The Spanish men’s rugby sevens team has chosen the island of La Palma for its training camp prior to the start of the HSBC SVNS Series 2026, which will kick off at the end of November in Dubai. The team, the world runners-up, has found the Canary Islands to be the perfect environment for two weeks of physical, technical, and mental training before their international debut.
The archipelago continues to establish itself as a leading European destination for high-performance training.
While much of Europe trains in the rain and cold, the Spanish men’s rugby sevens team has found La Palma to be the perfect setting for its pre-season training. For two weeks, the Leones sevens are working in an island environment that offers stable weather, tranquillity, and first-class facilities before travelling to Dubai, where they will make their debut on the HSBC SVNS 2026 circuit.
The team, led by Paco Hernández, arrived on the island with a clear objective: to repeat—and improve upon—last season’s historic runner-up finish at the Los Angeles World Cup. ‘What we did last year was historic. Now, we want to go one step further. We dream of a gold medal, of winning at least one tournament, for the first time’, claims the national coach. ‘Training in an environment like this allows us to focus on the essentials: work, rest, and nutrition. Everything here is conducive to good performance,’ he adds.
During their stay, the Leones sevens combine field sessions, strength training in the gym, tactical analysis, and active recovery in an incomparable natural environment. ‘Players who train in a place like this are happy and focused, and that translates directly into their performance,’ adds Manu García Sillero, the team’s physical trainer
The perfect setting for high performance
With average temperatures around 22 degrees Celsius, more than ten hours of natural light per day, and atmospheric stability, which allows for uninterrupted training, the Canary Islands have strengthened their position as the leading European destination for sports training. These natural conditions, combined with the network of facilities scattered throughout the archipelago, allow for elite athletes and teams from different disciplines to find the ideal environment here to optimise their performance.
In the case of the Leones sevens, choosing La Palma is part of a precise strategy. The climate, the tranquillity of the island, and its natural environment offer the perfect conditions for a training camp that prioritises the quality of training and recovery. ‘The climate here is very similar to what we will find in Dubai, a bit cooler, but the conditions are very similar,’ explains Paco Hernández. ‘The competition is extremely tough, both physically and mentally,’ comments the player Jeremy Trevithick. ‘Being in an environment where everything flows, where your body and mind can rest, is probably the best way to train.’ It’s not just about training more, but training better.
Next stop: Dubai
On 29 November, Spain will make its debut in the HSBC SVNS 2026 against Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.
They will arrive with the confidence of those who have worked tirelessly under the Atlantic sun and with their heads clear. They are also motivated to maintain the level achieved last season when they established themselves among the world’s rugby elite. ‘We want to maintain that level over the next few years, until the next Olympic cycle. Our goal is to qualify for the next Olympic Games,’ says Juan Bravo, the team’s captain.
In modern rugby, like in other elite sports, the road to victory does not begin during the match. Rather, it begins with the place where you choose to train. And there is no other destination in Europe like the Canary Islands.
What we did last year was historic. Now, we want to go one step further. We dream of a gold medal, of winning at least one tournament, for the first time
Training in an environment like this allows us to focus on the essentials: work, rest, and nutrition. Everything here is conducive to good performance