Spain's "rampant run" toward qualifying for the Rugby World Cup for the fist time in two decades has "seen interest rocket in what used to be a minority sport," according to Richard Martin of REUTERS. King Felipe VI was among the 16,000 supporters that "packed out the national stadium in Madrid" last Sunday to watch the team beat Germany 84-10. A win next Sunday in Belgium would see Spain qualify for the World Cup in Japan, which starts in Sept. '19. Spanish Rugby Federation President Alfonso Feijoo believes qualification "would catapult the sport's popularity." He said, "It would allow rugby to develop completely. The world will look upon us with different eyes, as a nation that can compete on the pitch and do things well off it." According to the federation, there are 210 rugby clubs in Spain and 35,000 registered players, 10% of whom are female, with participation increasing by 10-15% per year. Spain has also "become a big player" in organizing top-level fixtures. Barcelona's Camp Nou hosted the '16 Top14 final, registering the "largest ever attendance in European rugby" (REUTERS, 3/13).
