Popularity
There are over 27,000 registered rugby union players in Spain, with more than 220 clubs across the country. Participation rates for rugby union jumped by 20% in the Madrid area during the two years following the national team's participation in their first ever Rugby World Cup in 1999. In addition, funding from the Spanish sports council has also been on the rise. Rugby union gets minimal media coverage, however, compared to more popular team sports such as association football (soccer) and basketball.
There are pockets where rugby is particularly popular, such as Valladolid, a city located in north-central Spain, Sant Boi de Llobregat in Catalonia and the Basque country. The rugby club Biarritz Olympique, who come from the French Basque Country have played Heineken Cup matches at the 32,000-seat Estadio Anoeta in San Sebastián, Spain and attracted sell-out crowds.
Read more about this topic: Rugby Union In Spain
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