Tackling the prejudices of rugby 7

"We've broken the stigma that rugby sevens is a sport for buddies and summer games," Paco Hernández, the current Spanish national team coach, told 'La Vanguardia' after winning the silver medal at the World Cup in Los Angeles two weeks ago.

Rugby 7s isn't a long-standing sport in Spain, but it has experienced immense structural growth, propelling the national team to one of the best in the world. Paco Hernández's players managed to beat historic national teams such as Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina in the last World Cup.

"We've broken the stigma that rugby 7s is a game of kickabouts," says the coach.

One of the keys to the national team's success over the past two years is the constant training camps in Málaga, which have transformed the team into a national team . The national team players spend 24/7 time together while they conscientiously prepare for each tournament. "We've changed the way we work and have much better control over the players' physical level by monitoring all their improvements." "When you give the players feedback that they're improving, the opportunities for growth increase," reflects Hernández.

The current national team coach decided to use these permanent training camps as his modus operandi last season, as there are "no rugby sevens clubs" in Spain. To complete the team's roster, Paco Hernández signs players from rugby backgrounds or through a draft , which involves those who want to "register on a form where they add videos of themselves in action." There is also the "federation route, which involves entering the U-18s and then going through the U-20s before joining us," Hernández comments.

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The growth of the national team has gone hand in hand with the increase in competitiveness in the sport. World Rugby, which previously reduced the top tier of rugby sevens from 16 to 12 teams, recently announced that the gold tier will consist of only eight teams, increasing the competition—the top 12 countries participate in the Olympic Games. After the recent silver medal in Los Angeles, Paco Hernández is clear that the team's goal is to "return to the Olympic Games" (Spanish rugby sevens hasn't participated in one since Rio 2016, when the men's and women's national teams were present).

“Rugby fans often think that sevens is a summer sport where you don't train,” exclaims Hernández, adding that the World Series held at the Wanda Metropolitano last year helped change that perception and helped people see that it's “high-level rugby.” “Since then, we've started to gain a much larger following,” the coach asserts.

Another witness to the sport's rise is Pol Pla. The 32-year-old is a true institution in Spanish sevens , the only current player to have played in the Olympics and the first Spaniard to score 100 tries in the World Series. Pla comes from the most prolific family in Spanish rugby (his sisters, Júlia and Bárbara, the best player in Spanish women's sevens , have also worn the national team jersey).

The Catalan player, named among the top three in the world this season, believes that "having beaten the All Blacks " in the last World Cup has helped "Spanish rugby gain recognition," but admits that their objective in the recent World Cup was "to secure survival because, if they go down, the federation will receive less income and it would be difficult to maintain the current project." Not long ago, Ireland announced that it was disbanding its rugby 7s team because it lacked sufficient financial resources after being relegated.

Social media, especially TikTok, has also contributed to greater visibility for Spanish men's rugby sevens thanks to videos in which players were seen celebrating shirtless. "When you go viral, it means you have more exposure and that there are brands and companies that may be more interested in connecting with you," reflects Pla. The current national team player confesses that the more experienced players "were afraid" that people would get confused and not focus on the sporting aspect.

However, the impact on social media has only led to an increase in interest in a sport experiencing one of its most golden moments.

“I face rivals, but not enemies,” says Pol Pla, proud of the values ​​rugby has instilled in him. The veteran player stops pestering his opponents once the match is over, moving into the third half, where they share “some snacks and a few beers.” The Lions , accustomed to tackling opponents, have already knocked down their toughest rival, prejudice.