Spain beats Tonga 32-19 for second straight win

Spain's men's rugby XV team secured a significant 32-19 victory over Tonga in the second round of the Nations Cup 2026. The match, held at the Clarke Stadium in Edmonton, Canada, saw Spain achieve its second consecutive win against the Pacific island nation. The Spanish team demonstrated dominance in set pieces and maintained solid defense, effectively neutralizing Tonga's continuous play.

Spain took an early lead with a penalty kick from Gonzalo López Bontempo in the seventh minute. Tonga responded midway through the first half with a try from captain Sonatane Takulua, briefly putting them ahead 5-3. However, a turning point came in the 32nd minute when Tongan winger Tapueluelu received a yellow card. With a numerical advantage, Spain capitalized, with second-rower Antonio Suárez scoring a try, converted by López Bontempo, giving "Los Leones" a 17-5 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Tonga attempted to close the gap with their physical style of play but were met by a strong Spanish defense. Ignacio Piñeiro extended Spain's lead to 22-5 in the 55th minute after capitalizing on a loose ball. Tonga managed another try through Sekope Moli, making it 22-12, but Mateu sealed the victory with a try following a lineout recovery, bringing the score to 32-12. A late try by Filimone for Tonga set the final score at 32-19.

The match also marked the international debut for Gabriel Vélez, who started, and saw Diego González and Jeremy Trevithick earn their first caps for Spain as replacements.