Having the 2026 Men's Rugby Europe Championship (unfortunately) come to an end, it is that time of the year again where we pick the competition's best 15, as well as a fearsome power bench that can match the starting team's energy!
Let us know who would be your picks!
1- Alexandru Savin (Romania)
Yes, we all love the Beast from the East Gheorge Gajion, but have you heard about the tale of the Heart from Focsani, Alexandru Savin? The front-row strongman was a colossal force of nature for his side, helping Romania to finish as one of the two most dominant scrums in the competition. Savin's passion for Romania knows no limits, as witnessed throughout the entire competition.
2- Álvaro García (Spain)
It wasn't Spain's year, but Álvaro García deserves to be included in the Team of the Heart. The Los Leones co-captain was a fearless leader, working tirelessly in every ruck, breakdown and tackle to give Spain a fighting shot. His lineout work was immense, finishing with one of the best throw-in percentages of the entire Men's Rugby Europe Championship roster.
3- Giorgi Melikidze (Georgia)
Stade Français fans will be delighted that they won't have one but two players in this best 15, as Giorgi Melikidze is inducted as our tighthead specialist. Having returned to the Test Match fold after a few years away, the Georgian anvil pulled more than a handful of stunning performances not only at a scrum level but also as a battering ram.
4- Mikheil Babunashvili (Georgia)
The Everestian Mikheili Babunashvili was a gigantic problem for Georgia's opposition, as the lock-sized control of the lineout aerial battle, frustrating the likes of Spain and Romania. The Black Lion operator's determination and aggression energised the Lelos front-five, with the Lelos finishing the competition with six dominant tackles and 50 successful tackles, stats worthy of a prime lock specimen.
5- José Madeira (Portugal)
What's there to say about one of the Lobos greatest servants? 50-caps José Madeira, who ascended as the Lobos newest captain, poured his entire heart and soul into his side's triumphant campaign by stringing together tackles in the same defending sequence, never giving up or taking a step back. Madeira's passionate but focused voice was monumental against the likes of Spain and Georgia, keeping his team together even when the opposition was determined to take down the Lobos.
6- Alex Sáleta (Spain)
A brutal but loyal enforcer, Alex Sáleta enjoyed an astonishing campaign even if Spain didn't make it into the final. Beyond his tackling and jackal prowess, Saleta was one of the competition's most solid ball carriers, winning the gain line several times and allowing Spain to set up a more promising attacking platform. With the Men's World Cup happening in 16 months, Saleta deserves to be amongst the first names of Pablo Bouza's team list.
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7- Nicolás Martins (Portugal)
If you have a moment, please rewatch the competition's final and follow Nicolás Martins to see how massive the US Colomiers utility forward was for Portugal. Beyond the 22 successful tackle attempts, Martins disrupted the Lelos lineout time and time again, finishing the final with five steals, which in the end proved crucial for his side's triumphant day. A demi-god amongst humans, Nicolás Martins has already made an everlasting impact on the Lobos family and will certainly continue to prosper in the years to come.
8- Tornike Jalagonia (Georgia)
The Provence Rugby number 8 has to be a serious contender for the Player of the Tournament award, as he was a proper wrecking ball, tearing down opposition's walls as his 70 metres in contact metres and 80% gain line wins show. At the same time, his ability to steer the scrum from the back helped the Lelos to dictate the law throughout the competition, with Jalagonia showing quality football skills before grounding the ball inside the opposition's in-goal area.
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9- Hugo Camacho (Portugal)
Yes, Hugo Camacho is on this list, and the young scrum half fully deserves it due to his last two performances. Almost no one was expecting Camacho to fill Samuel Marques's shoes, especially against the likes of Spain and Georgia, but in the end, the Béziers-Hérault scrum half put up quite the show. That wide and long pass that fell into Vincent Pinto's hands was an ice-cold play from Camacho, going all in to unlock the Championship gates for his country.
10- Jules Porcher (Switzerland)
We couldn't leave out Jules Porcher, could we? Switzerland's madman maestro was crucial to his side clinching another two years in the Men's Rugby Europe Championship, sowing chaos in the opposition while propelling his team toward the stars. That Player of the Match performance against the Netherlands was probably one of the finest of the whole competition, unleashing a Pandora's box of treats and threats that took our breath away.
11- Manuel Cardoso Pinto (Portugal)
Relish fans of the daring Manuel Cardoso Pinto as he has conquered a place amongst the very best of the Men's Rugby Europe Championship. The elusive winger entertained crowds with his rapidness and unpredictability, plucking several holes on the opposing block before making a run to reach the whitewash. His stellar performances in the pool stages and the Championship final were as crucial to the Lobos' rise to power as Rodrigo Marta's tries or Manuel Vareiro's conversions.
12- Demur Tapladze (Georgia)
Could Georgia have come out as winners if Tapladze had been on the pitch? We will never know, but the Lelos centre was brilliant from start to finish, bagging four tries and setting up several attacking runs that pulled Georgia over the try-line, earning his place amongst the most valuable players of this year's Men's Rugby Europe Championship. Additionally, his defensive tactical positioning is second to none, adapting quickly to the opposition's attack before striking and limiting their range of options.
13- Rodrigo Marta (Portugal)
Now, this might sound like an overreach, but Rodrigo Marta is potentially one of the best players from the Emerging Nations Scene, and the seven tries, 11 clean breaks, 18 tackle busts and 30 defenders beaten in a single Men's Rugby Europe Championship campaign might show exactly that. Marta is total rugby in its purest form, unwrapping any defence to his will following those flat running lines that can make any tackler specialist fall to his knees. Electric, unstoppable and voracious, Rodrigo Marta is here to make the (rugby) World his.
14- Vincent Pinto (Portugal)
Fans will forever remember Vincent Pinto's equaliser try in the final, but the US Colomiers winger's entire campaign needs to be regarded as one of the finest and most solid displays in the last few years. Pinto adds not only a heavy dose of unpredictability and magic but also grants Portugal a way to secure any high kick or at least a successful chase that can end as a massive counter-attack opportunity. Cerebral in his actions, Vincent Pinto doesn't need to bank a high number of finishes to be regarded as one of the top wingers of the Men's Rugby Europe universe.
15- Manuel Vareiro (Portugal)
Stories will be told about the exploits and feats of Manuel Vareiro, who took on himself the tee duties to guide Portugal to their first Men's Rugby Europe Championship title in almost 23 years! The Provence fullback was nearly perfect since he got back to the fold, enacting several key plays that pushed Portugal to become a feared contender once again. Nonetheless, Vareiro's aerial takedown skills also deserve to be highlighted, as against Spain and Georgia, he didn't miss a single one, securing a safe ball for Portugal.
Power 8
Front-row: Giorgi Akhaladze (Georgia), Vano Karkadze (Georgia) and Diogo Hasse Ferreira (Portugal).
It would be completely unfair to leave out Akhaladze, Karkadze and Diogo Hasse Ferreira, as all of them had a strong impact on how the Lelos and Lobos set-piece performed throughout the competition.
Utility forwards: Beka Saghinadze (Georgia) and José Monteiro (Portugal)
The Lelos captain had to be in our power 8, as his determination to lead by example boosted Georgia throughout the season. José Monteiro is the Breakthrough Player of the Year, as the young number 8 was a solid ball carrier, a fierce tackler, and a valuable asset to the Lobos' set-piece.
Backline: Boris Hadinegoro (Netherlands), Lucien Richardis (Spain) and Lucas Michiels (Belgium).
When Hadinegoro plays, the Netherlands is a completely different beast, be it due to his quick, on-point passing or his ambition to defy destiny. Lucien Richardis also lands a place in the team, having excelled in the Los Leones bronze campaign. Finally, winger Lucas Michiels was an enticing speedster who sliced the opposition’s defence more than a few times.
By Francisco Isaac
