The Diables Barcelona are a professional rugby franchise from the city of Barcelona that was born in 2021 to compete in an international franchise league. The Diables made their first appearance in November 2021 to play in the Toyota Challenge tournament[1][2] at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa.[3][4]

Diables
Founded2021 (Diables franchise)
LocationBarcelona, Spain
RegionCatalonia
PresidentJordi Homs
League(s)Currie Cup
Official website
barcelonarugby.eu

The franchise aspires to participate in a new international competition that is being created and already has a place guaranteed.[5][6] This new competition will mainly involve teams from southern Africa and Europe. Some of the franchises have already announced their willingness to participate, such as the Cheetahs[7] or Kuva Blue thunder [8] of Zimbabwe.

Diables Barcelona Toyota Challenge squad

Hookers

  • South Africa Jean-Pierre Lieberum
  • South Africa Khwezilokusa Mkhafu

Props

  • South Africa Stephan de Jager
  • Catalonia Joan Domenech
  • South Africa Bart Le Roux
  • South Africa Buhle Nojekwa
  • South Africa Martin Oosthuizen

Locks

  • South Africa Michael Benadie
  • South Africa Wilmer Coetzer
  • Catalonia Gerard Ginel
  • South Africa Albert Kapenda
  • South Africa Chris van Heerden

Loose forwards

  • South Africa Edmund Brand
  • South Africa Christo Bester
  • Catalonia Oriol Fariñas
  • Catalonia Bernat Guilera
  • South Africa Chris van Heerden

Scrum-halves

  • Catalonia Felipe Brill
  • Catalonia Pol Fonts
  • South Africa Vani Pijoos
  • South Africa Sean Snyman

Fly-halves

  • South Africa Hanno van Biljon

Centres

  • Catalonia Roberto Deligios
  • South Africa Liyema Gaba
  • South Africa Hedley Hadlow
  • Catalonia Julen Sánchez

Wingers

  • Catalonia Tomàs Casat
  • Catalonia David Hinojosa
  • Catalonia Fransesc Pulido
  • South Africa Tisetso Yika

Fullbacks

  • Chile Matias Giannetti
  • Ireland Aaron Kelly
(c) Denotes team captain, Bold denotes internationally capped, DEV denotes a development squad player, ST denotes a short-term signing, denotes a player ruled out for the season with injury.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Toyota Challenge - Toyota Cheetahs vs. Diables Barcelona".
  2. ^ "Unique rugby feast planned for Bloemfontein".
  3. ^ "La nueva franquicia profesional de Rugby en Barcelona comienza a caminar rumbo a Sudàfrica". 8 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Els Diables Barcelona es presenten per competir en una nova Lliga internacional". 8 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Els Diables tenen garantida una plaça en una nova lliga europea professional".
  6. ^ "Esports - Jordi Homs: "Fa tres anys que treballem en aquest projecte"".
  7. ^ "International Rugby Competitions".
  8. ^ "Big boost for Zim rugby players".