Spain Profile and Anthem

Published: Thursday, 1. September, 2011 in category Rugby Anthems

Nickname: El XV del Leon
Colors: Red/Blue
Honors: Qualifying for the 1999 Rugby World Cup
Anthem: La Marcha Real

World Rugby Shop - buy Spain rugby gear

Spain have been playing rugby since the late 1920s, playing their first international against Italy in 1929. They have qualified for one Rugby World Cup, in 1999 where they were pooled with Scotland, South Africa and Uruguay. Spain have also in the past contested the European Nations Cup.

Spain played their first rugby union match in 1929, winning 9-0 over Italy. Throughout the 1930s the Spanish contested games against other European sides, winning the majority of them, losing only to Italy and Germany. The national Spanish rugby team did not participate in any rugby during the 1940s.

The Spanish returned in 1951, and throughout the decade found moderate success. Though the side lost regularly to sides such as Italy and West Germany. The side found success in the earlier years of the 1960s, though there was a lack of games played during the 1963-5. The latter half of the decade saw the Spanish win most of their fixtures against neighbouring European sides.

By the early 1970s, the number of games being played by the Spanish had increased considerably in comparison to previous years, and had become more consistent. Spain competed regularly against sides such as Italy, Portugal, Romania, Netherlands, Poland, Morocco and Czechoslovakia. In the late 1970s, Spain recorded one of its largest wins, beating Tunisia 62 points to nil.

Anthem

Marcha Real

One of the few national anthems not to have any words, the March Real, or Royal March was first used in a national role back in the 1770's but it was not until after the Spanish Civil War was it named as the national anthem.