Benz-Solomon twins earn first Spain call-up for November Nations Cup

Aristot and Jonathan Benz-Solomon, the Coventry RFC twins currently starring in England’s Championship, have been called up to Spain’s training squad for the World Rugby Nations Cup after years of speculation about their international future. Head coach Pablo Bouza included the 25-year-olds in his initial group on Tuesday, with the November window set to mark their Test debuts for Los Leones.

Born in Spain but raised in England from the age of 10, both brothers came through the Bristol Bears system after Jonathan had earlier spent time in the Harlequins academy. Jonathan made his Premiership debut with Bristol in 2021 before moving to Gloucester in 2024, then switching to Coventry this season to link up with Aristot, who had followed a similar path through Bristol and Gloucester before arriving at the West Midlands club last season.

The pair have made an immediate impact at Coventry, helping the side to four wins from their opening five Championship fixtures to sit third in the table. Their form appears to have been the catalyst for a call-up that had long been anticipated but never materialised until now.

Their inclusion bolsters an already well-stocked Spain front row. Bouza can also call upon Thierry Futeu of Carcassonne, Section Paloise’s Jon Zabala, Stade Toulousain’s Joel Merkler, Hugo González of Aviron Bayonnais, Montpellier’s Luca Tabarot, and Biarritz pair Hugo Pirlet and Joaquin Dominguez.

Another newcomer in the squad is SU Agen prop and Spain Under-20 international Iván Farace, who has been given the chance to press his case for a place in the final tournament squad.

Spain will host Uruguay, Chile and Samoa during the November window, with their Nations Cup campaign opening on 6 November. The current training group does not include Top 14, Pro D2 or Nationale-based players such as Merkler, Zabala and Lucien Richardis, though most are expected to be released by their clubs and available for selection when a revised squad is named closer to the tournament.