Rugby ace Peter Boland is the real deal in Spain

Football reigns as the national sport in Spain but rugby is gaining a foothold thanks to the help of Wolverhampton-born Peter Boland, who has called the country home for half his life.

The 53-year-old’s influence on rugby in Spain has seen him recognised as one of the top 50 most influential people in the sport in the country.

Boland, who was born in Wolverhampton and went to school in Wednesfield, is head coach of a junior side at Alcobendas Rugby, based in Madrid, and has turned them into Spanish champions.

His knowledge of the game, which he picked up in the Black Country, is regarded so highly in Spain he has been asked to advise the Spanish rugby union about how to grow the sport nationally.

Remarkably, he was playing in Spain’s top rugby division up until he was 48.

He has been recognised by Spanish rugby magazine ‘From 22’ who paid tribute to him and ranked him as the 46th most influential rugby person in the country.

Boland, who lives with his Spanish wife and three children, called it ‘flattering’ to have been featured in the publication.

He said: “I only got involved in Spanish rugby around 11 years ago. For the magazine to place me in the top 50 contributors to the sport, because of my playing and coaching and contribution, it has given me huge satisfaction and is very flattering.”

Boland got into rugby during his time at Ward’s Bridge Secondary School, back in Wednesfield, thanks to the influence of his teachers.

He played for his school team before turning out to represent Staffordshire, and during his time at Leeds University – where he studied a degree in modern languages in French and Spanish – he played for Walsall.

His university course saw him spend time in Spain and France. After graduating he went into the marketing industry, where he lived between London and Madrid.

Through work, he moved to Spain in 1995 where he met his wife and built his life. Boland lives around 30 miles outside Madrid, but the club that he coaches at, Alcobendas, and his work, are based in the capital.

His working life put a hold on his playing career in 1995 and he didn’t start turning out again until 2006.

“But at the ripe old age of 42 I turned up to Alcobendas saying I wanted to play again,” said Boland. “They said they had a veterans team, but I said I wanted to play again. I played in the top Spanish divisions until I was 48.

“That put me on the (rugby) scene. I was recognised as a Brit who had integrated into Spanish life and started playing the highest level of rugby at 42.”

After retiring from the first team, Bolnad turned to coaching a youth team at the club. His side, who were at under-12 level at the time, went on to beat London Irish during a friendly match – a result that surprised the opposition.

But Boland, whose 13-year-old son plays junior rugby for the club, has not completely hung up his boots.

He still plays at veterans level and represents the Spanish veterans side. In his younger days he used to play as a prop, but he moved to a hooker following advice from his former coaches.

He is also providing a helping hand to the rugby union.

“Last year the Spanish rugby union had asked for advice, I work professionally in marketing and I teach at a university here,” added Boland.

“For the last eight months, I have been advising Spanish rugby to build a strategic plan to build up rugby in Spain.”

But rugby is still a small sport in Spain?

“That is changing,” he said.

“What happens in Britain, most schools play rugby and or football.

“But it is not in the curriculum in Spain and it is down to clubs to get kids involved.

“But rugby is growing by 20 per cent a year in Spain, there are now around 50,000 registered players.”