Football and rugby go hand in foot for LaLiga World

Spanish football and rugby have been like a family in San Francisco during the LaLiga World tour. While on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning Spanish time), the Spanish national rugby sevens team were in the crowd at the Avaya Stadium to support Real Sociedad against the San Jose Earthquakes, the Basque side repaid the favour the next day by cheering on the rugby sevens players in their warm-up friendly ahead of the Olympic qualifying repechage tournament in Monaco.

San Francisco Golden Gate Rugby Club was the venue for this 'scrimmage' pitting Spain's rugby sevens internationals up against a local team. It may have been a friendly, but it was well contested and was keenly followed from the stands by none other than Raul Gonzalez, who also offered the Spanish players some words of encouragement for their upcoming assignments. Before the match, both teams presented Raul and Ignacio Martinez Trujillo, LaLiga's managing director of innovation and global development, with kits and other gifts.

Raul was not the only special guest present, as the Real Sociedad travelling party were also eager to catch the action and headed straight to the club after their morning training session. Watching from up close, the Basque outfit's players were blown away by the rough and tumble of rugby, and the strength it requires: "I think it's a crazy sport, it's incredible that they don't get hurt more! I wish them the best of luck on the road to the Olympic Games in Rio because even though it'll be tough [to qualify], nothing is impossible," said La Real star Yuri Berchiche.

After the match, the teams rounded off a memorable morning with a chat alongside Raul, with plenty of laughter and banter flying about. One big 'family photo', with both Spanish sides being joined by the hosts, was the perfect way to commemorate the close bond that has been forged in San Francisco and which will last forever.