Portugal national rugby union team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Portugal women's national rugby union team.

Portugal

Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)	Os Lobos (The Wolves)
Emblem	Portuguese shield
Union	Portuguese Rugby Federation
Head coach	Patrice Lagisquet
Captain	Tomás Appleton
Most caps	Gonçalo Uva (101) Vasco Uva (101)
Top scorer	Gonçalo Malheiro (279)
Top try scorer	António Aguilar (24)
Home stadium	Campo de Rugby do Jamor
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	20 (as of 20 June 2022)
Highest	16 (2005)
Lowest	30 (2015, 2016)
First international
Portugal 5–6 Spain (Lisbon, Portugal; 13 April 1935)
Biggest win
Portugal 93-0 Czech Republic (Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, 23 March 2019)
Biggest defeat
New Zealand 108–13 Portugal (Lyon, France; 15 September 2007)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (First in 2007)
Best result	Pool stage (2007)
Website	fpr.pt

The Portugal national rugby union team (Portuguese: Seleção Portuguesa de Rugby), nicknamed Os Lobos (The Wolves), represents Portugal in men's international rugby union competitions. 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 national side is ranked 17th in the world (as of 8th February 2022).

History

Early

Portugal played its first ever rugby international in April 1935 against Spain, losing 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 9–3. 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 was 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 and Portugal did not participate.

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 32–3 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 Scotland and Spain went through to the World Cup; Portugal went into repechage, where 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 Portugal national team at both sevens and fifteen a side, 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 Portugal's 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 Portugal national team can develop their skills.

2007 World Cup

Main articles: 2007 Rugby World Cup – Europe qualification and Portugal at the Rugby 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 defeated Georgia 18–14 in their second match, and then won their third match against the Czech Republic, and 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 against Russia 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.

Portugal 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, Portugal 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, Portugal 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, unlike Scotland and Romania. 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. 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
2000	5	2	0	3	74	100	–26	9	5th
2001	5	1	0	4	77	165	–88	7	5th
2001–02	10	3	0	7	170	295	–125	16	5th
2003–04	10	9	0	1	245	180	+65	28	1st
2004–06	10	6	1	3	193	173	+20	23	3rd
2006–08	10	3	0	7	174	196	–22	16	5th
2008–09	5	3	1	1	124	84	+40	12	3rd
2010	5	2	0	3	131	65	+66	9	4th
2011	5	3	0	2	113	98	+15	14	3rd
2012	5	1	0	4	102	132	–30	7	5th
2013	5	1	1	3	75	96	–21	7	4th
2014	5	1	0	4	70	126	–56	5	5th
2015	5	1	0	4	52	100	–48	5	5th
2016	5	0	0	5	72	210	–138	1	6th*
2020	4	2	0	2	87	86	+1	9	2nd

Notes: Portugal's last place finish in the 2015–16 ENC Division 1A resulted in their relegation to Division 1B for the following year.

World Rugby Nations Cup

Year	G	W	D	L	PF	PA	+/−	Pts	Pos
2006	3	0	1	2	62	87	–25	3	4th
2007	Did not enter
2008
2009
2010
2011	3	1	0	2	60	89	–29	5	6th
2012	3	0	0	3	37	104	–67	1	6th
2013	Did not enter
2014
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	+/−
1987	Not invited									—
1991	Did not qualify									2	1	0	1	18	45	–27
1995										5	2	0	3	85	177	–92
1999										6	3	0	3	153	139	14
2003										2	1	0	1	60	60	0
2007	Pool Stage	4	0	0	4	38	209	–171		18	10	2	6	283	362	–79
2011	Did not qualify									10	5	1	4	255	149	106
2015										10	2	1	7	145	222	–77
2019										8	6	0	2	255	82	173
Total	1/8	4	0	0	4	38	209	–171		61	30	4	27	1245	1236	9

Overall

Men's World Rugby Rankings Top 30 as of 26 September 2022
Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		Ireland	090.03
2		France	089.41
3		South Africa	089.00
4		New Zealand	087.30
5		England	086.25
6	1	Scotland	081.93
7	2	Wales	081.28
8	1	Argentina	081.21
9	2	Australia	080.65
10		Japan	077.74
11		Samoa	075.75
12		Fiji	075.08
13		Georgia	074.51
14		Italy	073.29
15		Spain	069.27
16		Tonga	067.79
17		Romania	066.33
18		Uruguay	065.97
19		United States	065.17
20		Portugal	065.08
21		Chile	061.24
22		Hong Kong	061.03
23		Canada	060.99
24		Namibia	060.56
25		Russia	058.06
26		Belgium	055.97
27		Brazil	055.23
28		Netherlands	053.69
29		Poland	053.03
30		Germany	052.79
* Change from the previous week
Portugal's historical rankings
.
Source: World Rugby Graph updated to 8 August 2022

Below is a table of the representative rugby matches played by a Portugal national XV at test level up until 28 October 2022:

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	% Won
Andorra	3	3	0	0	100%
Argentina XV	5	1	4	0	20%
Barbarians	1	0	1	0	0%
Belgium	15	10	3	2	64.29%
Brazil	6	4	0	2	66.67%
Canada	5	1	4	0	10%
Chile	4	4	0	0	100%
Czech Republic	12	12	0	0	100%
Czechoslovakia	2	2	0	0	100%
Denmark	2	2	0	0	100%
England Saxons	1	0	1	0	0%
Fiji	2	0	2	0	0%
France A	3	0	3	0	0%
Georgia	24	4	17	3	16.67%
Germany	9	6	3	0	66.67%
Hong Kong	1	0	1	0	0%
Italy	13	1	11	1	7.69%
Italy A	2	0	1	1	0%
Japan XV	1	0	1	0	0%
Japan	1	0	1	0	0%
Kenya	1	0	1	0	0%
Lithuania	1	1	0	0	100%
Moldova	2	2	0	0	100%
Morocco	14	7	5	2	50%
Namibia	8	2	6	0	25.00%
Netherlands	17	13	3	1	76.47%
New Zealand	1	0	1	0	0%
Poland	10	7	3	0	70%
Romania	27	3	24	0	11.11%
Russia	21	6	14	1	28.57%
Scotland	1	0	1	0	0%
Scotland A	1	0	1	0	0%
Spain	40	11	27	2	27.50%
South Africa Amateurs	1	0	1	0	0%
Soviet Union	2	0	2	0	0%
Sweden	2	2	0	0	100%
Switzerland	7	7	0	0	100%
Tonga	1	0	1	0	0%
Tunisia	9	3	6	0	33.33%
Ukraine	5	4	1	0	80%
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	304	125	163	16	41.12%

Players

Current squad

On the 24 October, the following 30 players were named in Portugal's squad for the 2023 RWC Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai.

Head Coach: Patrice Lagisquet

• Caps Updated: 28 October 2022

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Lionel Campergue	Hooker	(1987-11-24) 24 November 1987	15	Bassin d'Arcachon
Duarte Diniz	Hooker	(1995-11-08) 8 November 1995	28	Lusitanos
Mike Tadjer	Hooker	(1989-03-10) 10 March 1989	24	Perpignan
Anthony Alvès	Prop	(1989-06-23) 23 June 1989	27	Mont-de-Marsan
David Costa	Prop	(1999-07-05) 5 July 1999	15	Lusitanos
Francisco Fernandes	Prop	(1985-09-06) 6 September 1985	37	Béziers
Diogo Ferreira	Prop	(1996-10-17) 17 October 1996	26	Dax
António Machado	Prop	(1998-06-09) 9 June 1998	0	Lusitanos
António Prim	Prop	(2002-12-07) 7 December 2002	1	Lusitanos
Steevy Cerqueira	Lock	(1993-08-09) 9 August 1993	6	Chambéry
José Madeira	Lock	(2001-03-19) 19 March 2001	22	Grenoble
José Rebelo de Andrade	Lock	(1997-11-24) 24 November 1997	16	Lusitanos
Duarte Torgal	Lock	(1997-12-23) 23 December 1997	15	Lusitanos
Thibault de Freitas	Back row	(1992-01-08) 8 January 1992	21	Floirac
João Granate	Back row	(1997-02-21) 21 February 1997	23	Lusitanos
Nicolas Martins	Back row	(1999-06-27) 27 June 1999	1	Soyaux Angoulême
Rafael Simões	Back row	(1991-06-20) 20 June 1991	20	Lusitanos
David Wallis	Back row	(1997-04-17) 17 April 1997	17	Lusitanos
João Bello	Scrum-half	(1995-08-02) 2 August 1995	21	Lusitanos
Pedro Lucas	Scrum-half	(2000-10-16) 16 October 2000	10	Lusitanos
Samuel Marques	Scrum-half	(1988-12-08) 8 December 1988	15	Carcassonne
Jerónimo Portela	Fly-half	(2000-11-02) 2 November 2000	16	Lusitanos
Tomás Appleton (c)	Centre	(1993-07-29) 29 July 1993	53	Lusitanos
José Lima	Centre	(1992-04-24) 24 April 1992	47	Narbonne
Rodrigo Marta	Centre	(1999-11-18) 18 November 1999	24	Dax
Simão Bento	Wing	(2001-06-21) 21 June 2001	5	Mont-de-Marsan
Vincent Pinto	Wing	(1999-04-10) 10 April 1999	5	Pau
Raffaele Storti	Wing	(2000-12-19) 19 December 2000	15	Béziers
Manuel Cardoso Pinto	Fullback	(1998-04-07) 7 April 1998	23	Lusitanos
Nuno Sousa Guedes	Fullback	(1994-11-21) 21 November 1994	28	Lusitanos

Individual all-time records

Gonçalo Uva and Vasco Uva are the most capped players for Portugal (both 101) and Gonçalo Uva also has the record for most matches in the starting XV (95). The highest scorer for Portugal is Gonçalo Malheiro, with 279 points. Malheiro is also the player with the most drop goals (12) and penalty goals (51). Pedro Leal holds the record for most conversions (45). António Aguilar with 24 tries is the player with the most tries scored. Duarte Pinto has the record for most matches as a substitute, with 23 substitutions. Bernardo Duarte holds the record for most matches as a substitute, without ever playing in the starting XV (14).

Coaches

Current coaching staff

The current coaching staff of the Portuguese national team:

Name	Nationality	Role
Fernando Murteira	POR	Manager
Patrice Lagisquet	FRA	Head coach
Hervé Durquetty	FRA	Assistant coach
João Mirra	POR	Assistant coach
Luís Pissarra	POR	Assistant coach
Michael Dallery	ESP	Strength & conditioning coach
Dr. António Cruz-Ferreira	POR	Team doctor
José Carlos Rodrigues	POR	Physiotherapist
José Paixão	POR	Video-analyst

Former coaches

Name	Years	Tests	Won	Drew	Lost	Win percentage
Pedro Lynce	1976-1983	10	6	0	4	60%
João Paulo Bessa	1983-1986	17	9	1	7	53%
Olegário Borges	1986-1991	22	8	1	13	36%
Vasco Lynce	1991-1992	7	3	0	4	43%
Andrew Cushing	1992–1994	12	2	0	10	17%
João Paulo Bessa	1994–1999	25	12	1	12	50%
Evan Crawford	1999–2001	11	3	0	8	27%
Tomaz Morais	2001–2010	76	33	4	39	46%
Errol Brain	2010–2013	26	9	1	16	37%
Frederico Sousa	2013–2014	8	2	0	6	25%
João Luís Pinto	2014–2015	7	2	0	5	29%
Olivier Baragnon	2015–2016	3	1	0	2	33%
Ian Smith	2016–2016	5	0	0	5	0%
Martim Aguiar	2016–2019	23	18	0	5	78%
Patrice Lagisquet	2019–	18	9	1	8	50%

Player records

Most caps

#	Player	Pos	Span	Mat	Pts	Tries
1	Vasco Uva	Number 8	2003–2016	101	70	14
	Gonçalo Uva	Lock	2004–2018	101	50	10
3	Joaquim Ferreira	Prop	1993–2007	87	15	3
4	António Aguilar	Wing	1999–2014	83	115	23
5	João Correia	Hooker	2003–2014	81	15	3
6	Pedro Leal	Scrum-Half	2005–2017	76	265	5
7	Diogo Mateus	Centre	2000–2010	74	65	13
8	Luís Pissarra	Scrum-half	1996–2007	72	0	0
9	Miguel Portela	Centre	1996–2010	65	38	7
10	Gonçalo Foro	Wing	2007–2017	63	115	23

Last updated: Georgia vs Portugal, 16 July 2022. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries

#	Player	Pos	Span	Mat	Pts	Tries
1	Gonçalo Foro	Wing	2007–2017	63	115	23
	António Aguilar	Wing	1999–2014	83	115	23
3	Rodrigo Marta	Wing	2018-	24	100	20
4	Vasco Uva	Number 8	2003–2016	101	70	14
5	Nuno Durão	Wing	1983-1995	43	94	13
	Diogo Mateus	Centre	2000–2010	74	65	13
7	Raffaele Storti	Wing	2019-	16	60	12
	Rohan Hoffman	Fullback	1996-2002	26	96	12
	Tomás Appleton	Centre	2014-	54	60	12
10	Nuno Garvão	Wing	2001–2005	18	50	10
	Pedro Murinello	Wing	1993-2000	24	50	10
	Gonçalo Uva	Lock	2004–2018	101	50	10

Last updated: Georgia vs Portugal, 16 July 2022. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most points

#	Player	Pos	Span	Mat	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop
1	João Queimado	Fly-half	1984-1994	48	269	5	23	55	11
2	Gonçalo Malheiro	Fly-half	1998–2007	41	267	7	23	57	5
3	Pedro Leal	Scrum-Half	2005–2017	76	265	5	42	49	3
4	Pedro Cabral	Fly-half	2006–2011	36	183	2	25	39	2
5	Samuel Marques	Scrum-Half	2012-	16	150	1	35	25	0
6	José Maria Vilar Gomes	Fullback	1989–2000	33	120	5	10	24	1
7	Joe Gardener	Fly-half	2010–2012	15	117	3	15	24	0
8	Gonçalo Foro	Wing	2007–2017	63	115	23	0	0	0
	António Aguilar	Wing	1999–2014	83	115	23	0	0	0
10	Nuno Mourão	Centre	1993-2000	36	114	4	17	20	0

Last updated: Georgia vs Portugal, 16 July 2022. 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	Lisbon	08/02/2000
2	José Rodrigues	Fly-Half	26	2	2	4	0	Switzerland	Setúbal	24/02/2018
3	Gonçalo Malheiro	Fullback	25	0	2	5	2	Spain	Coimbra	23/03/2003
	Jorge Abecasis	Fly-half	25	0	5	5	0	Poland	Setúbal	16/02/2019
	Raffaele Storti	Wing	25	5	0	0	0	Netherlands	Amsterdam	10/07/2021
6	Gonçalo Malheiro	Fullback	24	2	1	4	0	Czech Republic	Lisbon	08/03/2003
7	Pedro Leal	Fly-half	23	0	1	7	0	Chile	Santiago	17/11/2012
8	Pedro Cabral	Fullback	22	1	4	0	3	Czech Republic	Lisbon	16/02/2008
	Manuel Marta	Fullback	22	2	6	0	0	Czech Republic	Caldas da Rainha	23/03/2019
10	Gonçalo Malheiro	Fly-half	21	3	3	0	0	Barbarians	Lisbon	10/06/2004

Last updated: Georgia vs Portugal, 16 July 2022. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries in a match

#	Player	Pos	Pts	Tries	Conv	Pens	Drop	Opposition	Venue	Date
1	Raffaele Storti	Wing	25	5	0	0	0	Netherlands	Amsterdam	10/07/2021
2	Nuno Garvão	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Spain	Ibiza	21/03/2004
	Gonçalo Malheiro	Fly-half	21	3	3	0	0	Barbarians	Lisbon	10/06/2004
	Gonçalo Foro	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Germany	Heusenstamm	27/02/2010
	Caetano Castelo Branco	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Czech Republic	Caldas da Rainha	23/03/2019
	Antonio Vidinha	Centre	15	3	0	0	0	Czech Republic	Caldas da Rainha	23/03/2019
	Rodrigo Marta	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Netherlands	Amsterdam	10/07/2021

Last updated: Georgia vs Portugal, 16 July 2022. 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	Tomás Appleton	Centre	2019-present	21	10	10	1	50.00	25	5	0	0	0
3	Vasco Uva	Flanker	2006–2015	20	5	13	2	30.00	20	4	0	0	0
4.	Francisco Pinto Magalhães	Scrum-half	2015–2017	12	6	6	0	50.00	15	3	0	0	0
5.	Luís Pissarra	Scrum-half	2003–2005	10	9	1	0	90.00	0	0	0	0	0

Last updated: Georgia vs Portugal, 16 July 2022. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

External links

• Federação Portuguesa de Rugby Official Site (in Portuguese)
• World Cup Preview
• Portugal on RugbyData.com