So Spain have lost their appeal with World Rugby and their absence from RWC2023 and a £75,000 fine is confirmed, a decision which is ludicrously harsh and threatens to kill the considerable progress in Spanish rugby stone dead.

A number of their current crop of players, many of whom have lost money in representing Spain and annoyed their employers in the case of French-based players, have announced their retirement in disgust while Spain’s main rugby magazine for the last 14 years has closed down.

The WR decision has been roundly condemned by the International Rugby Players Association bu...