Spain loses to Wales and will look for its place in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in another way in October

The Spanish women’s XV rugby team lost this Saturday 52-20 on their visit to the Welsh team, in a duel corresponding to the ‘play-off’ for a place in the WXV Level 2 and which, at the same time, served as qualifying method for the 2025 World Cup in England.

After a difficult start at Cardiff’s Arms Park, where the home team dominated possession and managed to score two early tries, a yellow card for the ‘Dragons’ changed the dynamic of the match completely, as Spain took advantage of their numerical superiority on the pitch to take the lead. The scoring opened with a penalty kick scored by Amalia Argudo, the first try was scored by Inés Antolínez and the second by Claudia Peña.

With the numerical parity restored, the dangerous third Alisha Butcher managed to set the third Welsh mark and return the lead on the scoreboard to her team, but before the break a fantastic mark by Claudia Pérez with an inverted run close to the grouping left the Spanish team just one point behind their opponents on the scoreboard.

The first bars of the second period gave rise to a dance of changes, but the ‘Lionesses’ did not feel comfortable. Wales’ outside speed and their superiority in the set piece ended up defining the match, during a second half in which the hosts scored five points to take the victory.

Next October, the ‘Lionesses’ will have a second opportunity to secure a ticket for the 2025 World Cup in England. It will be through the WXV Level 3, a category to which they have been relegated due to this defeat in Cardiff, and in an event where They will be able to face Fiji, Samoa, Netherlands, Madagascar and Hong Kong.