Spain has named a stronger than expected traveling roster for their trip to North America. The Leones have already secured their spot at the 2027 World Cup and Pablo Bouza had initially named a younger squad to prepare for the tour, but the former Pumas forward now appears to have his sights set on victories over Canada and the USA.
Only two of the 30-man group are newcomers to test rugby. Highly-rated center Yago Fernández spent three years in Dublin and captained the Spanish entry in last year’s World Rugby u20 Championship. The other newcomer is Egoitz García, a 6’3″ (1.91m) winger who stars with Ordizia.
A dozen members of the squad play their club rugby in France. Most notable are Pau tighthead prop and regular skipper Jon Zabala, 21-year-old Stade Français hooker Álvaro García, and veteran Brive lock Asier Usárraga. Biarritz duo Ekain Imaz and Kerman Aurrekoetxea have also been called up.
Los Leones will congregate in Madrid on July 3 before departing on July 6. They open their tour against the Eagles in Charlotte on July 12, and then head north to face the Maple Leafs in Edmonton on July 18.
PROP
Joaquín Domínguez (Belenenses, PO) 13 caps
Thierry Futeu (Niort, FR) 41 caps
Lucas Santamaría (Tarbes, FR) 18 caps
Bernardo Vázquez (Aparejadores) 5 caps
Jon Zabala (Pau, FR) 31 caps
HOOKER
Vicente Del Hoyo (Ciencias) 30 caps
Álvaro García (Stade Français, FR) 12 caps
Pablo Miejimolle (VRAC) 13 caps
SECOND ROW
Ignacio Piñeiro (Oyonnax, FR) 14 caps
Marc Sánchez (VRAC) 4 caps
Imanol Urraza (Lazio, IT) 9 caps
Asier Usárraga (Brive, FR) 11 caps
BACK ROW
Vicente Boronat (Aparejadores) 7 caps
Pepe Borraz (Cisneros) 2 caps
Matt Foulds (UE Santboiana) 36 caps
Ekain Imaz (Biarritz, FR) 15 caps
Raphaël Nieto (Niort, FR) 12 caps
Matheo Triki (Chambéry, FR) 8 caps
SCRUMHALF
Kerman Aurrekoetxea (Biarritz, FR) 16 caps
Tani Bay (Aparejadores) 23 caps
FLYHALF
Gonzalo López (Massy Essonne, FR) 15 caps
Gonzalo Vinuesa (Cisneros) 23 caps
MIDFIELD
Yago Fernández (Alcobendas) uncapped
Álvar Gimeno (Ciencias) 45 caps
Iñaki Mateu (Aparejadores) 27 caps
OUTSIDE BACKS
Pau Aira (Barcelona) 7 caps
JW Bell (El Salvador) 25 caps
Martiniano Cian (VRAC) 16 caps
Egoitz García (Ordizia) uncapped
Gauthier Minguillón (Valence Romans, FR) 25 caps
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