The head coach, Juan Gonzalez Marruecos, has selected this squad to face England at Leicester:
1. GEMMA SILVA 2. CRISTINA BLANCO 3. MIRELA DE ANDRES 4. MONICA CASTELO 5. ELENA MARTINEZ 6. ANA PERALTA 7. VICTORIA ROSELL 8. ALBA CAPELL 9. MAIDER ARESTI 10. AMALIA ARGUDA 11. CLARA PIQUERO 12. ZAHIA PEREZ 13. ALBA VINUESTA (captain) 14. ANA CORTES 15. CLAUDIA PENA
16. NURIA JOU 17. INEZ ANTOLINEZ 18. EIDER GARCIA 19. LOURDES ALAMEDA 20. LIA PINERO 21. ANNE FRRNANDEZ DE CORRES 22. CLAUDIA CANO 23. CLAUDIA PEREZ
Some background
Las Leonas have beaten England in the past, but that was in 2001(15-8)!
Their recent run has been less successful. In April they lost at home to the Boks 48-26; on their tour of Japan recently they lost 32-19 and 30-19 to the Sakura.
This is one more reminder of the troubles they have suffered from being ousted from the 6 Nations in favour of Italy 18 years ago. High time they were re-admitted.
They are delighted at having qualified for another RWC.
Historically, they can boast a better win-loss record in tests than Canada, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and a few other nations you may have heard of.
Cristina Blanco, one of a handful of Spanish Lionesses familiar to PWR fans, is in line to gain her 30th cap.
