The Men’s Rugby Europe Championship 2026 is just a weeks shy from starting, and to get us in the mood we invited a few players from each of the eight contestants to share their views, opinions and emotions about their team and country.
For Portugal, we had tighthead prop Diogo Hasse Ferreira and fullback Simão Bento joining us to talk about all things Portugal. To kick the conversation off, what means to be part of the Lobos? What makes a Lobos a Lobos?
Simão Bento. “It is not easy to put it down in words. But the first thought that comes to my mind is our unity and how we embrace our team without any self-interest. We just love being there and donning the shirt. We all are all friends, as you can see by how we celebrate every time we score a try.”
Diogo Hasse Ferreira. “It is funny that you are asking that, because when we are in camp, they always ask us that question. I sometimes wonder about it, and being a Lobos means feeling something genuine and strong. It doesn’t matter if it is your first or 100th game; the feeling stays the same. It is our way to represent and defend our country and the ones we care about.”
© Luis Cabelo
But did you two ever think of becoming one when you were younger? Do you have memories of a special moment with the Lobos before you became part of it?
SB. “I always aimed to become a Lobos. I remember being 10 or 12 and watching a Portugal game at the Estádio Universitário and running onto the pitch after the game to speak with the players. I don’t remember who the opposite side was, but the emotions of being there still beat within me.”
DHF. “Like Simão, I don’t remember who was on the opposite side, but I recall being excited watching the game and supporting the Lobos. I was twelve and I just wanted to be there with them.”
Now, let’s fast forward to your debut as a Portuguese senior international. Do you still remember it or has it been lost in the archive?
DHF. "Portugal vs Belgium in 2016. It was a friendly game at Setúbal, and I remember the forward pack clicking well. At the same time, I remember the fan support was massive in and after the game, and joining them near a food stall that serves ‘Bifanas’, a special type of sandwich we do here.”
SB. “Mine was against Brazil! It was Patrice Lagisquet’s first game, and I scored a try, which isn’t something that I normally get to do. Tomás Appleton cross-kicked the ball to me, and I just had to place it down. Good times and memories.”
One thing that is noticeable is how big the supporter card played in your team’s 2023 Men’s Rugby World Cup campaign. Can you remember a game where you thought your fans were incredible from start to finish?
SB. “There are two. Against Belgium/Germany in 2025, as we had a packed Estádio do Restelo supporting us to help us qualify for the World Cup and the Springbok match. There were a lot of South African fans, but you could also see a lot of Portuguese shirts and hear Portuguese voices. It was special, because we played for a community that is always thinking about us.”
DHF. “The World Cup games, no doubt about it. Every game, there was massive public support, and it spread like wildfire, with fans who weren’t Portuguese supporting us as well. Contagious, that’s the word. It was a contagious environment and one that I deeply miss.”
Now, let’s deep dive into the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship universe! Who’s Portugal’s biggest rival?
DHF. “There are two. The first is Georgia, but since we currently don't play them much, I can’t say it is a full-on, gigantic rivalry. However, every time we faced them, we grew as a team and as a unit. Of course, Spain is the second biggest rival. The Iberian Clash, who doesn’t love that one?”
SB. “For me, like Diogo, it was Georgia, but Spain takes the cake. Before and until the World Cup I thought it was the Lelos, but any given clash against the Leones has the prospect of being intense and spicy.”
And which players on opposing teams do you admire or most enjoy competing against?
DHF. “Can I only say one? Gonzalo Vinuesa. I really enjoy playing against him, not only because of the challenges he poses to our team, but also because of how loyal and respectful he is to us. We are all playing to win and to defend our team’s interests, but Vinuesa is a guy who showed massive respect for us.”
SB. “Vaska Lobzhanidze and Davit Niniashvili for me. They are both just great at what they do, especially Nini who is brilliant every single time he gets involved in a play. Love to play against them.”
Can you explain to the general public why the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship matters, even in years where there’s no World Cup qualification race going on?
SB. “Some people still refer to the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship as the Six Nations ‘B’, but it isn’t, as it is so much more than that. Yes, we aim to go higher and challenge the top, but the REC is a continental rivalry of seismic dimensions. The format might change from time to time, but there’s always space for a surprise, as it happened with us against Belgium in 2024.”
DHF. “It is the biggest platform for the best European Emerging Nations teams to compete and challenge their boundaries. We need it and it is vital to our growth.”
To finish the conversation, can you tell us a traditional Portuguese main dish and a dessert we must try on our way to watch a game in Lisbon?
SB. “Oh, I go first! You definitely have to have Bacalhau à Brás, which is cod done in a special way with eggs and potatoes. Believe in me, it is good.”
DHF. “Ok, I will top Simão’s answer with a dessert: pudim de abade de priscos. It is a rich, sugar-packed crème caramel that you have to experience. Another great Portuguese dessert is a rice pudding done by the mother of a teammate of ours, but I can’t say the name, or people will try to go there to have a spoonful.”
And a cool place to hang out after the game?
SB. “There are so many cool places to go, but Carmo Rooftop is a cool and chill place to go after a game. If you want to go for a grab to eat, you can; if you want to dance your way through the night, you can; or if you just want to enjoy a drink and talk with your friends, you can as well.”
Finally, what it means to be Portuguese for both of you?
DHF. “You are always welcome. That’s the Portuguese way. You step into our house, and you are welcome to be with us. That’s what being Portuguese is for me. We love to live and to be happy.”
SB. “No one expects us to excel, but we work hard and we overcome challenges like no other country. We don’t give up when we face the first obstacle, we just carry one and find a way.”
© Luis Cabelo
Portugal will kick off their Men’s Rugby Europe Championship 2026 campaign in Belgium, facing the local team on February 7th, and you can purchase the tickets on the official website and watch the game live on Sport TV in Portugal and on Rugby Europe TV from abroad.
By Francisco Isaac
