Spain squad hits snag ahead of Canada visit

Spain have named 33 players to travel for their test against Canada in Ottawa next weekend. The team has hit a snag, however, as 7 members of the group did not have the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine required to enter the country. An emergency vaccination session was arranged to meet the conditions but it’s unclear if those players will still be permitted to travel.

As it stands Los Leones will send a mix of youth and experience, with a roster closely resembling that which faces the Classic All Blacks and Barbarians in recent weeks. Long-time skipper Fernando López leads the side and is one of 14 France-based inclusions. There is one player from Italy, with the rest based domestically. Six players suited up for the Iberians, Spain’s entry in the Rugby Europe Super Cup.

There are 10 uncapped players in the squad, including 18-year-old winger Alberto Carmona who made his first run with the senior side in the non-cap international against the Barbarians. Three of the new names are in Top 14 academy programs, while flyhalf Manuel Ordas will return to the top flight with Bayonne next season after winning promotion from the Pro D2.

Despite the immense disappointment of being dumped from the World Cup for what amounts to a failure of administration, Spain will be favored to defeat the almost-entirely domestic-based Canadian side. Los Leones are currently ranked 15th in the world with the Maple Leafs six spots below at No21.

PROP
Bittor Aboitiz (Bédarrides, FR)
Thierry Futeu (Carcassonne, FR)
Fernando López (capt., Berre, FR)
Lucas Santamaría (Biarritz, FR)
Jon Zabala (Béziers, FR)

HOOKER
Vicente Del Hoyo (Marmande, FR)
Santiago Ovejero (Alcobendas)

SECOND ROW
Gorbei Allende (Biarritz, FR)
Manu Mora (Agde, FR)
Victor Sánchez (El Salvador / Iberians)
Alex Suárez (La Vila)
Imanol Urraza (Barcelona)

BACK ROW
Matt Foulds (Alcobendas)
Michael Hogg (Barcelona)
Ekain Imaz (Biarritz, FR)
Héctor Matamoros (Mont-de-Marsan, FR)
Ignacio Piñeiro (Clermont Auvergne, FR)
Marc Sánchez (Aparejadores / Iberians)
Afa Tauli (UE Santboiana)

SCRUMHALF
Ike Irusta (Cisneros)
Facundo Munilla (El Salvador / Iberians)
Tomás Munilla (Béziers, FR)

FLYHALF
Bautista Güemes (Barcelona)
Manuel Ordas (Bayonne, FR)
Gonzalo Vinuesa (Cisneros)

CENTER
Alejandro Alonso (VRAC / Iberians)
Daniel Barranco (Barcelona)
Álvar Gimeno (VRAC / Iberians)

OUTSIDE BACKS
John-Wessel Bell (VRAC / Iberians)
Alberto Carmona (Málaga)
Jordi Jorba (UE Santboiana)
Iñaki Mateu (Viadana, IT)
Gauthier Minguillon (Aurillac, FR)