Trevithick backs home crowd to drive Spain toward first SVNS Series title

Spain opened their SVNS Valladolid campaign with a 26-21 Pool C victory over the USA at José Zorrilla Stadium, with Angel Bozal sealing the win with a runaway try in the final play after the scores were locked at 21-all when the full-time siren sounded. Jeremy Trevithick, one of Spain’s key try-scorers, said the atmosphere generated by the home crowd proved the difference in a match that went to the wire.

The USA made a fast start through Orrin Bizer’s early try, briefly silencing the partisan crowd, but Spain responded with quick-fire scores from Jaime Manteca and Enrique Bolinches to level matters at 14-all by half-time. Steve Tomasin and Lucas Lacamp were standout performers for the American side, who pushed Spain hard throughout and needed the points to keep their own series ambitions alive.

“The USA, we knew they’re a very, very physical team. We knew they needed those points to stay in the run for next year and knew it was going to be one of the toughest games of the tournament,” Trevithick said. “We tried to go out there and do our own plan… I think that home crowd gave us that extra boost we needed to win.”

Trevithick acknowledged the weight of expectation that comes with hosting, but framed it as a source of energy rather than a burden. “No doubt there is a bit of pressure because we’ve been waiting for this moment the whole season, but I think it’s good pressure — it’s what gives us that extra motivation to do that one more sprint or that one last defence to win the game.”

Spain arrived in Valladolid sitting third in the World Championship standings, having finished third at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens. South Africa have set the pace after a dominant run through the regular season and in Hong Kong, with Argentina also in contention for the top prize. The tournaments in Valladolid and Bordeaux will determine the 2025/26 World Championship winners, the eight sides that retain first-division status, and the four teams relegated to SVNS 2.

Despite the scale of what is at stake, Trevithick was careful to keep the focus narrow. “We obviously don’t want to think about being world champions yet because we want to go step by step,” he said. “First of all, we have to play a good tournament here and then we’ll think about Bordeaux. Every single game is important, so the most important thing for us now is our game versus France.”

The event carries added significance for Spanish rugby, coming two years after the SVNS Grand Final was held in Madrid, as the country continues to grow its footprint on the international sevens stage.