Spain Player Biographies

The following are brief biographies of the Spanish World Cup squad (ages correct for start of tournament):

ALFONSO FEIJOO (coach). Age 46. Took over as national coach in 1997 and guided Spain to their first ever appearance in the World Cup finals. Feijoo is a physical education teacher in the Basque city of San Sebastian and a former Spanish international centre capped 23 times for Spain.

FRANCISCO PUERTAS. Fullback. Age 35. Height 1.86m. Weight 86kg. International caps 91. Plays in France for Sant Jean de Luz. Recalled at the start of the year for his experience after an 18 month absence. Despite his age he is vying with Ferran Velazco for the starting role. Made his international debut in 1984 and the Basque is the top scorer in the Spanish squad with 28 tries, 12 conversions, 21 penalties and one drop goal to his credit.

FERRAN VELAZCO. Fullback/wing. Age 23. 1.80m. 80kg. Caps 15. Occupation: administrator. Plays for U.E. Santboiana. Made international debut four years ago and is occasionally utilised as a penalty taker.

MIGUEL ANGEL FRECHILLA. Wing/fullback. Age 25. 1.83m. 84kg. Caps: Six. Occupation: industrial engineer. One of just two players in the squad who play for Spanish club champions Quesos Entrepinares, which is based in Valladolid. Made international debut last year against Russia.

ORIOL RIPOL. Wing. Age 24. 1.74m. 73kg. Caps Eight. Occupation: student. Plays for U.E. Santboiana. Made international debut in November 1996 against Iberian rivals Portugal and celebrated by scoring two tries. Arguably the fastest man in the Spanish squad and the top try scorer in the 12-team Spanish first division last season with 16 tries.

ANTONIO SOCIAS. Wing. Age 28 (29 on October 13). 1.79m. 82kg. Caps Six. Occupation: post-graduate student. Made Spanish debut last year in a friendly match against Russia. Like his bother Alberto, who is in the squad as a centre, he plays for Valencia Technidex.

JOSE IGNACIO INCHAUSTI. Wing. Age 26. 1.82m. 77kg. Caps Three. Occupation: clothes salesman. Only squad member to play for a Spanish second division club, C.D. Alcobendas, but Feijoo has included him primarily because of his speed and potential despite having yet to score for his country.

ALVAR ENCISO. Centre. Age 25. 1.82kg. 82kg. Caps 31. Occupation: architecture student. Vice-captain. Made international debut as a teenager in 1993. Plays for 1998 Spanish champions Dulciora El Salvador.

FERNANDO DIEZ. Centre. Age 26. 1.75m. 85kg. Caps 11. Occupation: barman in Bar-barians Rugby Bar (Madrid). Plays for Liceo Frances and made international debut in 1995 against Uruguay although did not become a regular fixture in the Spanish side until the start of 1998.

RAFAEL BASTIDE. Centre. Age 21. 1.82m. 88kg. Caps 10. Occupation: professional rugby player. Plays in France for Colomiers. The Basque made his international debut as a teenager two years ago against Andorra in Spain's 62-3 thrashing of their tiny neighbour and had an immediate impact by scoring two tries.

ALBERTO SOCIAS. Centre. Age 26. 1.87m. 82kg. Caps Nine. Occupation: physical education teacher. Like his bother Antonio, he plays for Valencia Tecnidex. Made international debut in 1994 against Italy.

SEBASTIEN LOUBSENS. Centre. Age 26. 1.79m. 82kg. Caps Three Occupation: professional rugby player. Plays in France for Begles Bordeaux. One of only two full-time players in the Spanish squad and finally got clearance to play for Spain in July after playing for the France A team and also for the French juniors and sevens teams.

ANDREI KOVALENCO. Flyhalf. Age 28. 1.80m. 81kg. Caps 10. Occupation: translator. Right-footed kicker who plays for the Madrid-based Real Canoe club and is probably Spain's most important player. The Ukrainian-born player made his debut in 1995 but after two caps then spent three years in the international wilderness. Earned a recall in 1998 against Russia, a match in which he scored four penalties and two conversations to secure his place. Top points scorer in the Spanish first division in the 1997-98 season.

AITOR ETXEBERRIA. Flyhalf. Age 23. 1.93m. 1.89kg. Caps Eight. Left-footed Oviedo player who fills in regularly for the injury-prone Kovalenco.

ARATZ GALLASTEGUI. Scrumhalf. Age 23. 1.73kg. 71kg. Caps 12. Occupation: sports science student. The Basque is smallest and lightest player in the squad. Made international debut against Russia as a teenager in 1996 and scored two tries in a 52-6 thrashing. Plays for Getxo Artea and despite his lack of physical presence he is highly regarded for his quick hands and good positional play.

JAIME ALONSO. Scrumhalf. Age 26. 1.75m. 75kg. Caps four. Occupation: law student. Plays for 1997-98 Spanish champions Dulciora El Salvador and has recently started challenging Gallastegui for his starting role, although both have similar attributes.

ALFONSO MATA. Number eight. Age 26. 1.88m. 93kg. Caps Five. Occupation: physical education student. Another player from the 1998 Spanish champions Dulciora El Salvador. Late developer who only got his call up at the end of last year for the World Cup qualifying matches against Portugal and Scotland, making his debut in the crucial match against Spain's Iberian neighbours which saw them qualify. He has since impressed with his speed and toughness in the loose.

CARLOS SOUTO. Flanker/number eight. Age 22. 1.90m. 112kg. Caps 14. Occupation: civil servant. Plays for Oviedo along with his brother Sergio, a lock, and is one of two sets of brothers in the Spanish squad.

ALBERTO MALO. Flanker. Age 35. 1.90m. 100kg. Caps 72. Occupation: Administrator at his club U.E. Santiboana. Spanish captain who made his debut in 1985. Catalan whose name translates loosely into English as Bad Bert. Usually plays on the blindside but flexible.

OSCAR ASTARLOA. Flanker. Age 25. 1.85m. 95kg. Caps nine. Occupation: wood cutter. Basque who plays in France for Bayonne. Made debut in last year's World Cup qualifying match against Germany. Prefers the open side position and has established himself as Spain's first choice, playing in all Spain's five internationals this year.

JOSE DIAZ. Flanker. Age 36. 1.83m. 95kg. Caps seven. Occupation: Forestry worker. Originally from Valencia, now based in France where he plays for Castres. Decided to play for the country of his birth late in life, after failing to get French selection. Made his Spanish debut in 1997 in the World Cup qualifier against Andorra. Tends to play at open side flanker and although not first choice, his experience is highly valued by Feijoo.

AGUSTIN MALET. Flanker. Age 32. 1.88m. 102kg. Caps five Occupation: industrial engineer. Plays for University of Seville. With Alberto Malo virtually ever present at blind side flanker, he has to compete with Astarloa and Diaz for the open side role and also gained one of his caps playing at number eight.

JOSE MIGUEL VILLAU. Lock. Age 27. 1.95m. 100kg. Caps 31. Occupation: agricultural engineer. Plays for Mont de Marsans in France, one of four French-based players. Made debut in 1993 and scored his solitary try four years ago against Portugal.

STEVE TUINEAU. Lock. Age 30. 1.95m. 105kg. Caps 11. Occupation: receptionist. Born in Tonga and plays for U.E. Santboiana and made international debut in 1996 against Morocco.

SERGIO SOUTO. Lock. Age 22. 1.94m. 106kg. Caps 3. Occupation: student. Plays for Oviedo, along with his brother Carlos who is also in the Spanish squad. Made debut earlier this year against Chile.

LUIS JAVIER MARTINEZ. Prop/lock. Age 30. 1.93m. 115kg. Caps six. Occupation: sports teacher. Utility player who can fit in anywhere in the front five. Primarily a second-string prop for Spain these days and has yet to play in an international this year. Won first four caps as a lock. Plays for Oviedo along with the Souto brothers.

JOSE IGNACIO ZAPATERO. Prop. Age 24. 1.83m. 109kg. Caps 14. Occupation: gym instructor. Made international debut as a teenager in 1993 but form has tended to fluctuate and he has been in and out of favour. Dropped for more than a year until recall at the end of 1998 but has been ever present in Spain's five internationals this year. Plays Dulciora El Salvador.

JORDI CAMPS. Prop. Age 26. 1.81m, 108kg. Caps 25. Occupation: engineer. The Catalan was another teenage debutant in 1993 and plays for U.E. Santboiana. First choice on the front row and one of only three players to play in all five Spanish internationals this year.

VICTOR TORRES. Prop. Age 32. 1.85m. 110kg. Caps 11. Occupation: Mountain bike shop owner. The Argentine-born prop made his debut in 1996 but has played intermitantly. Plays for U.E. Santboiana. Solitary international try was against Germany in 1998.

FERNANDO DE LA CALLE. Hooker. Age 29. 1.76m. 95kg. Caps 37. Occupation: sports teacher. One of only two players to play for Spanish club champions Quesos Entrepinares. Prolific try scorer, getting 14 tries in the last two seasons, as well as scoring in five of his internationals since his 1992 debut. Spanish first choice but is being challenged strongly by the younger Zarzosa.

DIEGO ZARZOSA. Hooker. Age 23. 1.79m. 105kg. Caps nine. Occupation: business studies student. Plays for El Salvador.

Reuters contributed to this report.