As the Women’s Rugby Europe Championship is now over and crowned Las Leonas for the ninth time in a row, it is time to pick the best 15 (and a power bench) of the 2026 edition.
The champions, Spain, fill most of the starting 15, but that doesn't mean there isn't room for some surprises in our selections!
FRONT ROW: Nicky Dix, Cristina Blanco Herrera and Sidorella Bracic
Let’s start with the heavy machinery, the front-row trio! The women’s Oranje Nicky Dix earned to be by Spain’s Cristiana Blanco Herrera and Sidorella Bracic’s side, as the Dutch loosehead was like a gigantic boulder that almost no one had the ability to outmaneuver.
Blanco Herrera was only involved in Spain’s last two games, but her impact in the lineout, breakdown, and support was critical in guiding her team towards another Championship title.
As for Bracic, the tighthead’s work in the scrum was vital to hold the likes of Nicky Dix in the decisive match of the competition.
© Erik Den Burger
LOCKS: Inger Jongerius and Lourdes Alameda
Is there a more dominant lock than the Netherlands Inger Jongerius? The FC Grenoble Amazones utility forward is a brutal force of nature that can bend any tackler to her will, showcasing some special running and handling abilities that caught the opposition’s defence by surprise. Her performance against Belgium was a testament to how valuable she is to the Netherlands.
Las Leonas captain, Lourdes Alameda, was captain and commander of her side’s lineout, easily finding out what the opposition was going to do, while steering the driving maul towards try-scoring land.
Her burning passion manifested itself at every tackle and carry, wrapping the competition as one of the best gain-line winners of the entire Women’s Rugby Europe Championship roster.
© Erik Den Burger
LOOSE FORWARDS: Lia Piñeiro, Cristina Pecoraro and Linde van der Velden
When we look back in a few years, we will miss the dedication, ambition, and resilience of Linde van der Velden, one of the fiercest players in European rugby, who dominated from the back of the scrum. Be it against Portugal, Belgium or Spain, the Exeter Chiefs operator was a destructive cannonball determined to crack open the opposition’s defence and secure a more promising platform for her team to take advantage of.
Belgium’s skipper, Cristina Pecoraro, was truly one of the greatest news for this year’s competition, as the openside flanker was tireless at every game, tackling players left and right and successfully stealing the ball at the breakdown.
As for Lia Piñeiro, the experienced but young Spanish blindside flanker was simply a threat for any ball carrier, effectively pinning down those who threatened to run past her. Add to that her qualities as a ball carrier, and we have perhaps one of the most dominant loose forwards in the Women's Rugby Europe Championship universe.
© Erik Den Burger
SCRUM/FLY HALF: Bingbing Vergara and Margaux Stevins
Bingbing Vergara’s kick out of nowhere to assist Amalia Argudo’s second try was a sensational moment of Spain’s last game against the Netherlands, showing why the scrum half is one of the most gifted players in her team. Her swift, sharpshooting passing skills, combined with her keen game vision, are second to none, helping explain why Las Leonas added another piece of silverware to the collection. And let’s not forget that Vergara banked three tries, the most of any scrum half.
In this year's edition of the Championship, we had a high number of fly halves in great form, but Belgian Margaux Stevins deserves special mention. Her ability to make the Lionnes was remarkable, with her first-half performances against Spain and the Netherlands being great examples of how good she is.
© Laurent Lefebvre
CENTRES: Mariet Luijken and Claudia Peña Hidalgo
If you are looking for trailblazers who know how to score tries and paint a colourful rugby painting, then look no further than the Netherlands Mariet Luijken and Spain’s Claudia Peña Hidalgo. Luijken bagged six tries in the Championship, pulling a Player of the Match performance against Belgium, in which she scored a hat-trick. In the match-up versus Spain, the elusive centre was one of the few bright lights for the Netherlands, creating several great passages of play.
As for Claudia Peña Hidalgo, what is there to say about one of the best players in the World? The Harlequins utility back was mesmerising in her two appearances in the 2026 Championship, tearing apart the Portuguese and Dutch defence with the ease and class of a veteran operator. In the end, Peña Hidalgo added two tries and three assists in 160-minutes.
At 21 years old, you have to wonder what her ceiling is, especially when she keeps performing at a top level week in and week out.
© Laurent Lefebvre
OUTSIDE BACKS: Lieve Stallman, Ana Cortés and Amalia Argudo
It wasn’t the year of the wingers, as most tries were scored either by the forward-packs or from the centre pairing, but the Netherlands Lieve Stallman and Las Leonas Ana Cortés earn their spot in our best 15!
Stallman was a loose threat, gaining several running metres while breaking the line to ignite a try-scoring opportunity for her side. As for Cortés, the 19-year-old's appetite to set the world ablaze was sensational, showing why she is seen as one of the greatest talents of the Spanish youth pathway.
Finally, Amalia Argudo. Potentially the player of the tournament, the Spanish utility back claimed the top spot of the point scorers table of the 2026 Women’s Rugby Europe Championship, collecting tries and conversions like it was the easiest thing in the world. While Claudia Peña Hidalgo is the greatest gamechanger on her side, Argudo is the turning wheel that gives form and sense to Spain’s gameplan. Undoubtedly one of the best of the crop.
© Patricia Garcinuno
POWER BENCH
Front-row: Loïse Danguy, Nuria Jou and Eider García.
A heavy trio that can change the outcome of any scrum and driving maul. Eider García’s final 35 minutes against the Netherlands were unreal, as the LOU prop mauled the opposition time and time again.
Utility Forwards: Sara Moreira and Ana Peralta.
RC Toulon Sara Moreira put her body on the line and worked tirelessly to change Portugal’s luck. As for Peralta, she barely missed getting a starting spot in our first 15, as her efficiency as a prowler and tackler was remarkable.
Backline: Esmee Ligtvoet, Amaia Erbina and Isis Touw.
Amaia Erbina is another who could’ve easily been in the starting line-up, as the prolific centre was categorically one of the best Spanish players in this year’s edition of the Championship. A special applause also goes to the Netherlands scrum half and fullback Esmee Ligtvoet and Isis Touw, for the way they solved problems, be it on defence or attack.
A high-level squad proving the progression of European Women’s rugby on the way to the next Rugby World Cup.
By Francisco Isaac
