The size of the challenge facing Colombia next week in Dubai was highlighted by a warm-up game played against a Spain A team on 10 February. The Spaniards, containing ten players new to this level, defeated Las Tucanes 47-15 in Majadahonda, just outside Madrid.
To give this game some perspective: this was Las Tucanes’ first ever game in Europe. They can feel pleased with their achievement. Twice they went into the lead, 8-5 and 15-8, enough to encourage the Spanish management to bring on seasoned replacements in the second half. A further 39 unanswered points did the trick.
Jose Antonio Barrio intends to retire
The game brought Jose Antonio Barrio, the long-standing head coach of Spain, one step closer to retirement. He has announced he will step down once the impending European Championship is completed.
This may well be an inevitable reaction to the bitter disappointment of failing to gain qualification for the World Cup – Spain were there in 2017 – but he has given immense service to the game in Spain. He has been in charge since 2010, so has seen a huge change come over women’s rugby in the last decade.
His coaching career has run parallel to that of Andrea Di Giandomenico of Italy, with a crucial distinction brought about in 2007 when Spain were ousted in favour of Italy from the Six Nations. For them it meant a loss of standing and progress; international competition was restricted to the European Championship (Spain the recurrent winners) and the occasional World Cup.
He has held the fort despite these hardships and can be proud that Las Leonas stand ten places higher in world rankings (10th) than their menfolk.
But he sees this year as the sensible moment to call a halt. The victory of that new-look Spanish side will hearten him that the future for women’s rugby in Spain is bright. And who knows, the 6N board might one day announce quite sensational news. Or perhaps not.
