Spain lifts WXV3 title after beating Fiji 8-10 to secure World Cup place – Royal Spanish Rugby Federation – FERugby
They did it. XV Spain women’s rugby team completed all the tasks with which she went to Dubai for the WXV3 dispute. They counted their matches as victories, beating Madagascar 83-0, the Netherlands 20-0 and Fiji 8-10; They took the third-tier international crown, securing another top-level spot for Europe next year; and most importantly, They received one of two available tickets to the 2025 World Cup in England.. The Lionesses will take part in the world’s biggest rugby event in what will be their seventh World Cup appearance.
Despite The Spaniards entered the battlefield knowing that they were already mathematically classified. as for England in 2025, it hasn’t caused them to reduce their intensity one iota. Koon Kong’s 3-33 defeat to the Netherlands directly gave them one of the tickets to the World Cup, but Las Leonas wanted more and they proved it with a heartbreaking match against Fiji.
The match began with the Oceanic champion planting very well in a field that found itself thirsty after Samoa’s biggest ever loss to that rival. The Spaniards had to strain their work and defense, and as a result, the only win that the Oceanic team managed to achieve was a penalty missed by the sticks in the 20th minute. After these first minutes, the Lionesses warmed up and the matches began. defensive breakthroughs began, without reward, but who already foresaw that the first points in the brilliant Spanish team would not be long in coming. After two poses by Sidorella Bracic and Alba Vinuesa that were canceled by the referee, it was finally a powerful Alba Capell with an unstoppable pick and scored the first goal of the match and put the Spanish team ahead before the end of the first half.
In the second period the equality between both teams was noticeable and when Fiji took the ball into their hands, the time came for the Pacific team to place an oval on the Spanish line and they had the opportunity to equalize, but the final conversion did not come. .luckily for Spain.
The most valuable player of the match was Spaniard Alba Capel.
After the game, captain Las Leonas Laura Delgado He assured that “all goals have been achieved, we are very happy. We came to this tournament not only to qualify, but also to win it. During the warm-up we were told that we were at the World Cup and that Hong Kong had lost. But for us, our work is not over. We also gave our best to complete the task.” “The truth,” continued the Andalusian, supported by co-captain Alva Vinuesa, “is that As I lifted the trophy and celebrated that we were back at the World Cup, I remembered my Parma teammates. I thought about them throughout the tournament and they really were my driving force. We dedicate this to you”. As for what opponents they would like to have at the next World Cup, they are clear: “To be honest, I would say New Zealand. At the end of the day, we all have ambitions to play with big teams like England or New Zealand and compete with them, with the best.”
Selector Juan Gonzalez Morocco For his part, he wanted to “congratulate the girls.” “We don’t have the size that other teams have, dominating defensively, dominating contact costs us more than others. But in this tournament we have shown that we can do it, it is not only a matter of preparation and skill, but also determination, and it is a way of showing ourselves as a united group that works together, being unassailable and creating sensations. from defense.” “The goal now is to celebrate,” the coach continues. “We will start thinking about World Cup goals starting tomorrow.”
“I think Spanish rugby is ready to take a step forward,” concludes the national team coach. “Be bigger than you were before and become a force in this sport.. I think the World Cup can have an impact in terms of visibility, make more girls want to play… now the onus is on us to materialize it and play a good part.”
TECHNICAL SHEET
FIJI 8-10 SPAIN
J3 WXV level 3 2024 // Saturday, October 12, 2024, 18:30.
Sevens Stadium, Dubai // 2025 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in England.
Referee: Natarsha GANLEY
Fiji composition: 1. Salanieta NABULI, 2. Keleni MARAWA, 3. Tiana ROBANAKADAVU, 4. Aviame VEIDREJAKI, 5. Alfreda FISCHER, 6. Adi Salaseini RAILUMU, 7. Ema ADIVITALOGA, 8. KARALAINI NAISEVA (K), 9. Evivi SENIKARIVI, 10 Salanieta KINITA, 11. Repeka ADI TOVE, 12. Jennifer RAVUTIA, 13. Adita MILINIYA, 14. Kolora LOMANI, 15. Louise TISOLO
Subs: 16. Loraini SENIVUTU, 17. Penina TUROVA, 18. Ana KOROVATA, 19. Asinate SEREVI, 20. Mereoni NAKESA, 21. Sulita VAYSEGA, 22. Setaita TAILUMU, 23. Ivamere NABURA.
Spain national team lineup: 1. Laura DELGADO (c), 2. Cristina BLANCO, 3. Sidorella BRASICH, 4. Nadina Siza, 5. LOURDES ALAMEDA, 6. Nerea GARCIA, 7. Alba CAPELL, 8. Carmen CASTELLUCCI, 9. Anne FERNANDEZ DE CORRES, 10. Amalia ARGUDO, 11. Clara PIKERO, 12. ZAHIA PEREZ, 13. Alba VINUESA, 14. Claudia PEREZ, 15. Claudia PENA
Substitutes: 16. Marieta ROMAN (x2, min 51), 17. Ines ANTOLINES (x1, min 51), 18. Mireia DE ANDRES (x3, min 51), 19. Anna PUG (x4, min 45), 20. Lia PINEIRO (x6, min 71), 21. Lucia DIAZ, 22. Claudia CANO (x13, min 65), 23. Martina MARQUEZ.
Score: Min 20 Penalty Luisa TISOLO (15 FIY) 3-0 // Min 34 Yellow card Aviame VEYDREYAKI (4 FIY) // Min 35 Rehearsal of Alba CAPELLA (7 ESP) and transformation of ZAHIA PEREZ (12 ESP) 3-7 / / Min 76 Free kick Zakhia PEREZ 3-10 // Min 82 Rehearsal Adita MILINIA (13 FIY) 8-10.
