Beginnings and development of rugby in Spain

Abstract

The annals of rugby in Spain dates from the early years of the 20th century. In its early stages, the influence of countries such as England (due to its industries and commerce) or France (due to its geographical proximity) was very significant. The period of dictatorship (1940-1975) did not aid in developing this sport in Spain, though. Since democracy, rugby has consolidated its progression both in the masculine category and mainly in the feminine. The Spanish female rugby team is recognized as one of the best international teams. In this sense, the number of federative licenses has doubled in the last 20 years, going from 14,000 to more than 33,000 in 2018. In addition, adapted rugby has joined in this trend with the creation of a national wheelchair rugby team and federated competitions.