Strong Spanish XV ready for Scots

Several of Spain’s sevens squad have been called up – and unusual move for what is, on paper, merely a warm-up game for the Six Nations and European Championship – but “Yunque” has said that, with no public announcements yet from World Rugby about how World Cup qualification will work, he cannot risk Spain’s test ranking

This has now become a regular fixture, introduced shortly after Share Munro took over the reigns in Scotland as a replacement for what had been Scotland’s traditional warm-up against the British Army. Munro wanted a stronger challenge for his team, a desire matched by the Spanish.

Since November 2015 the teams have met four times – plus one game abandoned due to snow last year (needless to say, in Glasgow).

Of those four games, the two “friendlies” in 2015 and 2017 (where Spain’s sevens stars have been absent) have gone to Scotland, while the two competitive World Cup qualification fixtures (with full strength Spanish XVs) in 2016 went to Spain

Current World Rugby Rankings reflect how close the teams are. Spain sit in ninth place, with 72.77 points while Scotland is 11th with 69.89. And it is that narrow gap that Spain are keen to maintain, just in case World Rugby should decide to take the rankings into account for the 2021 World Cup.

A home game against Six Nations opposition is a rarity for Spain and is being used to promote rugby with a "Lionesses Festival" starting two hours before the game with junior players of all ages taking part, supported by current and former Spanish internationals.

The build-up has not been without problems, however with Isabel Rico, Paula Medín and Maria Ahis, originally called-up, unable to take part due to injuries.

Anne Fernandez de Corres will captain the team for the first time.

Spanish squad:Margarita Rodríguez Gómez (U. SEVILLA); Laura Delgado (U. SEVILLA); Patricia García Rodríguez (OLYMPIC); Sabina Hurtado Vaquerizo (OLYMPIC); Iera Echebarría Fernández (OLYMPIC); Olivia Fresneda (CR CISNEROS); Maria Calvo (CR CISNEROS); Anne Fernandez De Corres (CR CISNEROS); Paula Requena (CR CISNEROS); Alba Vinuesa (CR CISNEROS); Amaia Erbina Araña (CR CISNEROS); Lide Erbina Araña (CR CISNEROS); Marta Estellés (CR MAJADAHONDA); María García Gala (CR MAJADAHONDA); Lucia Diaz (CR MAJADAHONDA); Ingrid Algar (SANSE SCRUM RC); Lourdes Alameda García-Moreno (SANSE SCRUM RC); Anna Puig (EU SANTBOIANA); María Losada Gifra (INEF - L'Hospitalet);  Federation Of France) ; Isabel Macias (AC BOBIGNY 93); Mayka Brust (BAIONA RC); Saioa Jaurena Atxa (BAIONA RC); Maitane Salinas Lizoain (BAIONA RC); Jeanina Alejandra Vinueza Loyola (SARACENS)

Details about the Scotland squad will appear later today.