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Spain have new leadership. Juan Carlos Martín Sánchez, also known colloquially as ‘Carlos Hansen’ has been elected as the new president of Spain Rugby (Federación Español de Rugby – FER). He replaces Alfonso Feijoo to take charge of the FER.
Hansen is a native of the Spanish rugby stronghold of Valladolid. He was the leading choice by far as he won a first round majority over former Spanish Women’s test player Patricia García and former FER vice-president Iñaki Vergara.
The election of Hansen comes following, and in response to the World Cup qualifying scandal. As pictured below, Los Leones qualified for Rugby World Cup 2023 only to subsequently be disqualified for breaching player eligibility laws.
The new FER leadership has an affinity with South America. Hansen is a close ally of Agustín Pichot and Sudamérica Rugby. The change therefore has the potential to result in increased competition in a variety of formats between Spain and South American.
The change also follows altered standings within the Americas. Los Teros and Los Cóndores qualified for RWC 2023 ahead of Canada and the USA. In 2021, Canada were eliminated by Chile and Uruguay qualified by defeating the USA. In 2022, Chile qualified for the first time, doing so by defeating the USA.
Chile’s route to qualifying for RWC 2023 follows an extended period of unhappiness with the qualifying process. South America was not given an automatic spot at RWCs 2011, 2015 or 2019. Today, North America is feeling the effects of global imbalance in World Cup Qualifying.
Relations between Spain and South America are beyond the test arena. There have been discussions about Spain and Portugal potentially becoming involved in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). His this may occur remains unconfirmed.
Despite Spain’s disqualification from RWC 2023, rugby is well-placed in the country. This is evident in the playing numbers, domestic league, and representative teams in both Men’s and Women’s and in XV and Rugby Sevens.
Popularity saw a crowd of 40,000 at the Wanda Metropolitan Stadium in Madrid in May. Spain faced the Classic All Blacks in a match to demonstrate the possibilities of Los Leones and Spanish rugby. Hansen’s administration have the focus of qualifying for and playing at RWC 2027.
