Spain travelled back to the York Community Stadium searching for a win in their World Cup closing game, but Japan denied that dream, as the Sakura completed a successful 29-21 comeback.
This being Spain’s fifth straight loss to Japan, the Leonas left the World Cup winless, a first since their debut in 1991. However, no one can deny the heart and soul the Leonas poured into their campaign, as Sale Sharks’ Alba Capell explained.
“We made a statement. We made a statement of who we are and where we want to go next. We need more support and investment, given the immense talent in our player pool. Our union believes in us, but to reach the next level, we have to keep investing. We learnt to be Leonas, we are full-fledged Leonas now, and we aren’t going to stop.” said the back row.
‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025
The 21-year-old was one of Spain’s top performers, racking up 38 successful tackle attempts and three turnovers, a massive shift for the young loose forward.
However, playing in a World Cup was much more than doing well data-wise, with Capell sharing her feelings after the campaign’s closer.
“It was everything that I’ve ever dreamt of. If I could go back in time and talk to my childhood self, I’d want to reassure her that it will all pay off. The hundreds of hours you’ve trained, those times you said you couldn’t meet your friends because you had a rugby game or training session, it all paid off.”
“I’ve made a family here that will never leave my side, and who will stick with me through thick and thin,” said the Sale Sharks enforcer.
Ealing Trailfinders’ Cristina Blanco Herrera was in agreement with her fellow Leona, voicing her joy for having played the World Cup.
“When I stepped into my first rugby practice session, I had no plans for the future. I just wanted to have fun, do some tackles, carry the ball and, who knows, score a sneaky try or two. And today, I scored my second sneaky try of the World Cup. I am happy with what we did,” said the 29-year-old hooker.
The experienced front-rower scored one of Spain’s three tries and was essential for how the Spanish lineout performed against Japan. Even if they weren’t able to secure any victories, Blanco Herrera can’t deny her pride in her team.
“We are proud of what we did. Our defence was one of our strongest suits, making life hard for any of the teams we played against. Our attack scored eight tries in the last two games, but we need to work on it and improve our focus and the way we deliver it.”
Spain’s loss to Japan completed a three-year winless cycle against the Top 12 teams of the World Rugby rankings. Nonetheless, the team was able to regain some of its strength after several losses since April, and vice-captain Lourdes Alameda hopes it will be the foundation for what comes next.
“I am certain that this team can go the extra mile. We were the youngest squad in the World Cup, and if you watched the games, it didn’t feel like it. We have ‘ganas’, we just need to remind ourselves of our essence,” said the veteran lock.
“For long periods of time, we’ve lost our joy. We stopped playing that joyful and menacing attacking game. However, we regained it in the past two weeks, albeit briefly. It came from a special place, a deep place of our beings.”
Alameda, who played 220 minutes of the Leonas 2025 World Cup campaign, thinks the team had a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Match Summary 
“I feel that we could’ve qualified for the knockout stages. Unfortunately, we started the competition already thinking we had no chance against New Zealand and Ireland, and that dragged us down. It had a mental impact on our performance.”
The AC Bobigny lock clarified where her team needs to improve if they wish to be in Australia in 2029.
“We need to shape the team for what comes next and have the right and enough conditions to help the team progress. We need a system that adapts to of our natural way of playing the game. Although we did well in the World Cup, something was missing from our repertoire, and it made a significant difference in the end.” voiced the 34-year-old lock.
As their participation came to a close, Lourdes Alameda will take home several memories that will always tell the story of Spain’s adventures in England 2025.
“The World Cup was a truly amazing experience. However, what will last in my memory are the moments that I shared with my teammates. I am so grateful to call them my friends, teammates and sisters. And I was happy that I got to enjoy Bimba, Puig and Castello’s farewells.”