Spain Name 28-man Roster for Nations Cup

Spain has named a 28-man Roster for the World Rugby Nations Cup. Los Leones Head Coach Santiago Santos is looking to use the tournament to build towards Japan 2019. Spain is well positioned to compete for a possible first Rugby World Cup appearance since 1999.

Los Leones will open their Nations Cup campaign against Namibia on Saturday. The sanctioned test match will see 18th vs 19th in the world. On Wednesday Spain will play against the Argentina XV while they will finish their tournament against Uruguay on Sunday. Uruguay are presently 21st in the world.

Santiago Santos has recalled young players including Jon Zabala, Jordi Jorba, Alvar Gimeno and Tomás Munilla. There are also changes from the previous Spanish roster. This sees opportunities for Brice Lbadie, Emiliano Calle, Gregory Maiquez, Dan Snee, Fred Quercy and Manuel Mora.

FORWARDS
Alberto Blanco (Valladolid), Jean-Baptiste Custoja (Perpignan, FR), Fernando López (Ordizia), Agustín Ortíz (Ordizia), Jon Zabala (Bayonne, FR), Juan Anaya (Alcobendas), Daniel Marrón (El Salvador), Carlos Gavidi (Valladolid), Manuel Mora (Agde, FR), Victor Sánchez (El Salvador), Matt Foulds (El Salvador), Gautier Gibouin (Montauban, FR), Lucas Guillaume (Narbonne (FR), Jaime Nava (capt., Dijon, FR), Fred Quercy (Albi, FR), Afa Tauli (UE Santboiana)

BACKS
Grégory Maiquez (Bressane, FR), Tomás Munilla (Ciencias), Emiliano Calle Rivas (Timisoara, RO), Álvar Gimeno (Cisneros), Iñaki Mateu (Alcobendas), Andrea Rabago (Dijon, FR), Dan Snee (Havelock, NZ), Federico Castiglioni (Valladolid), Ignacio Contardi (Maçon, FR), Jordi Jorba (Perpignan, FR), Brice Labadie (Charente, FR), Brad Linklater (Alcobendas)