England A will face Spain at the Estadio José Zorrilla in Valladolid on Saturday, live on RugbyPass TV, to rekindle a rivalry with the Iberian Peninsula that dates back 70 years.
On 27 November 1955, the then England B side lost their first-ever game in Catalunya before winning the return fixture two days later, but it was almost three decades before they defeated the Spanish national side 16-9 in Seville.
Spain were one of the emerging teams on the European circuit in the early 1980s, competing in the FIRA Championship, winning the B1 Group in 1983 before inviting England’s second string to tour in the following May.
England, rebranded as under-23s, had demonstrated their superiority against regional sides in San Sebastian and Barcelona, and their forwards dominated the Spanish, who lacked enough ball to supply their backs.
Marcus Rose and Rob Andrew scored tries in Valencia, while stand-in full-back Bristol’s Simon Hogg, who played the first game in the centres, converted Rose’s try and kicked a penalty. Andrew also scored a penalty.
Spain gained revenge in March 1986, when they embarrassed England at the inaugural New South Wales Sevens (now the World Sevens Series), winning a group game 24-6 with a brilliant display of running rugby.
But in the same year, Stuart Barnes kicked five penalties in England’s under-23s’ 15-10 victory at Twickenham, and their win at Imber Court, East Molesey, in March 1988 was even more convincing, 31-6.
It was just as fiercely contested as previous encounters, and the victory owed much to Simon Hodgkinson, who scored 19 of their points with three penalties, three conversions, and a try after supporting a superb Kevin Simms break.
England had scored two first-half tries. The first was a penalty try, and then Andy McFarlane, as relentless rain and a slippery ball at the Metropolitan Police ground hindered England’s all-out attacking policy.
The scoreline could have been even worse for Spain, who conceded a second-half try to Nigel Redman, had England opted for Hodgkinson’s boot instead of quick tap penalties to run the ball through their backs.
The Spaniards’ points came from a drop goal and a penalty from scrum-half Javier Díaz, but their discipline became increasingly ragged as the game progressed, and England let them off the hook.
What became of the England side?
Simon Hodgkinson – Nottingham full-back, nailed a then-world record seven penalties against Wales in 1991, has business interests in the care home sector.
Jon Bentley – A policeman who was a Lions and Great Britain league wing, has worked for Leeds Tykes on community programmes and as a business development manager. He is an after-dinner speaker.
28 May 1997, British Lions Tour of South Africa, Border v Lions, A muddied John Bentley of the British Lions during the post-match conference. (Photo by Mark Leech/Getty Images)
John Buckton – The Saracens centre played 319 times for the club, winning an English Cup in 1998, and is based in Waltham Forest, working as a support consultant for Anite Business Systems.
Kevin Simms – The Wasps centre, who played varsity rugby alongside Rob Andrew, is now a GP on Merseyside and has served as the medical officer for Liverpool St Helens.
Gary Hartley – Nottingham and Midlands centre and winger, a Chartered Surveyor running Hartleys Estate Agents for 20 years and now managing partner of Fine and Country.
Andy Sutton – Cambridge University fly-half, a telecommunications network architect who founded the cat furniture designers Catipilla in 2016.
Simon Robson – Moseley scrum-half, who is the father of former England ace Dan, was a teacher for 37 years, spending three decades as the head of rugby at Newcastle-under-Lyme School.
Mark Linnett – The Moseley prop, who scored a try on his only senior cap against Fiji in November 1989, is a former police detective and a qualified physical training instructor.
John Olver – Harlequins hooker who was an unused England replacement 31 times, taught at Northampton School and Oundle School, and is the uncle of the Curry twins, Tom and Ben.
Gary Pearce – An England international prop who made over 400 appearances for Northampton and worked as a surveyor for Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd in Hemel Hempstead.
Nigel Redman – England lock who was an electrical engineer, has been the RFU’s team performance director after a similar role with British Swimming.
Steve Bainbridge – England and Lions lock, qualified as a teacher but worked in the motor industry and was a sales and development officer for Benfield, then Lookers Motor Group.
John Wells – The Leicester Tigers flanker was head coach at Welford Road and Newcastle and has coached England and Rugby Colorno in Italy.
Bath’s head of academy Andy Robinson was impressed with how Scotland dealt with Finn Russell’s welfare in a high-pressure situation (Photo Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)
Andy Robinson – Former England flanker who was a school teacher, has coached England, Scotland and Romania and is on Bath’s coaching staff.
Andy McFarlane – Sale and England B No.8, lives in South Manchester and has worked in the rail industry for Central Rail Systems Alliance.
Spain – F Puertas, L Martín, G Rivero, S Torres, E Uzquiano (C Díaz 30), J Moreno, J Díaz, J Álvarez, A Trenzano, T Pardo, F Méndez, P Amunaritz, J Egido, H Massoni, J Chacarro
Referee – Gareth Simmonds (Wales)