of her dynamics, energy and hunger to keep going. It was her first cap for Spain as well, and she was the MVP! It is incredible how the new members of the team have taken the Las Leonas by storm, which is important if we want to keep winning at this level.”

However, their recent loss to England’s U20s left some fans worried about the team’s chances of clinching a 13th Women’s Rugby Europe Championship title and qualifying for the 2029 Rugby World Cup.

While she understands the concerns from their community, the experienced international player also says that rebuilding always takes time, especially when it concerns a national team.

“Rome wasn’t built in one day! The team felt we could’ve done better against Belgium, but it was our first game since the World Cup, with new staff and a renewed team. If you watched our match against Portugal, the first half wasn’t great, but the second half was! We strung together several plays and better understood what everyone was thinking. Believe in us.”

Looking ahead to next Saturday’s final, while the 30-year-old front-rower respects the Netherlands and acknowledges the progress made by their rivals in the last five years, she has only one thought on her mind: to win.

“We are looking forward to an incredible rugby game. We want to play in finals, we want to fight for the chance to win silverware, and we want to punch above our weight.

“We want to win by playing our game, by showing that Las Leonas are very much alive and well. I am ready for Saturday, and I am eager to be here, to play for Spain and to play rugby.”