The Spanish rugby team announces its lineup against Tonga: six changes
The Spanish Rugby Federation has announced the lineup of its team through the following statement:
“Second day of the Nations Cup and a new test of maximum international demand for the Spanish Men’s XV Rugby Team. After the vibrant draw on the opening day against the host Canada (42-42), The Lions will return this Saturday (11:45 p.m., Spanish peninsular time) to the Clarke Stadium in Edmonton to face the always physical and fearsome Tonga team. Those from the Pacific, for their part, arrive with high morale after beating Zimbabwe by 36-26 in his debut.
The match can be seen for free, live and exclusively in national territory with comments in Spanish, on the YouTube channel of the Royal Spanish Rugby Federation.
To attack this second commitment, the Los Leones staff has designed a lineup with six changes to the starting XV focused, mainly, on refreshing the lead. The first line presents the novelty of Hugo Pirlet in the position of right prop accompanying Thierry Futeu and heeler Álvaro García, who will also assume the stripes and honor of captaining Los Leones in Edmonton.
In the second line the power of Imanol Urraza appears, while the third undergoes a great renewal with the entry of the young Manex Ariceta as eighth and the news of the debut in an official match of Gabriel Vélez. In total, five modifications to counteract the imposing hardness in contact that characterizes the island block.
Unlike the forward line, the three-quarter line maintains practically the same block that started the clash against Canada, with one exception. International SVNS rugby star Jaime Manteca will experience his first start with the Los Leones XV, coming in as a wide flanker replacing Gauthier Minguillon.
The new blood of the Olympic modality will also be prepared for the final stretch of the meeting. Waiting for their opportunity on the bench will be Manteca’s Sevens teammate, Jeremy Trevithick, ready to make his official debut with the Los Leones XV, and the promising 22-year-old, Diego González.
The Lions meet again with the Íkale Tahi with a positive precedent. The last time they met, in the summer window of 2024, Spain achieved its historic first victory over a Pacific team (20-29). That feat was also achieved at home at the Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku’alofa, breaking a streak of defeats in the historical record.
November 12, 2016: Spain 13-28 Tonga (Madrid)
November 5, 2022: Spain 6-40 Tonga (Málaga)
July 19, 2024: Tonga 20-29 Spain (Nuku’alofa)
The Lions Lineup:
1. Thierry FUTEU – 44 caps, Societé Generale Liceo Francés
2. Álvaro GARCÍA (C)) – 20 caps, Stade Français
3. Hugo PIRLET – 9 caps, Biarritz Olympique
4. Imanol URRAZA – 14 caps, Recoletas Burgos 2031 Caja Rural
5. Antonio SUÁREZ – 2 caps, Silicius Alcobendas Rugby
6. Gabriel VÉLEZ – debut, VRAC Quesos Entrepinares
7. Ignacio PIÑEIRO – 22 caps, FC Grenoble
8. Manex ARICETA – 10 caps, Aviron Bayonnais
9. Estanislao BAY – 33 caps, Cajasol Real Ciencias Sevilla
10. Gonzalo LÓPEZ BONTEMPO – 19 caps, RC Massy Essonne
11. Alberto CARMONA – 21 caps, Colomiers Rugby
12. Alvar GIMENO – 53 caps, RC Valencia
13. Martiniano CIAN – 25 caps, VRAC Quesos Entrepinares
14. Jaime MANTECA – 1 cap, RFER (SVNS)
15. John Wessel BELL – 34 caps, Harlequins RC Pretoria
16. Santiago OVEJERO – 29 caps, Recoletas Burgos 2031 Caja Rural
17. Luca TABAROT – 4 chapters, SU Agenais
18. Jon ZABALA – 33 caps, PAU Rugby
19. Matheo TRIKI – 13 chapters, INEXO El Salvador
20. Diego GONZÁLEZ – debut, INEXO El Salvador
21. Kerman AURREKOETXEA – 22 caps, Biarritz Olympique
22. Iñaki MATEU – 35 caps, Recoletas Burgos 2031 Caja Rural
23. Jeremy TREVITHICK – debut, RFER (SVNS)”
