Everyone in Spanish Rugby has a nickname and Laura “Bimba” Delgado is no exception. An extraordinary career that has taken her from Spain , around the world to New Zealand, into the Premiership Women´s Rugby before finally bringing down the curtain as a Barbarian at Twickenham. It´s not a bad end for a player who freely admits “In my first game, I didn´t know the rules. I just asked my teamates and coach what should I do?” It was after some relatively simple instructions to just run it straight that the onomatopoeic ‘Bimba’ was born.
Before the curtain finally comes down in London (with fellow Spaniard Claudia Peña also selected), we were able to catch up with Bimba back at the Spanish Rugby Gala at the Comité Olímpico Español in Madrid to look back on some of her memories, including Spain´s Women´s Rugby World Cup return in 2025.
“I still get goosebumbs thinking about York” – Laura Delgado
Recalling playing New Zealand, Bimba is effusive about the experience. “Our first game there (York) against New Zealand. Oh my God. Actually I felt I was at home in Spain, the crowd was more than half for us . That was a really good experience for us and being the youngest team at the World Cup, what we showed on the field was really good.”
Bimba along with other Spanish players like Patricia García made the jump over to England and this pathway looks set to continue for Spanish Women´s players to give themselves the competitive rugby that they are mostly locked out of internationally. Despite eight European Championships in a row (with Bimba calling their performance vs Netherlands “one of the best performances I´ve seen”) and winning their WXV group in 2014, the door remains firmly shut. Does Bimba think that Spain deserves a promotion / relegation playoff to get back to the Six Nations?
Six Nations return ? “We are in the level” -Bimba
“I would bet yes because we are in the level and the Union wants to be the most professional we can be so if we are in this way, I think 100% we should be there. But you know, these are political things. The Union is doing the best to be professional but it´s not in our hands.” So, with the boots ready to go up is Bimba going to be sailing off into the sunset, away from Rugby?
“No, 100% Rugby is my life. Rugby has been my life inside the field 24/7 and since I´ve been in England I´ve been coaching and growing as a coach.” Bimba is also building her own project RugbyChangers to mentor Spanish and South American players pathways to professionalism. “As Spanish speakers right now we don´t have the same platform right now, so I want to give the opportunity to Spanish speakers”.
So whatever happens versus Wales as a Barbarian , it seems Bimba will be echoing throughout Spanish Rugby for many years to come.
Featured image used with permission of Federacion Rugby España (FER)
The full interview can be heard below