In an exclusive English interview on the Sénior Huevo Spanish Rugby Podcast, FER President Hansen has confirmed unequivocally that conversations have already taken place to have Spain´s Iberians participate in the EPCR Challenge Cup for 2027.
This year, Iberians are set to participate in the Tbilisi Cup against South African sides before heading to the Toyota Cup at the end of the 2026/27 season as part of vital RWC2027 preparations. However, going forward Hansen wants and expects to see Iberians invited into the European fold.
Speaking on this season’s choice, “The only way to have a competitive Spanish team is to compete at the highest level possible for a number of years. A fully professional structure, so Iberians is much more than a development team now. The commitment with World Rugby was we were going to have the maximum compeition possible.”
“Iberians are the team for Tier 1 in 10 years” – Hansen
However, Hansen was not impressed with what Iberians had to endure last season. “Last year, we were in the middle of nowhere. In a competition not good enough for developing our product or players. Ok we won the Super Cup but we don´t want to win a competition that has no audience and is not a real product. The aim is another one.”
The ‘another one’ in Iberians’ case is a place in the EPCR Challenge Cup from 2027 onwards as part of Iberians now being “positioned as the stategic team that Spain will use to become Tier 1 in 10 years.” The aim is to put Iberians in the best competition possible, that means the Challenge Cup and Hansen was clear.
“The conversations have already happened. Our aim is that from next year Iberians will be in and we are working with stakeholders to have that. ” When asked clearly if the aim and expectation that going forward Iberians are a Challenge Cup team, the response was “exactly.”
“The whole Rugby Europe model should be revisited”-Hansen
Moving onto internationals, Spain´s men have lost their popular game against Fiji with the elite nations fully closing the autumn international door but does Hansen feel the current structure of the Rugby Europe Championship offers commercial opportunities to exploit?
“Definitely not.” Expanding on his theme, “We have to play it but it´s not the end goal. The Rugby Europe Championship does not have the possibility to go to the Six Nations or these kind of things. So we have to explore other models, it will take years but we are working on a model to benefit, I would say, those who work more. If you put skin in the game, you get committed and grow you have to have the benefits. My message is that the whole Rugby Europe model should be revisited.”
Images used with permission of the Spanish Rugby Federation
Part Two of the breakdown out on Friday. You can listen to the whole interview now below.
