Portugal national rugby union team

Portugal
Nickname(s) Os Lobos
Emblem Portuguese shield
Union Portuguese Rugby Federation
Head coach Ian Smith
Captain Francisco Pinto Magalhães
Most caps Vasco Uva (100)[1]
Top scorer Gonçalo Malheiro (279)[2]
Top try scorer António Aguilar (24)[3]
Home stadium Estádio Universitário de Lisboa
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current 30 (as of 3 April 2016)
Highest 13 (2005)
Lowest 30 (2015)
First international
Portugal 5–6 Spain
(Lisbon, Portugal; 13 April 1935)
Biggest win
Germany 0–69 Portugal
(Heusenstamm, Germany; 27 February 2010)
Biggest defeat
Portugal 13-108 New Zealand
(Lyon, France; 15 September 2007)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (First in 2007)
Best result Pool stage, 2007
Website www.fpr.pt

The Portugal national rugby union team is the rugby union side representing Portugal at international level. They are rated as a performance team in the new IRB four-band classification system, the second highest. Portugal had their first match in 1935 and now compete in the European Nations Cup and occasionally in the IRB Nations Cup. The team as well as all rugby union in Portugal is administered by the Federação Portuguesa de Rugby. Portugal qualified for their first Rugby World Cup in 2007 where they were grouped in Pool C along with New Zealand, Italy, Romania and Scotland. They are nicknamed Os Lobos, Portuguese for "The Wolves".

Portugal have experienced modest success in recent years. They have qualified to the 2007 World Cup in France and although they lost all their matches they managed to score one try in all their games and led the score against Romania until the late minutes. Portugal were the surprise winners of the 2003–04 European Nations Cup, but though they could only finish third in the following event. The IRB Sevens World Series circuit has allowed the Portuguese players to improve their game. In 2006–07 Portugal competed at every IRB sevens event for the first time.

History

Early

Portugal played their first ever rugby international in April 1935 against Spain. Portugal lost the game by a single point, 6–5. They played Spain again the following year with Spain winning 16–9. Portugal had more regular competition from the mid-1960s, and won their first game in 1966, defeating Spain 9 to 3. Portugal played Italy for the first time in 1967, losing 6–3. They also had their first match against Romania soon after and lost by 40 points. They defeated Belgium in 1968, and also played Morocco for the first time.

The first game of the 1970s turned out to be a draw against the Netherlands. Portugal managed to draw with Italy (nil all) in 1972 and following that, defeated them 9–6 in 1973. After a number of mixed results throughout the early 1970s, Portugal won five matches in a row from 1979 through to 1981. They played Morocco, who won the encounter. After a 1983 draw against Spain, Portugal managed a seven-game winning streak from 1984 to 1985, including wins over Belgium, Denmark, Morocco, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Zimbabwe. The first Rugby World Cup was held in 1987, though it was by invitation, thus there was no qualifying tournament.

1990s

From 1989 to 1990, the 1991 World Cup qualifiers were held for the European nations. Portugal started in Round 2b in October 1989. They defeated Czechoslovakia 15 to 13 in Ricant to advance to Round 2c. However here they were defeated by the Netherlands 32 to 3 and eliminated from qualifying. Portugal again participated in the 1995 World Cup qualifying competition for European teams, starting in Round 1. They were pooled in the West Group, and defeated Belgium and Switzerland, but lost to Spain, advancing into Round 2. Here Wales defeated them, and they lost to Spain.

Portugal began play in Pool 3 of Round B in the European qualifying competition for the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Portugal won all their group matches except for the one against Spain, but still finished second in the group, which took them into Pool 3 of Round C. All games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland. Portugal lost 85–11 to Scotland, and 21–17 to Spain. Both nations went through to the World Cup and Portugal went into repechage. Here Portugal lost a home and away series to Uruguay.

2000s

In 2002 Portugal began playing for a place in the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Pool A of Round 3 of the European qualifying tournament. They were grouped with Spain and Poland. Each nation only won one game, though on for and against Portugal finished second to Spain. Portugal were knocked out of competition. In 2003–04 Portugal won the European Nations Cup, losing only one match to win their first championship. In 2004 Professor Tomaz Morais, coach of the Portuguese national team at both sevens and fifteen aside, was nominated for the IRB's coach of the year award. This was a remarkable achievement for a coach from a third tier rugby nation. Morais has been credited with much of Portugal's progress in recent years.

In 2006 it was announced that Portugal would receive a grant from the IRB to help develop their rugby to Tier 2 standard. Few details have been released thus far regarding how the money will be spent but it is hoped it will ensure that Portuguese rugby will be able to move onto the next level. In 2006 the inaugural IRB Nations Cup was hosted in Lisbon. The tournament featured Portugal, Russia, Argentina A and Italy A. It is anticipated that this will become an annual event and another medium through which the Portuguese team can develop their skills.

2007 World Cup

Portugal (in red) playing Italy

Portugal began their qualification campaign for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in 2004, as part of the European Nations Cup Division 1 2004–06 tournament. They won their first match, defeating Ukraine 6–36. They then went onto defeat Georgia 18–14 in their second match, and then won their third match against the Czech Republic, and went onto defeated Russia as well, but then lost to Romania. Portugal then drew with Russia 19-all, and then lost to Georgia. After a loss to Romania and a win against the Czech Republic, Portugal finished third overall in the standings, and qualified for Round 5.

Round 5 was played in October 2006 as a three match series between Italy, Russia and Portugal. Both Portugal and Russia lost heavily in their matches against Italy, who easily qualified for the finals. Second place came down to the final match of the round in Lisbon. Portugal won the match 26–23 to make it to Round 6. Round 6 was a home and away series against the Round 5 Pool B winners, Georgia. Portugal lost the first match, but drew 11-all in the second meeting. Georgia went through to the finals, and Portugal entered the repechage round where they defeated Morocco 26–20 on aggregate. The team then faced Uruguay for the last position in the finals.

In the first leg of the two-match Repechage series, Portugal won 12–5. In the second game in Montevideo Portugal lost 18–12. On aggregate, they won 24–23, sending them to their first ever World Cup. Having qualified for their first World Cup, several players were subsequently arrested in the ensuing celebrations as a result of an altercation with local police. No charges were laid and the players involved were allowed to leave Uruguay.

In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, They went to Pool C, alongside favourites the All Blacks, Italy, Romania and Scotland. Portugal's highlights included preventing Italy getting a bonus point, scoring a try against the All Blacks, and coming within a try of beating Romania before losing 14–10. They also managed to score in all the four games. Portugal team were celebrated for their commitment and passion, and for being the only amateur team to make it to the World Cup.

2008–present

After the World Cup, Portugal faced some problems, including the end of the international career or of the career of several key players, like Joaquim Ferreira, Paulo Murinello and Rui Cordeiro, and achieved only one win over Czech Republic in the final round of the European Nations Cup tournament, finishing in 5th place, their worst result since 2002.

On 1 November 2008 they lost at home against Canada 21–13, in a friendly game.[4] Tomás Morais to face the upcoming edition of the Six Nations B, that also qualifies for the 2011 Rugby World Cup finals, had New Zealander Murray Henderson assigned as assistant coach.

Portugal missed the second presence at the Rugby World Cup finals, after two surprising losses at home with Georgia (10–16) and Romania (9–20), which the "Lobos" had previously defeated 22–21 abroad. Portugal thus missed the 3rd place that would have granted access to the Rugby World Cup repechage.

Tomaz Morais was replaced by New Zealand coach Errol Brain, in October 2010, with a three years contract. He had mixed results, starting with strong performances but ended up with disappointing games. He was replaced by Frederico Sousa in October 2013.

Portugal lost to Germany in the 2015–16 European Nations Cup Division 1A, finishing last, resulting in relegation for the following year.

Record

European Nations Cup

ENC champions
Season G W D L PF PA +/− Pts Pos
2000520374100–2695th
2001510477165–8875th
2001–0210307170295–125165th
2003–0410901245180+65281st
2004–0610613193173+20233rd
2006–0810307174196–22165th
2008–09531112484+40123rd
2010520313165+6694th
2011530211398+15143rd
20125104102132–3075th
201351137596–2174th
2014510470126–5655th
2015510452100–4855th
20165005 72 210 –138 1 6th*

Notes:

World Rugby Nations Cup

Year G W D L PF PA +/− Pts Pos
Portugal 200630126287–2534th
Romania 2007Did not enter
Romania 2008
Romania 2009
Romania 2010
Romania 201131026089–2956th
Romania 2012300337104–6716th
Romania 2013Did not enter
Romania 2014
Romania 2015

World Cup Record

World Cup record World Cup Qualification record
Year Round P W D L PF PA +/− P W D L PF PA +/−
AustraliaNew Zealand 1987Not invited—
United KingdomRepublic of IrelandFrance 1991Did not qualify21011845–27
South Africa 1995520385177–92
Wales 1999630315313914
Australia 2003210160600
France 2007Pool Stage400438209–171181026283362–79
New Zealand 2011Did not qualify10514255149106
England 201510217145222–77
Total 1/7 4 0 0 4 38 209 –171 53 24 4 25 999 1154 –155

Players

Current squad

Portugal squad for the European Nations Cup 2016

Backs
Player
 Position Club Club competition
Francisco Pinto Magalhães (C) Scrum-half Portugal CDUL Campeonato
Nuno Bettencourt Scrum-half Portugal Cascais Campeonato
Francisco Vieira Scrum-half Portugal CDUP Campeonato
Tomás Appleton Fly-Half England Darlington Mowden Park National League 1
Manuel Costa Fly-Half Portugal CDUL Campeonato
Manuel Vilela Centre Portugal Direito Campeonato
José Vareta Centre Portugal Direito Campeonato
Francisco Appleton Centre Portugal CDUL Campeonato
Gonçalo Foro Wing Portugal CDUL Campeonato
Tomás Noronha Wing Portugal CDUL Campeonato
Bernardo Seara Cardoso Wing Portugal Belenenses Campeonato
Nuno Sousa Guedes Fullback Portugal Direito Campeonato
Pedro Bettencourt Ávila Fullback France Clermont Top 14
Forwards
Player
 Position Club Club competition
Duarte Diniz Hooker Portugal Direito Campeonato
Mike Tadjer Hooker France Agen Top 14
José Conde Hooker Portugal Cascais Campeonato
Bruno Medeiros Prop Portugal CDUL Campeonato
Bruno Rocha Prop Portugal Técnico Campeonato
Francisco Domingues Prop France Provence Rugby Pro D2
João Almeida Prop Portugal CDUL Campeonato
José Corte-Real Prop Portugal CDUP Campeonato
Gonçalo Uva Lock Portugal Direito Campeonato
Diogo Toorn Lock Portugal CDUL Campeonato
Luís Cerquinho Lock Portugal CDUP Campeonato
Volodymyr Grykh Lock France USA Perpignan Pro D2
Maxime Vaz Flanker France Clermont Top 14
Sebastião Villax Flanker Portugal CDUL Campeonato
Salvador Vassalo Flanker Portugal Cascais Campeonato
Miguel Macedo Flanker Portugal CDUP Campeonato
João Lino Number 8 Portugal CDUL Campeonato
Luís Portela Number 8 Portugal Direito Campeonato
Francisco Sousa Number 8 Portugal Cascais Campeonato

Individual all-time records

Vasco Uva is the most capped player for Portugal (100) and also has the record for most matches in the starting XV (93).[1][5] The highest scorer for Portugal is Gonçalo Malheiro, with 279 points.[2] Malheiro is also the player with the most drop goals (12).[6] Pedro Leal holds the record for most conversions (42) and penalty goals (50).[7][8] António Aguilar with 24 tries is the player with the most tries scored.[3] Duarte Pinto has the record for most matches as a substitute, with 23 substitutions.[9] Bernardo Duarte holds the record for most matches as a substitute, without ever playing in the starting XV (13).[9]

Individual all-time records

Most caps

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Won Lost Draw %
1. Vasco Uva Number 8 2003-2015 100 93 7 65 13 0 0 0 39 56 5 41.50
2. Joaquim Ferreira Prop 1993-2007 87 81 6 15 3 0 0 0 42 41 4 50.57
3. António Aguilar Fullback 1999-2014 84 74 10 120 24 0 0 0 30 52 2 36.90
4. Gonçalo Uva Lock 2004- 84 79 5 40 8 0 0 0 29 50 5 37.50
5. João Correia Hooker 2003-2014 80 73 7 20 4 0 0 0 30 46 4 40.00
6. Diogo Mateus Centre 2000-2010 75 72 3 78 15 0 1 0 33 38 4 46.66
7. Luís Pissarra Scrum-half 1996-2007 75 58 17 0 0 0 0 0 37 35 3 51.33
8. Pedro Leal Scrum-half 2005-2014 71 60 11 259 5 42 50 0 23 43 5 35.91
9. Miguel Portela Centre 1996-2010 63 58 5 33 6 0 1 0 27 32 4 46.03
10. Marcello D'Orey Lock 1996-2007 60 56 4 25 5 0 0 0 31 25 4 55.00

Last updated: Romania vs Portugal, 6 Feb 2016. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1. António Aguilar Fullback 1999-2014 84 74 10 120 24 0 0 0
2. Gonçalo Foro Wing 2007- 57 47 10 90 18 0 0 0
3. Diogo Mateus Centre 2000-2010 75 72 3 78 15 0 1 0
4. Vasco Uva Number 8 2003-2015 100 93 7 65 13 0 0 0
5. Nuno Garvão de Carvalho Wing 2001-2005 18 15 3 45 9 0 0 0
6. Rohan Hoffmann Fullback 1996-2002 26 26 0 77 8 5 8 1
Gonçalo Malheiro Fly-half 1998-2007 41 31 10 279 8 25 51 12
Gonçalo Uva Lock 2004-2014 84 79 5 40 8 0 0 0
9. Antonio Cunha Number 8 1990-2005 52 37 15 30 6 0 0 0
Miguel Portela Centre 1996-2010 63 58 5 33 6 0 1 0
Pedro Silva Fullback 2008-2011 26 21 5 30 6 0 0 0

Last updated: Romania vs Portugal, 6 Feb 2016. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most points

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1. Gonçalo Malheiro Fly-half 1998-2007 41 31 10 279 8 25 51 12
2. Pedro Leal Scrum-half 2005-2014 71 60 11 259 5 42 50 0
3. Pedro Cabral Fly-half 2006-2011 37 23 14 184 2 24 37 5
4. António Aguilar Fullback 1999-2014 84 74 10 120 24 0 0 0
5. Joe Gardener Fly-half 2010-2012 15 14 1 114 3 15 23 0
6. Duarte Pinto Fly-half 2003-2010 49 26 23 112 2 18 22 0
7. Gonçalo Foro Wing 2007- 57 47 10 90 18 0 0 0
8. Pedro Bettencourt Ávila Fullback 2013- 15 15 0 81 3 3 20 0
9. Nuno Mourão Centre 1993-2000 36 34 2 80 2 14 14 0
João Queimado Fly-half 1984-1994 48 48 0 80 1 9 17 2

Last updated: Romania vs Portugal, 6 Feb 2016. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most points in a match

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1. Thierry Teixeira Fly-half 30 0 0 9 1  Georgia Portugal Lisbon 08/02/2000
2. Gonçalo Malheiro Fullback 25 0 2 5 2  Spain Portugal Coimbra 23/03/2003
3. Gonçalo Malheiro Fullback 24 2 1 4 0  Czech Republic Portugal Lisbon 08/03/2003
4. Pedro Leal Fly-half 23 0 1 7 0  Chile Chile Santiago 17/11/2012
5. Pedro Cabral Fullback 22 1 4 0 3  Czech Republic Portugal Lisbon 16/02/2008
6. Gonçalo Malheiro Fly-half 21 3 3 0 0 Barbarians Portugal Lisbon 10/06/2004
7. Gonçalo Malheiro Fullback 20 0 1 1 5  Russia Russia Krasnodar 29/03/2003
8. Gonçalo Malheiro Fullback 19 0 2 0 5  Georgia Portugal Lisbon 16/02/2003
Gonçalo Malheiro Fly-half 19 1 1 3 1  Italy A Portugal Lisbon 18/06/2006
10. 2 players on 17 points

Last updated: Romania vs Portugal, 6 Feb 2016. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries in a match

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1. Nuno Garvão de Carvalho Wing 15 3 0 0 0  Spain Spain Ibiza 21/03/2004
Gonçalo Malheiro Fly-half 21 3 3 0 0 Barbarians Portugal Lisbon 10/06/2004
Gonçalo Foro Wing 15 3 0 0 0  Germany Germany Heusenstamm 27/02/2010
4. 20 players on 2 tries

Last updated: Romania vs Portugal, 6 Feb 2016. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most matches as captain

# Player Pos Span Mat Won Lost Draw % Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1. João Correia Hooker 2008-2014 35 10 23 2 31.42 10 2 0 0 0
2. Vasco Uva Number 8 2006-2015 20 5 13 2 30.00 20 4 0 0 0
3. Luís Pissarra Scrum-half 2003-2005 9 8 1 0 88.88 0 0 0 0 0
4. Rohan Hoffmann Fly-half 2002 7 3 4 0 42.85 49 3 5 8 0
5. Gonçalo Uva Lock 2007-2014 7 2 5 0 28.57 5 1 0 0 0

Last updated: Romania vs Portugal, 6 Feb 2016. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Overall

Top 30 rankings as of 1 May 2016[10]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1 Steady New Zealand 96.10
2 Steady Australia89.33
3 Steady South Africa 87.66
4 Steady England 83.98
5 Steady Wales 83.10
6 Steady Argentina 82.59
7 Steady Ireland 80.33
8 Steady France 78.36
9 Steady Scotland 78.32
10 Steady Japan 77.05
11 Steady Fiji 76.96
12 Steady Georgia 72.62
13 Steady Tonga 71.60
14 Steady Italy 70.78
15 Steady Samoa 70.36
16 Steady Romania 67.52
17 Steady United States 65.68
18 Steady Canada 64.27
19 Steady Russia 63.56
20 Steady Uruguay 63.23
21 Steady Namibia 61.75
22 Steady Spain 60.87
23 Steady Belgium 57.94
24 Steady Germany 57.71
25 Steady Hong Kong 57.17
26 Steady South Korea 56.70
27 Increase 1 Kenya 55.89
28 Decrease 1 Chile 55.73
29 Steady Ukraine 55.51
30 Steady Portugal 54.29
*Change from the previous week
Portugal's Historical Rankings
Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 1 November 2015[10]

Portugal's test match record against all teams, updated to 6 February 2016, is as follows:[11][12][13]

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn % Won
 Andorra 3 3 0 0 100%
Argentina Argentina XV 4 1 3 0 25%
 Barbarians 1 0 1 0 0%
 Belgium 12 8 2 2 66.67%
 Brazil 1 1 0 0 100%
 Canada 4 0 4 0 0%
 Chile 3 3 0 0 100%
 Czech Republic 8 8 0 0 100%
 Czechoslovakia 2 2 0 0 100%
 Denmark 2 2 0 0 100%
England England Saxons 1 0 1 0 0%
 Fiji 2 0 2 0 0%
 France A 3 0 3 0 0%
 Georgia 19 4 13 2 21.05%
 Germany 6 5 1 0 83.33%
 Hong Kong 1 0 1 0 0%
 Italy 12 1 10 1 8.33%
 Italy A 2 0 1 1 0%
 Japan XV 1 0 1 0 0%
 Kenya 1 0 1 0 0%
 Morocco 14 7 5 2 50%
 Namibia 7 2 5 0 28.57%
 Netherlands 12 8 3 1 66.67%
 New Zealand 1 0 1 0 0%
 Poland 7 4 3 0 57.14%
 Romania 23 3 20 0 13.04%
 Russia 18 5 12 1 27.78%
 Scotland 1 0 1 0 0%
 Scotland A 1 0 1 0 0%
 Spain 35 10 23 2 28.57%
South Africa Amateurs 1 0 1 0 0%
 Soviet Union 2 0 2 0 0%
 Sweden 2 2 0 0 100%
  Switzerland 4 4 0 0 100%
 Tonga 1 0 1 0 0%
 Tunisia 9 3 6 0 33.33%
 Ukraine 4 3 1 0 75%
 United States 2 0 2 0 0%
 Uruguay 10 3 7 0 30%
 Yugoslavia 3 2 0 1 66.67%
 Wales 1 0 1 0 0%
 West Germany 3 1 2 0 33.33%
 Zimbabwe 4 2 2 0 50%
Total[n 1] 253 97 143 13 38.34%

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Only includes test matches in which the Portuguese Rugby Federation awarded caps to the players involved, according to their official website.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Most matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  2. 1 2 "Most points". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  3. 1 2 "Most tries". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  4. ↑ http://article.wn.com/view/2008/11/03/Pritchard_seals_win/
  5. ↑ "Most starting matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2014-06-09.
  6. ↑ "Most drop goals". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  7. ↑ "Most conversions". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  8. ↑ "Most penalty goals". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
  9. 1 2 "Most substitutions". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  10. 1 2 "World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  11. ↑ International Rugby Union Statistics - Statistics for Portugal - Teams Played
  12. 1 2 Federação Portuguesa de Rugby - Games played
  13. ↑ "Statsguru / Team analysis / Portugal / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2012-01-26.

External links

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Awards
Preceded by
None		 Portuguese Team of the Year
2007 		Succeeded by
Portugal national rugby union team (sevens)
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