{"id":457866,"date":"2026-02-04T13:06:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T13:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/457866\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T13:06:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T13:06:12","slug":"the-ones-to-watch-for-the-2026-mens-rugby-europe-championship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/457866\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u2018Ones to Watch\u2019 for the 2026 Men\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\tWith the Men\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship just a few days away, it is that time of the year when our journalist Francisco Isaac picks his \u201cOnes to Watch\u201d, but this time around in a 23-team list format.<\/p>\n

Find out who made the cut, and the rationale behind his picks. <\/p>\n

Netherlands Koen Bloemen and Georgia\u2019s Davit Niniashvili were two players not referenced not by choice, due to the possibility of not being available for selection for the first few rounds of the tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Loosehead Prop \u2013 Thierry Futeu (Spain)<\/p>\n

We start off the list with one of the most emblematic and most excellent props to ever have played in the Men\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship, and that\u2019s Thierry \u2018Titi\u2019 Futeu.<\/p>\n

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\nCredit: Neil Dodd<\/p>\n

The colossal prop can play on either side of the scrum and is one of his team\u2019s fiercest ball carriers in the Rugby Europe game. Truly a frightening (but spectacular) sight to behold.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

Hooker \u2013 \u00c1lvaro Garc\u00eda (Spain)<\/p>\n

One of the\u00a0Leones\u00a0leaders and a hooker so precise that he could be a surgeon, as he doesn\u2019t miss, nor does he tremble when he has to throw the ball in the lineout.<\/p>\n

The young front-rower has enough speed and gas to act as a loose forward, always on the move and trying to get involved in active play. Alongside his skills as a hooker, his leadership ability and mindset have been influential in taking Spain to another level.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\nBeka Gorgadze and Alvaro Garcia<\/p>\n

Tighthead Prop \u2013 Giorgi Melikidze (Georgia)<\/p>\n

Five years after his last game for the\u00a0Lelos, the showstopper Giorgi Melikidze is back, and he will throw down the gauntlet come the Men\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship. <\/p>\n

The loosehead prop is currently one of Stade Fran\u00e7ais\u2019 most in-form players, breaking tackles and mashing loosehead props at every scrum. The\u00a0Lelos\u00a0can only feel happy to have him back in the fray!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lock \u2013 Andrei Mahu (Romania)<\/p>\n

Another colossal giant that rules the lineout skies and dominates the contact game. Andrei Mahu is a legend in the making for the\u00a0Stejarii, as his hold persona conveys a ferocious, loyal and fierce player who will do whatever he can to give his team an edge in the forward pack tussle. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Having ascended to a leadership role in 2025, Mahu is a superb off-the-ball worker who tirelessly pushes until he has no gas left.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Lock \u2013 Jos\u00e9 Madeira (Portugal)<\/p>\n

The catchphrase \u2018works well like a Swiss swatch\u2019 should change to \u2018works well like a Madeira lock\u2019 as Jos\u00e9 Madeira is one, if not the most precise player of the entirety of the Men\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship universe. <\/p>\n

The FC Grenoble giant can play either as a lock or a member of the loose forward trio, collecting tackles, turnovers, lineout steals and jackals, having come out of the previous two editions of the Rugby Europe Championship without missing a single tackle. He is undoubtedly one of the Lobos’ finest players to come out of the youth pathway system.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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If Belgium were in contention to reach the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Jean-Maurice Decubber was indisputably\u00a0one of the reasons the\u00a0Diables Noirs\u00a0had a good shot, as the flanker’s off-the-ball work, relentless mindset, and jackling skills were key to their qualification for the Final Qualification Tournament.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

His in-game vision, combined with his hunger to keep going, makes him one of the scariest flankers in the entire competition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Openside flanker \u2013 Nicol\u00e1s Martins (Portugal)<\/p>\n

Portugal loves to develop sensational openside flankers; after Vasco Uva and Julien Bardy, they now have Nicol\u00e1s Martins, one of their greatest operators, who\u2019s been class since his debut in 2022.<\/p>\n

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\nNicol\u00e1s Martins in action (Credit Vasile Mihai-Antonio)<\/p>\n

Martins is a slick ball carrier who fits nicely into the backline, giving Portugal an extra advantage when they are running amok. His defensive abilities match the quality of his offensive play; he has consistently ranked among the top three tacklers in the Men\u2019s REC season for three consecutive years, demonstrating his exceptional talent.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Number Eight \u2013 Beka Gorgadze (Georgia)<\/p>\n

We have used this expression more than once, but Beka Gorgadze is the true manifestation of a battering ram powered with a V8 engine. His prowess at throwing tacklers to the ground is just astonishing, winning precious contact meters that give the\u00a0Lelos\u00a0backline more space to execute their plays.<\/p>\n

The Section Paloise number-eight is a stern leader, ready to sacrifice his body and mind for his team and teammates without any fears or doubts, and will be key to their title renewal aspirations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Scrum Half \u2013 Estanislao Bay (Spain)<\/p>\n

Welcome to the Leones rockstar Estanislao \u2018Tani\u2019 Bay! The Spanish scrum half is a skilful ball runner who loves to elude, trick and leave in-coming tacklers completely puzzled to why they can\u2019t get their hands on him.<\/p>\n

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His swift passing skills have unlocked the opposing try-are to Spain more than once, with Bay always on the lookout for a way in even when it seems there\u2019s no path forward. <\/p>\n

For those who are looking for a fun and enticing ride in the form of a rugby player, \u2018Tani\u2019 Bay is the one to go for.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fly Half \u2013 Matias Remue (Belgium)<\/p>\n

Simply magical. Matias Remue is a stunning player who will enshrine a new era for the\u00a0Diables Noirs\u00a0and who will certainly steal the show time and time again.<\/p>\n

His game management and handling skills are among the finest in the entire Rugby Europe universe, always working on a plan to get his team inside the opposition\u2019s 22.<\/p>\n

While it is not confirmed if he will be available for the first two games, it is expected that Remue will be up and running for the Men\u2019s REC endgame.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wing \u2013 Akaki Tabutsadze (Georgia)<\/p>\n

Tries, tries and more tries. Akaki Tabutsadze is Rugby Europe\u2019s greatest ever try scorer and, despite a scoreless last few months, the Georgian wing will be ready to raid and pillage the opposing try-area again.<\/p>\n

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Tabutsadze has played a critical role in Georgia\u2019s prolific attack, always finding a way to thread the needle and sprint to the finish line.<\/p>\n

So, are you ready to witness Tabutsadze expand his record in pursuit of reaching the top-3 all-time try scorers of the world of rugby?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Inside Centre \u2013 Taylor Gontineac (Romania)<\/p>\n

Taylor Gontineac is certainly following his father, Romeo\u2019s, footsteps, as the Romanian raging centre is a tough one to stop on the spot due to his staggering physicality and relentless mindset.<\/p>\n

However, Gontineac\u2019s impact on Romania doesn\u2019t start and end with his physicality, as there\u2019s much more to him than that. His agility, pace, and ability to pop an unexpected offload give an extra dimension to the\u00a0Stejarii attack, which will undoubtedly pose a threat to any opposition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Outside centre \u2013 Rodrigo Marta (Portugal)<\/p>\n

The greatest backline player in the whole Men\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship besides Davit Niniashvili? Rodrigo Marta\u2019s stats speak for themselves, as he continuously contends for the top of the defenders beaten, clean breaks, running meters and successful gain line per carry leaderboards of the Men\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship.<\/p>\n

Marta is the kind of player who doesn\u2019t know how or when to stop, pushing his body beyond human limits and cracking open gaps in his bid to take Portugal to the final.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Wing \u2013 Martiniano Cian (Spain)<\/p>\n

Another prolific try scorer who has no problem running the full length if it means to give Spain a key push in a make-or-break kind of game.<\/p>\n

Martiniano Cian is pure entertainment, who has climbed through the ranks to become one of Spain\u2019s most played operators in the last few years, contributing with twelve tries and a lot of stellar moments.<\/p>\n

With the help of Lucien Richardis, Gonzalo Lopez-Bontempo, Gonzalo Vinuesa and JW Bell, Cian is unlocking his full potential and will certainly spell trouble for whoever has to deal with him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fullback \u2013 Manuel Vareiro (Portugal)<\/p>\n

Potentially one of the most talented Portuguese backs developed in the last five years, Manuel Vareiro seems ready to be a force to be reckoned with in the Men\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship, having made his debut in 2025.<\/p>\n

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\nCredit: Luis Cabelo<\/p>\n

The young Provence rugby utility back has the gift to turn any game upside down with just a flick of his wrists, creating spaces and gaps for his teammates to run through, fuelling Portugal\u2019s attack with the top-notch plays.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The young Provence rugby utility back has the gift to turn any game upside down with just a flick of his wrists, creating spaces and gaps for his teammates to run through, fuelling Portugal\u2019s attack with the top-notch plays.\u00a0<\/p>\n

POWER BENCH <\/p>\n

16 \u2013 Alexandru Savin (Romania): the Rugby crossfitter, Alexandru Savin, is a scrum maestro that deserves your time and respect.\u00a0
17 \u2013 Vano Karkadze (Georgia)
18 \u2013 Joel Merkler (Spain)
19 \u2013 Justin Renc (Germany)
20 \u2013 Jessy Jegerlehner (Switzerland): Be amazed by one of Switzerland\u2019s best: Jessy Jegerlehner’s tackling game is among the most polished in the entire competition.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

21 \u2013 Boris Hadingoro (Netherlands): If you like scrum-halves like Samuel Marques and Estanislao Bay, might we suggest Boris Hadingoro, one of the most exhilarating and vibrant n\u00ba9s in the Rugby Europe universe?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

22 \u2013 Lucien Richardis (Spain): a proper rugby wizard who\u2019s taking the right steps to become an all-time favourite. Richardis is not only a lot of fun but also an astute game manager who offers solutions to the toughest\u00a0problems.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

23 \u2013 Hinckley Vaovasa (Romania)<\/p>\n

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