Notable Players
Javier Bardem, played for the underage national team. Bardem was originally a flanker, but became a prop, and has been quotes as saying, ""being a rugby player in Spain is akin to be a bull-fighter in Japan." He is better known for his acting career which includes the likes of No Country for Old Men, for which he won an Oscar, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona, as well as a number of highly successful Spanish language films such as The Sea Inside (Mar adentro).
Other notable Spanish players include -
- Alberto Malo, played for Taranaki in New Zealand and one of the first Spanish players to make it big on the world stage.
- Gabriel Rivero
- Jon Azkargorta
- Jaime Gutiérrez
- Jon Etxeberria
- Javier Morote
- Raphaël Bastide, played professionally for Perpignan, Colomiers and, since 2004 for Auch.
- Alfonso Feijoo, had 22 caps for Spain during his career.
- David Mota, CRC Madrid, formerly a player of rugby league for the Crusaders
- Francisco Puertas Soto, capped 93 times by Spain from 1994 to 2001.
- Oriol Ripol, a wing for Sale Sharks in the Guinness Premiership, formerly with Northampton.
- Diego Zarzosa, CR El Salvador and Harlequins, second Spanish player in the Barbarians
Read more about this topic: Rugby Union In Spain
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