Could the location of your training camp make more of a difference than you think?
In modern rugby, the road to victory begins with the place where you choose to train.
WHILE HALF OF Europe trains in the rain and cold, the rugby sevens World Finals runners-up are training in the Canary Islands before heading to Dubai. This is no coincidence.
When Paco Hernández, the coach of Spain’s rugby sevens team, designed the pre-season plan, his list of requirements was clear: warm temperatures, stable weather, first-class facilities, and a setting that encourages total concentration. The goal: to get in the best possible shape for starting off the HSBC SVNS 2026.
Average temperature: 22-25°C. More than 10 hours of natural light. Low humidity. Sea level. Natural grass field, and a fully equipped gym. Perfectly connected. The answer: La Palma, Canary Islands. Two weeks.
“The climate here is similar to that of Dubai. It’s a bit cooler, but the conditions are very similar,” explains Hernández. “Training in an environment like this helps us adapt better. What’s more, La Palma is peaceful, perfect for focusing on training, resting, and eating well. Those are the keys to good performance.”
It’s not arbitrary. It’s science applied to sport.
Why location matters
Fitness coach Manu García Sillero sums it up bluntly: ‘In many countries where we compete, we have to change our plans due to bad weather or limited facilities. Here, we can carry out 100% of the programme.’ For a team competing against Argentina, France (Olympic champions), Great Britain, South Africa, Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand, that makes all the difference.
Spain comes to this training camp after finishing as runners-up at the World Cup in Los Angeles, remarkable progress for a team that recently missed the cut on the Olympic Games. “What we did last year was historic,” Hernández acknowledges. “Now, we want more: to win a tournament and keep up our form until the next Olympic cycle.”
Spain’s rugby sevens team during their training camp on La Palma, Canary Islands.
The data behind the decision
Average temperatures in November:
Dublin: 8-10°C
Cork: 9-11°C
Lisbon: 15-17°C
La Palma: 20-23°C
For a team that needs to put in a lot of training on the pitch, the difference is significant. ‘Players who train in an environment like this are happy, and you can see it in their performance, especially during heavy training weeks,’ explains García Sillero. Juan Ramos, the team captain, adds: ‘We want to get to Dubai in the best possible condition, and we can only achieve that in places like this. There’s nothing comparable in Europe.’
Sun, science, and recovery
Beyond the climate, the environment promotes physiological and mental recovery. Prolonged exposure to sunlight regulates circadian rhythms and improves rest, atmospheric stability lowers stress, and the landscapes offer a unique kind of mental context. The facilities they use at the La Palma Training Camp are integrated into a natural environment that favours recovery: volcanic beaches, laurel forests, and trails that provide active rest.
“The competition is extremely tough, both physically and mentally,’ comments Jeremy Trevithick, a Spanish player with a British father. “Being in an environment where everything flows, where your body and mind can rest, is probably the best way to train.”
It’s not just about training more, but training better.
A competitive advantage
Members of Spain’s rugby sevens team explore La Palma’s natural landscapes in the
Canary Islands during a break from training.
This balance — optimal and stable conditions, a peaceful environment, and precise planning — is what has made the archipelago one of the elite athletes’ favourite training destinations. Cyclists, boat racers, track and field specialists, triathletes, and swimmers already know this. Now, rugby sevens players are joining the list.
In a few days, the Leones sevens will fly to Dubai to take on Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. They travel with the peace of mind of those who have completed their training under conditions that are difficult to replicate in Europe.
In modern rugby, the road to victory does not begin during the match. It begins with the place where you choose to train.
Could the location of your training camp make more of a difference than you think?
WHILE HALF OF Europe trains in the rain and cold, the rugby sevens World Finals runners-up are training in the Canary Islands before heading to Dubai. This is no coincidence.
When Paco Hernández, the coach of Spain’s rugby sevens team, designed the pre-season plan, his list of requirements was clear: warm temperatures, stable weather, first-class facilities, and a setting that encourages total concentration. The goal: to get in the best possible shape for starting off the HSBC SVNS 2026.
Average temperature: 22-25°C. More than 10 hours of natural light. Low humidity. Sea level. Natural grass field, and a fully equipped gym. Perfectly connected. The answer: La Palma, Canary Islands. Two weeks.
“The climate here is similar to that of Dubai. It’s a bit cooler, but the conditions are very similar,” explains Hernández. “Training in an environment like this helps us adapt better. What’s more, La Palma is peaceful, perfect for focusing on training, resting, and eating well. Those are the keys to good performance.”
It’s not arbitrary. It’s science applied to sport.
Why location matters
Fitness coach Manu García Sillero sums it up bluntly: ‘In many countries where we compete, we have to change our plans due to bad weather or limited facilities. Here, we can carry out 100% of the programme.’ For a team competing against Argentina, France (Olympic champions), Great Britain, South Africa, Australia, Fiji, and New Zealand, that makes all the difference.
Spain comes to this training camp after finishing as runners-up at the World Cup in Los Angeles, remarkable progress for a team that recently missed the cut on the Olympic Games. “What we did last year was historic,” Hernández acknowledges. “Now, we want more: to win a tournament and keep up our form until the next Olympic cycle.”
The data behind the decision
Average temperatures in November:
Dublin: 8-10°C
Cork: 9-11°C
Lisbon: 15-17°C
La Palma: 20-23°C
Daylight hours:
Ireland: 7-8 hours
Portugal: 9-10 hours
Canary Islands: 10-11 hours
Weather stability:
Ireland: frequent rain, Atlantic wind
Portugal: variable
Canary Islands: almost guaranteed stability
For a team that needs to put in a lot of training on the pitch, the difference is significant. ‘Players who train in an environment like this are happy, and you can see it in their performance, especially during heavy training weeks,’ explains García Sillero. Juan Ramos, the team captain, adds: ‘We want to get to Dubai in the best possible condition, and we can only achieve that in places like this. There’s nothing comparable in Europe.’
Sun, science, and recovery
Beyond the climate, the environment promotes physiological and mental recovery. Prolonged exposure to sunlight regulates circadian rhythms and improves rest, atmospheric stability lowers stress, and the landscapes offer a unique kind of mental context. The facilities they use at the La Palma Training Camp are integrated into a natural environment that favours recovery: volcanic beaches, laurel forests, and trails that provide active rest.
“The competition is extremely tough, both physically and mentally,’ comments Jeremy Trevithick, a Spanish player with a British father. “Being in an environment where everything flows, where your body and mind can rest, is probably the best way to train.”
It’s not just about training more, but training better.
A competitive advantage
This balance — optimal and stable conditions, a peaceful environment, and precise planning — is what has made the archipelago one of the elite athletes’ favourite training destinations. Cyclists, boat racers, track and field specialists, triathletes, and swimmers already know this. Now, rugby sevens players are joining the list.
In a few days, the Leones sevens will fly to Dubai to take on Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. They travel with the peace of mind of those who have completed their training under conditions that are difficult to replicate in Europe.
In modern rugby, the road to victory does not begin during the match. It begins with the place where you choose to train.
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