42 Buza Lions in the November Window – Royal Spanish Rugby Federation – FERugby
The beginning of the most interesting season for Spain men’s XV national rugby team The last few years are just around the corner; there are just over 10 days left before the start of the official matches of the Los Leones national team. Pablo Buza unveiled a list of 42 men with whom he will play the last games of the year and the first in preparation for the World Cup qualification that awaits the Spaniards in February. The autumn window will turn November into an exciting month of rugby: in Madrid against Uruguay and the USA on the 9th and 23rd. the above month in Complutense National Stadiumand one in Valladolid which, thanks to the strength of the opposition and the chosen scenario, is the jewel in the crown of these Test matches, against Fiji, November 16 at the Jose Zorrilla Stadium..
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Here are the 42 people selected by the national staff:
Forwards: Thierry FUTEU, Bernardo VAZQUEZ, Santiago OVEJERO, Alvaro GARCIA, Diego GONZALEZ, Jon SABALA, Lucas SANTAMARIA, Joel MERCLER, Jacobo Ruiz, Hugo PIRLE, Imanol URRAZA, Ignacio PINHEIRO, Pablo GUIRAO, Alex PEREZ, Pepe BORRAZ, Bree with FERRER, Asier USARAGA, Matt FOLDS, Rafael NIETO, Ekain IMAZ, Alex SALETA, Vicente BORONAT, Nicholas MOLETI, Mark SANCHEZ.
Three quarters: Tani BAY, Ike IRUSTA, Kerman AURRECOECHA, Gonzalo VINUESA, Bautista GUEMES, Gonzalo LOPEZ, Iñaki MATEU, Alvar GIMENO, Alberto CARMONA, Alex ALONSO, Manuel ALFARO, Iago FERNANDEZ, Gautier MINGUILON, Martiniano CIAN, John Wessel BELL, Martin ALONSO, Federico CASTELLONI, Pau AIRA.
The list from which the players will be selected to play the three matches highlights the return of three men currently competing in the TOP 14, France’s highest club competition and considered by many to be the best in the world. John Zabala and Joel Merkler will come to strengthen the fight while Martin Alonso He will show off his speed and explosiveness in the open field.
Similarly, three other players who competed in the M20 World Cup less than six months ago and have achieved a permanent place in the global elite could make their debuts. Nicholas Moleti, Iago Fernandez and Diego Gonzalez They have already earned their first inclusion in the pre-international list and will accompany another M20 teammate who, despite his youth, is a regular member of the senior team and won European bronze last season. Alberto Carmona.
National trainer, Pablo Buzaassures that “after the tour of Tonga and Samoa, These three games are very important in determining the team that will play in the REC 2025 qualifier. We want to continue to see the players and also confirm all the work we have done so far.. The group must continue to grow so that the players feel comfortable with each other and want to come and play in a Spain shirt representing their country.”
As for the players in the top 14, “we already know John Sabala, who was in the Romania game, and Martin, who was in two matches last year. As for Merkler, we look forward to seeing him on the team.”
Regarding the inclusion of several names of players under 20 in the challenge, the Rosario resident emphasizes that “the level of the tournament, the M20 World Cup, in which they competed in the summer, is very high. If players succeed at this level, it means they can play for the senior team. Already in the 23rd and 24th matches, Alvaro, Nacho and Carmona himself played and showed that they were at a high level. The idea is that the Spanish process is Academic, World M20 and absolute. The sooner we can integrate the many M20 players, the sooner we will start to grow. because we know them from being on the national team, we will work with them for years and they will be players who have a lot of present and future ahead of them.”
The coach has no doubt that this is a time for excitement. “We had a lot of competition this year (number of matches and preparation). We ended up playing 10 games and now we have a very demanding November window with Uruguay, who have been in the last three World Cups, Fiji, ranked 9th in the world, and the USA. Spain is a team that creates its own identity. And we want to create it together with our fans. November is the perfect time for everyone to come and watch these three great games.”.
