Spanish blushes spared with third place at Rugby Europe Final

Rugby Europe Final: Spain sneak past Romania as Portugal end Georgian hegemony

 

If one word could some up the atmosphere of Spanish fans, playing staff and the federation as a whole, it would be : relief. After a disappointing loss to Portugal the week before meant that Spain wouldn´t compete for first place at the Rugby Europe Final , a slightly subdued 6000 fans witnessed Spain slog to a win over a Romania team who played over an hour with just 14 men after a red card for Immelman.

 

Despite the man disadvantage, it was Romania who had blunted any Spanish attack with the damaging turnovers and knock ons witnessed in Portugal appearing for Spain again in front of a nervous home crowd. When Romania danced over the line in the 30^th minute, with Spain having bombed an easy chance a minute before, the boisterous atmospheres that have been found at Spanish games over the last two years were nowhere to be seen.

 

Instead it was being replaced by a hardy band of Romanian fans looking for an upset as Spanish fans sat in stony silence. Only a last minute penalty at the death of the first half got Spain on the scoreboard to go in 11-3 down, Romania good value for their lead. Luciano Richardis throwing a ball directly into a Romanian players hand with a two man overlap summing up Spain´s inability to execute.

Spain fightback in Second Half

 

Thankfully for the home crowd the tide did turn in the second half with Spain finally breaking the line, squeezing in the Romanian defence to make it 14-10 after 50 minutes but Spain´s old habit of penalities immediately after points returned and Romania would keep themselves in the game by consistently taking a making 3 after every Spanish score.

 

Romania were unrecognisable from their defeat to Germany but the introduction of Top 14 Superstar Joel Merkler started to swing the tide in the scrum and drive of line out with two quick fire tries and it seemed that Spain were cruising to a win at 17-24 with 15 minutes left on the clock.

 

El ensayo de 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐚 😤#LoQueNosUne | #LosLeones pic.twitter.com/vlQ87E1S7J

— España Rugby (@ferugby) March 16, 2026

 

However, Romanian resillence or Spanish slackness meant once again Romania would score 3 points within a minute of Spain going over for a try in three out of four occaisions in the second half leading to the final moments where it was Romania, 23-29 down, desperately pushing for the win. When the ball was kicked out and the referee blew for full time (despite the stadium clock showing fewer than 80 minutes played), the collective exhale of relief could be head all around Leganes.

“Some players haven´t taken their opportunity” – Pablo Bourza

 

In the post match press conference, it would be difficult to tell which team had won and lost. Spanish Head Coach Pablo Bourza, when asked whether he was concerned that for three games in a row Spain had simply not shown up in a first half, was blunt. “It can be difficult when we are changing players, changing connections but we have to see who is able to step up. Some players haven´t taken the opportunity.”

 

Give me a pair of boots and five minutes and I could´ve played against Germany – David Gerard

 

Meanwhile, Romanian Head Coach was if not delighted at the result was carrying himself as a man who was rightly pleased with his teams performance. On being asked about how he felt coming from the humbling result against Germany to being the team looking to win with 14 men against Spain, David was beaming with pride. “Let´s be honest, we were crap (against Germany). I think you give me a pair of boots and five minutes and I could´ve played.”

 

On today though? “I thought we were fantastic, to play as long as we did with 14 men and showing up for eachother, I feel sorry for them (Romanian boys) but we have put pride back into Romanian Rugby.” David himself also noticed the scoreboard discrepency “I´m not sure why the game ends with minutes left on the clock” but overall it was clear who was the happier coach.

 

Rugby Europe Final – Portugal party with historic win

 

As Spanish fans filtered out, they missed an historic win for Portugal who toppled a Georgian Rugby team reeling from the publicised doping scandal. With a 19-17 scoreline, despite being down at halftime on the scoreboard and on the field (reduced to 14 men), it was Portugal who secured their first Rugby Europe Championship since 2003-4 and breaking Georgia´s eight championship winning streak.

 

In the earlier Rugby Europe Final games at el Central, Germany were annihilated by the Dutch 7-76 (raising more questions about an 8 team and finals structure) whilst the Swiss went down bravely 16-39 to Belgium. 

 

Replays of all games can be found at RugbyEuropeTV