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{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
[[Rugby league]] is a team sport that is played in several regions of [[Spain]]. The game gained popularity in the [[autonomous community of Catalonia]] following the success of the [[Perpignan]] - based [[Catalans Dragons]] club in the [[Rugby League Challenge Cup]] and [[Super League]] from 2006 onwards. With rugby league having long been played in [[Northern Catalonia]] (part of the [[Languedoc-Rousillon]] region of France), the success of [[Catalans Dragons]] was the catalyst to spread the game to the rest of Catalonia. On June 20, 2009, the first Super League game was played in Barcelona in front of a crowd of over 18,500, [[Catalans Dragons]] lost 12 - 24 to the [[Warrington Wolves]] and a raft of new teams were formed in Catalonia around this time.
{{Infobox sport overview
| country = [[Spain]]
| sport = rugby league
| image = File:Custodians Rugby League segundo título de liga.png
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = The Custodians club of [[Madrid]] celebrate winning the 2016–17 season
| union = [[Spanish Rugby League Association]]
| nationalteam = [[Spain national rugby league team|Men's]]
| nickname = <!-- nickname for the sport -->Rugby XIII<br>Rugby Lliga (in [[Catalan language|Catalan]])
| first = <!-- date of first match -->
| registered = <!-- number of registered players -->
| clubs = <!-- number of clubs -->
| national_list = <!-- national competitions -->
| club_list = <!-- club competitions -->
| intl_list = <!-- international competitions -->
| match = 31,555 – [[Catalans Dragons]] vs [[Wigan Warriors]] at [[Camp Nou]], [[Barcelona]], 18 May 2019
| league = <!-- attendance record for season -->
}}
[[Rugby league]] is a team sport that is played in several regions of [[Spain]].


==History==
New clubs have subsequently been formed in the [[Valencian Community]], [[Madrid]] and [[Andalucia]]. For example the first game in the [[province of Castellon]] took place in November 2013. A Spanish National team played their first rugby league international in 2014 and have reached the final qualifying stage for the [[2017 Rugby League World Cup]].
===Foundations in Catalonia===
{{see also|Rugby league in Catalonia}}
Rugby league in Spain effectively began in [[Rugby league in France|France]] (an established sport in France since in 1930s) with several attempts by [[Northern Catalonia|French Catalan]] clubs to expand interest of the sport to [[Catalonia|Spanish Catalonia]].


The first of these attempts occurred on 30 May 1993, when [[Perpignan]]-based [[XIII Catalan]] invited [[Huddersfield Giants]] to contested a friendly named "The Alex Angel Trophy" at the [[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys]] in [[Barcelona]], with Huddersfield won 23–22.<ref>{{cite web|title=Club History|url=https://www.giantsrl.com/the-club/club-history|website=giantsrl.com|access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref>
==History: 1934 - 2005 ==


The first governing body of rugby league in Spain was formed in Catalonia in 2007 solely for Catalonia. The [[Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga]] was responsible for [[Catalan Rugby League Championship]] and the [[Catalonia national rugby league team]] and was granted observer status of the [[Rugby League European Federation]] (RLEF) in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rlef.eu.com/news_archive.php |title=Rugby League Europe Federation |accessdate=2008-09-26 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309235514/http://www.rlef.eu.com/news_archive.php |archivedate=2009-03-09 }}</ref> The body however was expelled from the RLEF in 2014 due to lack of activity since 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rlif.com/rugby-league-international-news/article/1480/germany--catalonia-lose-status |title=Germany & Catalonia lose status |website=RLIF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009001522/http://www.rlif.com/rugby-league-international-news/article/1480/germany--catalonia-lose-status |archive-date=9 October 2014}}</ref>
The [[Rugby League in France|French]] part of Catalonia has been playing rugby league since 1934. Teams from this region, centred on the city of [[Perpignan]], have had considerable success, with [[Catalans Dragons|XIII Catalan]] (later [[Catalans Dragons|Union Treiziste Catalan]]), [[AS Saint Estève]] and [[Pia XIII]] all being champions of France while Palau XIII (later [[Palau XIII Broncos]]) won silverware at various levels of the French game. However there was little impact in Spain, although lower division club [[Font Romeu XIII]] were reported in 1999-2000 to have had to train in the neighbouring town of [[Llivia]], an exclave of Catalonia, Spain due to a dispute with local authorities <ref> Rugby League World, Vol 226, January 2000, Font Romeu XIII </ref>


During this time [[Catalans Dragons]], a French club playing in the [[Super League|British league]] formed from the merging of the aforementioned XIII Catalan and [[Saint-Estève XIII Mavericks|AS Saint-Estève]], played a regular season game on 20 June 2009, at [[Barcelona]]'s [[Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys]] against [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]. Catalans led the match at halftime 10–6, but Warrington finished as the winners beating the Dragons 24–12.<ref name="BarcaBBCreport">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/8104747.stm|title=Catalans Dragons 12–24 Warrington|publisher=news.bbc.co.uk (BBC Sport)|access-date=2009-06-20| date=20 June 2009}}</ref>
==History: 2006 - 2009 ==


===Spanish Governance===
French side [[Catalans Dragons]] joined the Super League in 2006. On July 29, 2007, the Dragons became the first French side and first non-English side to reach the final of the [[Challenge Cup]]. They were presented to the crowd at [[FC Barcelona]]'s [[Nou Camp]] stadium. The success of the Dragons led to rugby league clubs being started in Southern Catalonia in the autumn of 2007 and a governing body in 2008. The Catalan representative side made their debut in January 2008, when they participated in the French Interleague Championship held near [[Perpignan]], in France. In April of the same year, the first domestic competition took place in southern Catalonia, the Copa Catalunya de Rugby Lliga, with FC Barcelona emerging victorious from the three-way contest. [[Warrington Wolves]] played [[Catalans Dragons]] in Barcelona in 2009, with a game between Catalonia and the Czech Republic taking place before the main game.


In 2013, the [[Spanish Rugby League Association]] was formed governing rugby league the whole county. The body were granted observer status with the RLEF upon formation<ref name=observer>{{cite web|date=13 January 2014|title=RLEF recognises Spanish national governing body|url=https://www.rlef.eu.com/articles/753|publisher=RLEF|accessdate=29 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=14 January 2014|title=LA AERL YA FORMA PARTE DE LA RLEF|url=https://www.spainrugbyleague.com/single-post/2014/01/14/LA-AERL-YA-FORMA-PARTE-DE-LA-RLEF|publisher=spainrugbyleague.com|accessdate=29 August 2018|language=Spanish}}</ref> and promoted to affiliate members in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|date=1 March 2015|title=Spain becomes twentieth RLEF member|url=https://www.rlef.eu.com/articles/1027/spain-becomes-twentieth-rlef-member|publisher=RLEF|accessdate=29 August 2018}}</ref>
==Governing bodies==


Spain attempted [[2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification|World Cup qualification for the first time in 2017]], however lost both group games in Europe Pool B to [[Ireland national rugby league team|Ireland]] and [[Russia national rugby league team|Russia]].
The Asociación Española de Rugby League (Spanish Rugby League Association) was formed and admitted to the [[Rugby League European Federation]] in 2013.


In 2019 Catalan Dragons set a world record for the highest attended non-[[Magic Weekend|magic]] regular season [[Super League]] match attendance, electing to hold their home game against [[Wigan Warriors]] at the [[Camp Nou]], attracting a crowd of 31,555.<ref>{{cite web|date=19 May 2019|title=A record crowd in Barcelona|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/54931/a-record-crowd-in-barcelona-|website=rugby-league.com|access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref>
{{main article|Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga}}


Spain attempted [[2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification|World Cup qualification again in 2021]], but again lost both pool matches to [[Italy national rugby league team|Italy]] and again Ireland.
L'[[Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga]], formed in 2008, is the governing body for rugby league in Catalonia. Catalonia is an unranked member of the [[Rugby League European Federation]] with Official observer status.


==Governing body==
==Domestic competitions==
{{see also|Catalan Rugby League Championship}}
{{main|Spanish Rugby League Association}}
The governing body for the sport in Spain is the [[Spanish Rugby League Association]], which was formed in 2013.


==Competitions==
In April 2008, the first domestic competition took place in southern Catalonia, the Copa Catalunya de Rugby Lliga, with FC Barcelona emerging victorious from the three-way contest. The results from the competition were:
The Campeonato Nacional de Liga (National League Championship) began in March 2014 with four clubs. The first Copa de España de Rugby League (Spanish Rugby League Cup) took place later in the same season.<ref name=ERL848>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/848/irreductibles-edetans-take-inaugural-spanish-championship |title=Irreductibles Edetans take inaugural Spanish Championship |publisher=European Rugby League |date=17 June 2014 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref> For the third season, which began in late 2015, the league had eight teams across two conferences.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/1211/expanded-spanish-rugby-league-championship-kicks-off |title=Expanded Spanish Rugby League Championship kicks off |publisher=European Rugby League |date=1 December 2015 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref> In the 2017–18 season the league had been split into two divisions: Serie A, with six teams, and Serie B.<ref name=ERL1486>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/1486/spanish-season-set-to-kick-off |title=Spanish season set to kick off |publisher=European Rugby League |date=1 November 2017 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref> However, for 2018–19 only three teams were recorded as taking part in the Championship.<ref name=RLEF2019>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/media/file/6646/2019+Annual+Report.pdf |title=Annual Report 2019 |publisher=Rugby League European Federation |page=41 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref>

===Domestic champions===
* FC Barcelona 22-20 Aligots Girona
{| class="wikitable defaultleft col3center"
* Aligots Girona 24-0 Nord-Català
|+{{screen reader-only|List of winners}}
* Nord-Català 4-24 FC Barcelona
! scope="col" |Year

! scope="col" |League
In 2009 this was expanded to a nine team club championship and a seven team university tournament.
! scope="col" |Cup

! scope="col" |{{abr|Ref.|References}}
The 2009 competition compromised:
|-
*Club Rugby Tarragona
! scope="row" |2014
*Club Rugby Sant Cugat
| Irreductibles Edetans
*Garrotxa Rugbi Club
| Ciencias Valencia
*CNPN Enginyers
| <ref name=ERL848/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/867/ciencias-valencia-claim-inaugural-spanish-cup |title=Ciencias Valencia claim inaugural Spanish Cup |publisher=European Rugby League |date=29 June 2014 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref>
*CE INEF Lleida Rugby
|-
*CA Vic - Crancs
! scope="row" |2015
*CR Valls
| Custodians Madrid
*GEIEG
| Valencian Warriors
*BUC (Barcelona Universitari Club)
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/1122/custodians-madrid-are-spanish-champions |title=Custodians Madrid are Spanish Champions |publisher=European Rugby League |date=14 July 2015 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/1118/valencian-warriors-win-spanish-cup-final |title=Valencian Warriors win Spanish Cup Final |publisher=European Rugby League |date=8 July 2015 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |2016
| Torrent Tigres
| Custodians Madrid
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/1241/torrent-tigres-claim-spanish-rugby-league-championship-title |title=Torrent Tigres claim Spanish Rugby League Championship title |publisher=European Rugby League |date=30 March 2016 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ffr13.fr/news-de-letranger-35/ |title=News de l'étranger |publisher=FFRXIII |language=fr |date=4 February 2016 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |2017
| Custodians Madrid
| Torrent Tigres
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/articles/1422/custodians-and-tigres-set-for-grand-final |title=Custodians and Tigres set for Grand Final |publisher=European Rugby League |date=5 May 2017 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref><ref name=ERL1486/>
|-
! scope="row" |2018
| Torrent Tigres
|
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/media/file/6756/2018+Annual+Report.pdf |title=Annual Report 2018 |publisher=Rugby League European Federation |page=21 |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |2019
| Torrent Tigres
|
| <ref name=RLEF2019/>
|}


==National team==
==National team==
===Men's===
{{main article|Catalonia national rugby league team|Spain national rugby league team}}
{{main|Spain national rugby league team}}
The Spain national rugby league team was formed in 2014 and defeated {{rlnt|Belgium}} in their first match. By beating Latvia in a playoff and then Malta and Greece in an initial qualifying group in 2015, they advanced to the final qualifying stage for the [[2017 Rugby League World Cup]], where they were placed in a three team group (Pool B) alongside Russia and Ireland. Their first result was a 6-40 loss to Russia, at Fili Stadium, [[Moscow]] on 15 October 2016,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rlwc2017.com/news/european-qualifier-russia-40-spain-6|title = Rugby League World Cup 2021}}</ref> and their second a 46-6 defeat by Ireland, which resulted in their elimination.


===Wheelchair===
The '''Catalonia national rugby league team''' represents [[Catalonia]] in the sport of [[rugby league]]. Players are drawn from both North and South Catalonia. They have played international rugby league but do not take part in some international competitions, such as the [[Rugby League World Cup]] as Catalonia is not a sovereign nation. They played Belgium, Morocco and the Czech Republic in 2009 with the Belgium and Morocco games being part of the Euro Med tournament.
The Spain national wheelchair rugby league team took part in the [[2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup|2017]] and [[2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup|2021]] World Cups.<ref name=WalesWWC>{{cite web|url=https://rugbyleague.wales/wales-in-the-wheelchair-world-cup |title=Wheelchair World Cup |website=Wales Rugby League|access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://europeanrugbyleague.com/fixtures/1062 |title=Spain 55 32 Ireland |publisher=European Rugby League |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref>


====Current squad====
The '''Spain national rugby league''' represent [[Spain]] in [[rugby league]], they are a newer concept than the [[Catalonia]] team playing their first international, a victory over Belgium in 2014. By beating Latvia in a playoff and then Malta and Greece in an initial qualifying group, they advanced to the final qualifying stage for the [[2017 Rugby League World Cup]], where they were placed in a three team group (Pool B) alongside Russia and Ireland. Their first result was a 6-40 loss to Russia, at Fili Stadium, [[Moscow]] on 15 October 2016.<ref>http://www.rlwc2017.com/news/european-qualifier-russia-40-spain-6</ref>
Squad selected for 21 November 2024 fixture against {{wrl-l|ENG}}.<ref>https://www.intrl.sport/article/334/wheelchair-rugby-league-squads-announced-for-internationals-in-france</ref>


*Eric Perez (Biganos Eagles)
The final 22-man squad representing Spain Rugby League in the [[2017 Rugby League World Cup]] Qualifiers Pool B, as of 4 October 2016, was as follows:<ref>[http://www.rlef.eu.com/news/article/1313/five-debutants-in-spain-22-man FIVE DEBUTANTS IN SPAIN 22-MAN SQUAD FOR QUALIFIERS], ''rlef.com'', 4 October 2016</ref>
*Anthony Martin (Biganos Eagles)
*Joe Lacombe ([[Catalans Dragons Wheelchair|Catalans Dragons]])
*Mathieu Monedero ([[Catalans Dragons Wheelchair|Catalans Dragons]])
*Pascal Ambrosino ([[Catalans Dragons Wheelchair|Catalans Dragons]])
*Wil Seron (Mountauban Pandas)
*Yannick Martin (Mountauban Pandas)


====Results====
*Coach: {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Darren Fisher (rugby league)|Darren Fisher]]
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable defaultcenter col2left"
|- bgcolor=#bdb76b
! Club Team !! Players
|-
|-
!Date
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} [[British Army|Army Rugby League]] || {{Leagueicon|GB|16}} [[Chris Lopez]]
!Opponent
!class=unsortable|Score
!class=unsortable|Competition
!class=unsortable|Ref.
|-
|-
|22 July 2017
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Custodians Madrid]]|| {{Leagueicon|Spain|16}} [[Antonio Puerta (rugby league)|Antonio Puerta]], [[Daniel Moreno (rugby league)|Daniel Moreno]]
|{{wrl-l|ITA}}
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|39–68
|rowspan="4"|[[2017 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup|2017 World Cup]]
|
|-
|-
|24 July 2017
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Hull F.C.]] || {{Leagueicon|HullFC|16}} [[Joel Marquez-Laynez]]
|{{wrl-l|SCO}}
|style="background:#ddffdd;"|54–18
|
|-
|-
|25 July 2017
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Irreductibles]] || {{Leagueicon|Spain|16}} [[Ivan Ordaz]]
|{{wrl-l|AUS}}
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|40–49
|
|-
|-
|27 July 2017
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Los Gossos]] || {{Leagueicon|Spain|16}} [[Clement Laguerre]]
|{{wrl-l|WAL}}
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|45–66
|
|-
|-
|3 September 2022
| {{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Palau XIII Broncos]] || {{Leagueicon|Brisbane|16}} [[Alexandre Doutres]], [[Cedric Bringuier]], [[Leandre Torres]], [[Mathieu Griffi]], <br> [[Pierre Negre]]
|{{wrl-l|FRA}}
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|4–108
|Friendly
|
|-
|-
|3 November 2022
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Paterna Dragons]] || {{Leagueicon|Spain|16}} [[Matt Dulley]]
|{{wrl-l|IRE}}
|style="background:#ddffdd;"|55–32
|rowspan="3"|[[2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup|2021 World Cup]]
|
|-
|-
|6 November 2022
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Seaton Rangers]] || {{Leagueicon|Huddersfield|16}} [[Miguel Charters-Blanco]]
|{{wrl-l|ENG}}
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|12–104
|
|-
|-
|9 November 2022
| {{Flagicon|FRA}} *[[Stade Français]] || {{Leagueicon|France|16}} [[Kevin Aparicio]]
|{{wrl-l|AUS}}
|style="background:#ffdddd;"|32–52
|
|-
|-
|21 November 2024
| {{Flagicon|FRA}} [[Tonneins XIII]] || {{Leagueicon|Salford City Reds|16}} [[Gonzalo Morro]]
|{{wrl-l|ENG}}
|-
|TBA
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Torrent Tigres]] || {{Leagueicon|Spain|16}} [[Aitor Davila]], [[Juan Pablo Rango]], [[Raul Simo]]
|Friendly
|-
|
| {{Flagicon|ESP}} [[Valencia Warriors]] || {{Leagueicon|Spain|16}} [[Adrian Alonso (rugby league)|Adrian Alonso]], [[Andrew Pilkington]], [[Luis Thorp]]
|-
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} [[Woolston Rovers]] || {{Leagueicon|Warrington|16}} [[Daniel Garcia (rugby league)|Daniel Garcia]]
|}
|}
* * Denotes a rugby union club.


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|Sports|Spain}}

*[[Sport in Spain]]
*[[Sport in Spain]]
*[[Sport in Catalonia]]
*[[Sport in Catalonia]]
*[[Rugby league in France]]
*[[Rugby league in Catalonia]]


==References==
==References==
Line 93: Line 174:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.rugbyleague.es/ Official website]
*[http://www.rugbylliga.cat/noticia/2a-jornada-del-campionat-universitari-2009-de-rugby-lliga-85 L'Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga website]
*[http://www.rlef.eu.com Rugby League European Federation website]
*[http://www.rlif.org Rugby League International Federation website]


{{Rugby league in Europe}}
{{Rugby league in Europe}}

Latest revision as of 16:19, 17 November 2024

Rugby league in Spain
The Custodians club of Madrid celebrate winning the 2016–17 season
CountrySpain
Governing bodySpanish Rugby League Association
National team(s)Men's
Nickname(s)Rugby XIII
Rugby Lliga (in Catalan)
Audience records
Single match31,555 – Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors at Camp Nou, Barcelona, 18 May 2019

Rugby league is a team sport that is played in several regions of Spain.

History

[edit]

Foundations in Catalonia

[edit]
See also: Rugby league in Catalonia

Rugby league in Spain effectively began in France (an established sport in France since in 1930s) with several attempts by French Catalan clubs to expand interest of the sport to Spanish Catalonia.

The first of these attempts occurred on 30 May 1993, when Perpignan-based XIII Catalan invited Huddersfield Giants to contested a friendly named "The Alex Angel Trophy" at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys in Barcelona, with Huddersfield won 23–22.[1]

The first governing body of rugby league in Spain was formed in Catalonia in 2007 solely for Catalonia. The Associació Catalana de Rugby Lliga was responsible for Catalan Rugby League Championship and the Catalonia national rugby league team and was granted observer status of the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) in 2008.[2] The body however was expelled from the RLEF in 2014 due to lack of activity since 2010.[3]

During this time Catalans Dragons, a French club playing in the British league formed from the merging of the aforementioned XIII Catalan and AS Saint-Estève, played a regular season game on 20 June 2009, at Barcelona's Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys against Warrington. Catalans led the match at halftime 10–6, but Warrington finished as the winners beating the Dragons 24–12.[4]

Spanish Governance

[edit]

In 2013, the Spanish Rugby League Association was formed governing rugby league the whole county. The body were granted observer status with the RLEF upon formation[5][6] and promoted to affiliate members in 2015.[7]

Spain attempted World Cup qualification for the first time in 2017, however lost both group games in Europe Pool B to Ireland and Russia.

In 2019 Catalan Dragons set a world record for the highest attended non-magic regular season Super League match attendance, electing to hold their home game against Wigan Warriors at the Camp Nou, attracting a crowd of 31,555.[8]

Spain attempted World Cup qualification again in 2021, but again lost both pool matches to Italy and again Ireland.

Governing body

[edit]
Main article: Spanish Rugby League Association

The governing body for the sport in Spain is the Spanish Rugby League Association, which was formed in 2013.

Competitions

[edit]

The Campeonato Nacional de Liga (National League Championship) began in March 2014 with four clubs. The first Copa de España de Rugby League (Spanish Rugby League Cup) took place later in the same season.[9] For the third season, which began in late 2015, the league had eight teams across two conferences.[10] In the 2017–18 season the league had been split into two divisions: Serie A, with six teams, and Serie B.[11] However, for 2018–19 only three teams were recorded as taking part in the Championship.[12]

Domestic champions

[edit]
List of winners
Year League Cup Ref.
2014 Irreductibles Edetans Ciencias Valencia [9][13]
2015 Custodians Madrid Valencian Warriors [14][15]
2016 Torrent Tigres Custodians Madrid [16][17]
2017 Custodians Madrid Torrent Tigres [18][11]
2018 Torrent Tigres [19]
2019 Torrent Tigres [12]

National team

[edit]

Men's

[edit]
Main article: Spain national rugby league team

The Spain national rugby league team was formed in 2014 and defeated Belgium in their first match. By beating Latvia in a playoff and then Malta and Greece in an initial qualifying group in 2015, they advanced to the final qualifying stage for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, where they were placed in a three team group (Pool B) alongside Russia and Ireland. Their first result was a 6-40 loss to Russia, at Fili Stadium, Moscow on 15 October 2016,[20] and their second a 46-6 defeat by Ireland, which resulted in their elimination.

Wheelchair

[edit]

The Spain national wheelchair rugby league team took part in the 2017 and 2021 World Cups.[21][22]

Current squad

[edit]

Squad selected for 21 November 2024 fixture against  England.[23]

Results

[edit]
Date Opponent Score Competition Ref.
22 July 2017  Italy 39–68 2017 World Cup
24 July 2017  Scotland 54–18
25 July 2017  Australia 40–49
27 July 2017  Wales 45–66
3 September 2022  France 4–108 Friendly
3 November 2022  Ireland 55–32 2021 World Cup
6 November 2022  England 12–104
9 November 2022  Australia 32–52
21 November 2024  England TBA Friendly

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Club History". giantsrl.com. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Rugby League Europe Federation". Archived from the original on 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
  3. ^ "Germany & Catalonia lose status". RLIF. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014.
  4. ^ "Catalans Dragons 12–24 Warrington". news.bbc.co.uk (BBC Sport). 20 June 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-20.
  5. ^ "RLEF recognises Spanish national governing body". RLEF. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  6. ^ "LA AERL YA FORMA PARTE DE LA RLEF" (in Spanish). spainrugbyleague.com. 14 January 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  7. ^ "Spain becomes twentieth RLEF member". RLEF. 1 March 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
  8. ^ "A record crowd in Barcelona". rugby-league.com. 19 May 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Irreductibles Edetans take inaugural Spanish Championship". European Rugby League. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Expanded Spanish Rugby League Championship kicks off". European Rugby League. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Spanish season set to kick off". European Rugby League. 1 November 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Annual Report 2019" (PDF). Rugby League European Federation. p. 41. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Ciencias Valencia claim inaugural Spanish Cup". European Rugby League. 29 June 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  14. ^ "Custodians Madrid are Spanish Champions". European Rugby League. 14 July 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  15. ^ "Valencian Warriors win Spanish Cup Final". European Rugby League. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Torrent Tigres claim Spanish Rugby League Championship title". European Rugby League. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  17. ^ "News de l'étranger" (in French). FFRXIII. 4 February 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Custodians and Tigres set for Grand Final". European Rugby League. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Annual Report 2018" (PDF). Rugby League European Federation. p. 21. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Rugby League World Cup 2021".
  21. ^ "Wheelchair World Cup". Wales Rugby League. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Spain 55 32 Ireland". European Rugby League. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  23. ^ https://www.intrl.sport/article/334/wheelchair-rugby-league-squads-announced-for-internationals-in-france
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