Spain seals its promotion to the first division with an eighth place in Bordeaux

The Spanish women’s rugby 7 team finished eighth in the Bordeaux tournament (France), the final stage of the World Series, after losing this Sunday, June 7, against Japan (7-19) in the last game of the season, although it has certified its return to the first division of the international circuit.

The match against the Japanese, the team that makes the most passes on the circuit, tested the Spanish defense, the cornerstone on which the ‘Lionesses’ have built their rise, but the fatigue accumulated during the course prevented them from holding off the incursion of Chiaki Saegusawho scored after two minutes.

Maria Garcia Gala responded on the next play, when he overtook the Japanese line after a recovery on the ground from Paula Requenaand Spain managed to reach the break with the score tied at 7 despite the rival’s dominance.

In the second half, however, the Asians continued to monopolize possession until they found spaces in the defenders, too tired to connect with each other, and decided the result thanks to two attempts by Hanako Utsumi and Honoka Tsutsumi (7-19).

The eighth place achieved by Spain in Bordeaux, identical to those achieved in the other two stages of this final phase, takes it to 18 points and the final eighth place that allows it to recover the category lost a year ago.