The Leonas will be showing their grit and ferociousness in the next Women’s Rugby World Cup, but before departing for England, what can we expect from them in the 2025 Women’s Rugby Europe Championship?
Cristina Blanco Herrera, one of the leaders of Spanish pride, shared her story, personal goals, and views on the growth of the women’s game.
To kick things off, what is a Leona? How would she describe it?
“A Leona is an ambitious athlete and player, with the ‘ganas’ [guts] to carry on, giving her all for her team and teammates. That’s a Leona, and that’s who we are.”
And who’s Cristina Blanco Herrera, the 26-cap Spanish international?
“Cristina Blanco is someone who is nervous without showing it, but who is also ambitious and wants to give her best. I am someone who wants to prove that you can reach your dreams if you work hard enough for them.”
Let’s go back to the very start, and the hooker’s first rugby steps. When did her journey begin?
“I only started playing rugby when I went to university. The INEF (Sports University) had a 7s team and a friend of mine asked if I wanted to try it out. I had played basketball since I was young, so it would be a change of tune for me. I stayed with the Uni 7s team for a couple of years before joining Pozuelo Rugby – thanks to Eva Aguirre –, my first rugby club, and I never stopped since then.”
Her attachment to the sport wasn’t immediate, but because of a 7s tournament, everything changed.
“When I first started with Pozuelo I was still playing basketball. I didn’t know if I wanted to devote myself to only one sport. But one day, the club competed in the La Copa de la Reina 7sand we only took 9 or 10 girls to the tournament. When I saw everyone’s effort to make it through, carrying on even if they were completely exhausted, I felt a pull. That collective effort made me want to be part of it. To belong to something bigger than myself.”
From 7s to XVs it was just a small step, one that still caught her surprise.
“My first ever XV game was a friendly match against Cisneros, and I remember how exhausted I was by the end. I was used to running short distances in basketball, but rugby was a completely different challenge. It didn’t matter if I didn’t comprehend the laws of the game that much, my focus was to tackle as much as I could and help my team whoever I could.”
Her time at Pozuelo still has a special place in Cristina Blanco Herrera’s memory lane.
“I was lucky that when I joined Pozuelo we had a spectacular team. We had not only quality players, but the structure around it was great. So, in my first year as a rugby player, we won the Division de Honor [Spain’s main division] and it was an incredible moment. It was a season that I will never forget and pushed me to devote more time to rugby.”
She started as a flanker and number-eight but eventually became a hooker because she could hook the ball well in the lineout. After a couple of months, she caught the attention of the Spanish national team staff.
“In that first season for Pozuelo, I was called to some national camps and played a game for the secondary national team against the Division de Honor All-Stars. That was in 2016. The season after, I was selected to join the main national roster and thus began my story with the Leonas.”
The front-rower made her debut against South Africa in a tour to the Rainbow Country in 2019, a game she can’t recall!
“I was so nervous that it made me forget how it did go! I just remember singing the national anthem and a couple of bits, but I have zero recollection if I played well, what I specifically did on the pitch, etc. It was beyond special having that chance to play for my country, and to share the field with so many Leonas legends. But I do remember telling my parents about the tour, and we all got emotional. They might’ve not liked it in the beginning, but by 2019 they were fully in love with rugby.”
Blanco Herrera earned her place in the national setup and would be involved in her team’s attempt to qualify for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Unfortunately for Spain, it didn’t end in the way they desired.
“Failing to qualify for the 2021 World Cup was a tough moment for all of us, especially because some of the most veteran players retired. That generational transition was hard, and a massive challenge, but it was key to helping us renew our ambitions and get back on it. We had to train more and even harder, and that’s what we did. In the end, it all worked.”
So, did she ever think about giving up and moving on from the game?
“If you ever meet someone who says they haven’t ever thought about giving up, please share their number with me, as I want to talk with them! Of course, there are always those moments, it is part of the experience. You think to yourself, ‘Oh do I really want to keep going?’ and if the pros still outweigh the cons.”
She adds a recent episode of the kind.
“I remember in our first practice in Dubai saying ‘What am I doing here under this heat and humidity? I can’t breathe!’. It was basically running and crying at the same time. But you have to possess that power to get down from that frustration level and be at peace again. I am happy with what I do, and that’s all that matters.”
As she brought up Dubai and the WXV3 2024, can she share with us how were those last seconds against Fiji in the game that gave them the World Cup qualification and the WXV3 title.
“You cannot imagine how nervous we were! I had already been subbed off and I had to witness those last minutes from the bench. I just wanted that kick to drift away from the goalposts and be done with it. Fiji is a team that will fight until the last minute, they don’t know how to give up, so we knew they were going to give their best until the last play. Fortunately for us, that kick drifted away!”
And did the Women’s Rugby Europe Championship play a crucial role in Spain’s revival and rebuilding?
“Without a doubt, yes. The Women’s Rugby Europe Championship allows us to play more quality international games. The Netherlands has become a strong team, like Sweden and Portugal as well, and that makes the competition tougher, which is good for everyone. If we play in more competitive fixtures we will grow even more, and that’s what the Women’s Rugby Europe Championship provides us.”
Cristina Blanco is currently playing for the Premiership Women’s Rugby Ealing Trailfinders side, but her life as a pro player in England had some ups and downs.
“I had a lucky break, to be honest. I went to England to join the Wasps but unfortunately, the club had to close down its doors. We still managed to play until April 2023, and as we only had 19/20 players, I had more time to show my skills and who I was to the English crowd. One of our staff members joined Ealing Trailfinders and talked to the head coach about me. They contacted me and I was interviewed, and thankfully everything worked out.”
And is the Spanish player respected and recognized in the Premiership Women’s Rugby?
“We are getting more recognized with each new season. In the beginning, I think the Spanish player was not taken seriously in England, which made us work even harder. At the same time, I think we have a bit of imposter syndrome, and don’t accept that we can achieve a higher playing level. But if you live your life by taking some risks, you are not living to your full potential. Patrícia Garcia and Laura Delgado were some of the first, but nowadays there are so many more, like Alba Capell, Carmen Castellucci, Claudia Peña Hidalgo and a few others. We are making an impact in England, and we will change the way everyone sees us.”
With our time running short, what message would she like to pass on to the new generations of female players?
“Keep going, don’t give up and don’t look back. If you are second guessing, keep going, you will find your love for rugby in no time.”
And what goals have the Leonas set for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup?
“We haven’t discussed as a team our goals for the Women’s World Cup, but we want to show how good we are and that we deserve to be there. We want to enjoy it to the fullest and we will make everyone proud of us.”
Final question, how did her family deal with her decision to play rugby?
“My family didn’t like it very much. My brother told me to stick with basketball, my father tried to convince me to play golf, my mother was worried about the tackles, and my uncles also said something that I can’t remember! But nowadays they are happy with me playing and have become hardcore fans of the sport.”
Link to the competition right here
By Francisco Isaac
