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Latest News
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 - Men's
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 5 April, 2022
3 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Rugby World Cup 2021
Tuesday 22 February, 2022
3 min read

Las Tucanes working towards "respect" ahead of FQT decider with Scotland

Eighty minutes away from an unexpected last chance at a spot in Rugby World Cup 2021, Colombia continue to defy the odds as they prepare to tackle Scotland on Friday.
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The Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The Youth Olympic Games in 2018. A spot in the Rugby World Cup 2021 Final Qualification Tournament, beating Brazil and Kenya to get there. Qualification for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022. And now, last weekend's 18-10 win against higher ranked Kazakhstan in the semi-final of the Final Qualification Tournament.

None of these historic, groundbreaking moments pitted the Colombian Tucanes as the favourites to win. And yet, the South American country has worked tirelessly, defying the odds and emerging victorious at every turn.

Fifteens rugby is fast developing in the region and the Colombians have taken massive strides. Now, all that stands between them and a spot in Rugby World Cup 2021's Pool A - alongside New Zealand, Australia and Wales - is the vastly more experienced Scotland.

“We want them to respect us,” says 21-year old captain Leidy Soto, part of World Rugby’s 'Unstoppables' campaign and an integral part of each of the milestones mentioned above bar the Olympic Games, which took place before she started playing rugby.

Powering into week two of the #RWC2021 Final Qualification Tournament 💪@fecorugby 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/1y1wmYegVy

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) February 22, 2022

An unstoppable force as a hard-tackling centre, Soto (pictured left in main image) is enjoying the sights of Dubai. “I get to see everything from the bus, as we are in a bubble, going from the hotel to training and then back. It's OK, we came here to do a job.

“Hopefully, we can go out and see a bit of the city on Saturday.”

By then, Scotland will have given them their biggest challenge yet.

The challenge ahead

“It is small things in a game that give you insight into how it's going but after the first few minutes, I knew we’d win,” she says of their game against the Asian representatives Kazakhstan.

“Then around the 20th minute, when there was a stoppage, I looked to my number 10, Camila Lopera, and we had seen the same thing: they were breathing hard, all their energy consumed early in the game.”

Colombia scored two tries and defended bravely throughout the game, even more so after the 15th minute when number eight Maribel Mestra was sent-off for a dangerous charge.

“We knew we would have to work even harder,” admits Soto, acknowledging her team did not cave and instead worked harder, something they are accustomed to.

Having entered a sanitary bubble a couple of weeks ahead of their trips to Madrid and Dubai, coach Raúl Vesga and four players were unable to travel having contracted COVID-19.

A rugby family on and off the pitch

Lissette Martínez took over a team that knows her well and has become a family.

Soto has two team-mates from the Youth Olympics in Valentina Tapias and Laura Mejia, and even plays alongside older sister Juliana, also on the team. 

“Having friends in the team is great; having a sister is incredible. My mother gets very emotional when we play,” she says and smiles thinking of the celebrations in Medellín.

The Sotos are not a rugby family. Few are in a country with an oval ball history that only stretches to the early '90s, when founding father Hans Rausch used the signed ball given to him by his varsity team-mates in the USA for the first ever rugby session in Medellín. Slowly and steadily, the game has continued to grow ever since.

“My older brother played for his university and, drawn by what we saw, Juliana and I started rugby the same day five years ago,” says the Gatos player, adding that her younger brother, at 17, is also a rugby player.

Whilst her parents have never been out of the country, she’s been to “10 countries on a quick count”.

“Thanks to rugby I’ve travelled, met interesting people in great places and grown as a person. Being an Unstoppable was also big in my formation and I am thankful."

Taking over the reigns 

Needing to find a new captain after the retirement of Nicole Acevedo, the young Soto was the ideal option, even ahead of former captain Alejandra Betancur and fellow Olympian Camila Lopera, both her lieutenants and mentors.

The game has given Leidy a lot and she repays in kind every time she takes to the field, which will be evident to a wider audience against Scotland.

“Only on Monday did we start to look at Scotland, but we know they are more experienced and we know what they will bring to the game.

“We have prepared very well and are planning on having a good performance."

In the past, people have taken lightly the challenge posed by the Tucanes lightly. 

“We want Scotland to respect us and we have to earn that respect. Our defence will be a key element of our game and we have proven in the past that our heart has taken us places”.

Delighted that South America will have a team in Rugby World Cup 2025, when she will still be in her prime, she still sees herself in New Zealand later next year.

Eighty minutes separate Soto and her visit to the Land of the Long White Cloud.

READ MORE: Spain tame conditions to beat Netherlands in Rugby Europe Women's Championship opener

Trending News Show all
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
3 min read
Madagascar qualify for rugby world cup sevens
4 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia clinch overall 2022 series title while late Lily Dick try gives them Cup win in Langford

Hosts Canada took fifth place while Ireland flyer Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged 12 tries as they won bronze in the HSBC Canada Sevens in Langford.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 2 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia edge towards HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory in Langford as New Zealand provide thrills on return

Australia are closing in on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title after a perfect start to the penultimate event of the season in Canada, while the Black Ferns came back with a bang at the Starlight Stadium.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sun 1 May, 2022
5 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Captains on top of the world ahead of the HSBC Canada Women's Sevens in Langford

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to the home of Rugby Canada after a 1,083 day break as Australia look to clinch their first Series title since to 2018.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 29 April, 2022
3 min read
Santiago Gómez Cora
5 min read

rugby sevens

Santiago Gómez Cora: “You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work”

World Rugby caught up with Los Pumas Sevens coach about Argentina’s recent win in the HSBC Canada Sevens and what it means to him going forward.

rugby sevens

Thu 28 April, 2022
5 min read
Charlotte Caslick
3 min read

HSBC Sevens Series

Series title within Australia’s reach as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford

We spoke to Australia co-captain Charlotte Caslick about her team's mindset heading into this weekend's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop in Langford knowing they can wrap up the series title.

HSBC Sevens Series

Wed 27 April, 2022
3 min read
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