MADRID, 23 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The president of the Royal Spanish Rugby Federation, Juan Carlos Martín ‘Hansen’, asked this Thursday “not to underestimate the importance” of the Rugby 7 World Series Finals being held at the Cívitas Metropolitano between May 31 and June 2, and whose dispute he hopes will help this sport “definitely break out in Spain.”
The World Series will arrive in Madrid next week with the Finals, where the 32 best teams in the world will fight to become champion, both in the men’s and women’s categories, and which will serve as preparation for the Paris Games.
In the case of men, Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, France and South Africa will compete for the title. In the women, the ‘kiwis’ will seek the trophy alongside the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, France, Fiji and Ireland.
“We do not have to underestimate the importance of this event, we need it to be a success, for many people to discover what rugby is, and I encourage everyone to come,” said RFER president Juan Carlos Martín ‘Hansen. ‘, who stressed that they want “rugby to be the sport preferred by the entire society because it is full of values and commitment” during the presentation of the event at the Higher Sports Council (CSD).
Hansen commented that this event “is good for rugby, for Spain and for the city of Madrid”, and that “it is part of a rugby development strategy” so that it “definitively emerges in Spain”. To do this, “it is important that the national teams are good, because if Spain is not good, they will not follow Spain,” and also that they dedicate themselves to “holding events to generate resources.”
“We are in an unbeatable situation for Spain, for Madrid, for the Federation, and for sport in general. It is an important piece of everything we are creating. Keeping this event in Madrid can be a very important point for it to be repeated” , he declared.
For her part, the General Director of the World Rugby World Series, Paula Hernández, stressed that there are “more than 100 people working” on this project, and that the fact that it takes place in the Spanish capital means that “it is the beginning of a World Rugby path in Madrid, which can help make rugby a mainstream sport in Spain”.
URIBES: “RUGBY 7’S IS TAKING STRENGTH IN THE WORLD”
The president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD), José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, defined this event as “one more step in the continued work of Spanish rugby to continue gaining weight at the international level.”
Using rugby terminology, the leader called the holding of the Madrid Seven in 2021 in the Spanish capital in times of a pandemic “a good test,” a very complex organizational project contested on the Central Field of the University City. Furthermore, he compared the celebration of the match between the Spanish team and the ‘Classic All Blacks’ of New Zealand to a “rehearsal between the sticks”, with more than 42,000 people in the stands of the Cívitas Metropolitano.
“The logistical challenge of hosting 32 teams is great, but we know that you are going to overcome it with flying colors,” he said, referring to the event organizers. “Rugby 7 is a great spectacle that in recent years has been gaining ground in the world. It also shares fundamental values such as effort, respect for the opponent and fair play,” he explained.
Uribes recalled that the CSD is developing the ‘Team Spain’ program to prepare for the Olympic Games, and that it is also intended “for the development of the base in sports such as tennis or rugby.” Furthermore, he expressed his desire for the two Spanish teams to “remain among the 12 best in the world.”
“I hope it is a great sporting spectacle and a great citizen experience, I hope it is a success and serves so that Spain can host a Rugby World Cup XV in the not too distant future,” announced the president of the CSD, who commented that the event will incorporate an innovative proposal of free entry for spectators, who will be able to combine sporting activities with those outside, with a fan zone located outside the stadium.