Results from a first dedicated spectroscopic search for new RCB stars over the entire sky

Using publicly available all sky infrared surveys, 2MASS and WISE, a pre-selection of only 2356 candidates were made from more than 500 millions objects catalogued. The selection criteria applied on all already known RCB stars reach to a convincing ∼85% detection efficiency. A spectroscopic follow-up was made over 500 candidates individually and I will present here the method and the spectroscopic criteria used to find new RCBs. By increasing the total number of Galactic RCBs known by 50%, I will discuss the RCB/HdC formation rate and  their Galactic distribution