Beaten in an epic final

Barça have missed out on winning rugby’s Copa del Rey by a single point in a gripping final against Alcobendas, who secured a converted try in a mammoth and nerve-racking final passage that went on for over ten minutes and eventually saw them nick the title by a single point.

Barça have won the competition more time than any other club (16) but most of those victories date back to the early days of the competition and the last time they lifted the trophy was in 1985.

A tightly contested first half ended with Barça edging things 6-3 on the back of two penalties from Argentinian Bautista Guemes, but both sides took a far less explosive approach after the break, treating the crowd to some bright, attacking rugby.

The Madrid based side scored and converted two tries to move 17-6 ahead, but Barça battled on, and another penalty plus their first try of the game, Bruno Granell breaking free following a fine piece of defending from Rochedi Mirabet, soon closed the gap to three points.

The try spurred Barça on to producing their best rugby of the game, and an Imanol Ubaldo try got them back in front, 23-17, with just ten minutes on the clock.

Those final minutes produced no further score, and the 80 minutes expired with Alcobendas pressing deep and a gruelling tactical battle ensued on the edge of the Barça try-line. The Catalans held on, and on, and on, but Alcobendas bode their time, waited for the gap, and eventually found it.