The men’s sevens team beat Japan 12-28 and finished the London tournament in 11th place, the final leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023. National coach Paco Hernandez lauded the group for achieving stability from a week ago. In Toulouse, youngsters are giving minutes to Los Leones 7s, who have seized the opportunity and shown the Spanish team’s ascendancy.
After a tough first day in England, where Spain, ranked third in the rankings, counted their matches for defeat, France, and Australia and Samoa who were seeking Olympic qualification in this final series, the national team Japan completed their participation in the series with a win against Japan.
Australia 33-12 Spain
The national team began with a loss against Australia. The tests of Josep Ceres and Francisco Soriano were not enough to face some of the Australian 7 players who are on the straight line for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, in this final series on the world circuit.
France 35-21 Spain
An impressive first half from France denied the Lions7 their first win in London. The French team was able to punish every Spanish error only to add a mark before the break, the work of Jaime Manteca.
In the second half, Spain’s response would come with tests by Manu Sainz-Trapaga and Jaime Mata, but once again, their own mistakes would keep Paco Hernandez’s team from victory.
Spain 17-40 Samoa
Samoa, like Australia, had much more at stake than Spain in London and dominated the match from start to finish. The Oceanic team, in addition to the victory, played for Wa Apelo Malico, who, along with Marcos Moneta, is jeopardizing the honor of being the top scorer in the series, and who destroyed the Spanish defense with three points before the break, which That’s a brilliant 0-28, and another one in another seven minutes.
In the second half, Los Leones found their game and Jaime Mata, Alejandro de la Rosa and Alejandro Laforga closed the final score at 17–40. This result certified Samoa’s first place in Group C and Spain’s fourth place.
USA 24-0 Spain
The United States was Spain’s opponent in the semifinals for ninth place. In their first game of the second day in London, hitting penalties and their own mistakes doomed Los Leones. The Eagles7s knew how to punish every Spanish error going into the break thanks to efforts from Williams and Wendling, who doubled at the end of the second seven minutes with marks from Esdale and Santos.
Japan 12-28 Spain
In a battle to avoid last place in London, Japan look forward to their last match as the Courtesy team of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023. Paco Hernandez’s men showed their offensive play against the Japanese team and Nico Nieto, twice against Jaime Mata and Jaime Manteca. The victory certified Los Leones 7 in his farewell to the world circuit for the year.
