{"id":561312,"date":"2026-03-24T14:55:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/561312\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T14:55:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T14:55:14","slug":"ones-to-watch-in-the-womens-rugby-europe-championship-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/561312\/","title":{"rendered":"One\u2019s to Watch in the Women\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\tAre we ready for what\u2019s going to be another sensational Women\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship? With the competition set to go live on Saturday, the 28th\u00a0of February, we picked eight players for you to follow closely, as they will produce some of the finest pieces of skill of the entire roster.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Claudia Pe\u00f1a Hidalgo (Spain \u2013 Harlequins)<\/p>\n

A one of a kind. Claudia Pe\u00f1a Hidalgo is definitely one of the most special and spectacular players in the world of rugby, and that\u2019s not even debatable. The Spanish international has set the Women\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship, the PWR and the World Cup alight in the last few years, entangling the best tacklers of the game every single time she goes for the break.<\/p>\n

Her skill repertoire is endless, ranging from a precise kicking game to a fearless tackling attitude that can put any ball carrier down.\u00a0Even if the opposition manages to erect a tight defensive wall, Pe\u00f1a Hidalgo will find a way to overcome it and push Spain closer to the winning song. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Walter Domingo<\/p>\n

Lourdes Alameda (Spain \u2013 AC Bobigny)<\/p>\n

A (very tall) brick wall with wheels, that\u2019s who Lourdes Alameda is. The AC Bobigny lock is one of the last living legends of Las Leonas, ready to help the team secure another successful title run.<\/p>\n

Having been around for the last 13 years, Alameda enjoys the gritty side of things, working tirelessly around the ruck, breakdown, maul and contact line to give her side an extra edge.<\/p>\n

However, her influence on the team doesn\u2019t end with her playing ability, as her leadership and inspirational voice have been key to getting Spain back on its feet.<\/p>\n

Alameda\u2019s profound passion for the game, Spain and her teammates is felt in every second and play, making her one of the Women\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship headliners.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Walter Domingo<\/p>\n

Inger Jongerius (Netherlands \u2013 FC Grenoble)<\/p>\n

The Netherlands has been steadily developing some of Rugby Europe\u2019s strongest personnel, with FC Grenoble Amazones\u2019 Inger Jongerius being an excellent example of their player pathway.<\/p>\n

Aside from her brilliant set-piece knowledge, the 30-year-old lock has a knack for winning the gain-line, making every carry count in her bid to help her side get closer to the opposition\u2019s in-goal area.<\/p>\n

With the Women\u00a0Oranje\u00a0determined to end Spain\u2019s dominance, Jongerius will be vital to their finally achieving their goal of becoming champions of the Women\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Dennis Van de Sande<\/p>\n

Linde van der Velden (Netherlands \u2013 Exeter Chiefs)<\/p>\n

One of the biggest names of the women\u2019s game, Linde van der Velden, is locked and ready to trample opposition players in her way to help the Netherlands become the competition\u2019s n\u00ba1 contender!<\/p>\n

A legend of the sport, the utility forward\u2019s experience and deep understanding of the game can change the outcome of any match, especially in what concerns the set-piece and the counter-ruck.<\/p>\n

Amongst her top stats, van der Velden\u2019s 80% success of winning the gain line, 18 tackle busts and ten dominant tackles stand out, giving a glimpse of why van der Velden is still seen as her country\u2019s top operator.<\/p>\n

Her superb and inspiring performance against Spain in 2025 was almost enough to secure a victory, giving Dutch fans hope that something great can happen in the near future.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a9 Walter Domingo<\/p>\n

Sara Moreira (Portugal \u2013 RC Toulon)<\/p>\n

Another stellar enforcer of the Rugby Europe universe, Sara Moreira, has already rolled up her sleeves and is ready to start throwing bodies to the floor with all her might and power.<\/p>\n

The Rugby Club Toulon Provence M\u00e9diterran\u00e9e flanker has an insatiable hunger to keep working overtime, devoting her whole being to find a way to secure the oval-shaped ball and help Portugal ignite a lethal counter-attacking play.<\/p>\n

In 2025, Moreira clinched seven turnovers, which were crucial to Portugal\u2019s overall positive performance in the competition, proving how invaluable she has become to her team.<\/p>\n

Moreira has been a remarkable representative of the\u00a0Lobas\u00a0since they joined the Women\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship, becoming one of the first names in Jo\u00e3o Moura\u2019s team sheet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Miguel Carmo<\/p>\n

Isabel Oz\u00f3rio (Portugal \u2013 Sport Porto)<\/p>\n

A legend of the Portuguese rugby community, Isabel Oz\u00f3rio has been a faithful servant of the\u00a0Lobas\u00a0since her time as a 7s representative, putting her kicking and game-management skills to good use in 15s as well.<\/p>\n

The utility back has been playing a crucial role in Portugal\u2019s steady progression, adding depth to the way her side plays the game, mainly when the team launches a menacing counter-play, needling everything together with her precise passing.<\/p>\n

A former Stade Fran\u00e7ais personnel, Oz\u00f3rio, who won several accolades throughout her career, can make a critical difference when she is on the pitch, bolstering the\u00a0Lobas\u00a0attack to be more daring and menacing.<\/p>\n

Besides the already mentioned skills, Oz\u00f3rio is an accomplished kicker, which can be vital in the tightest of contests and make the difference between winning and losing.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Margaux Lalli (Belgium \u2013 La Hulpe)<\/p>\n

The Lalli siblings are truly a joy to watch, as Gaspard and Margaux Lalli add electrifying velocity, stellar positive aggression, and bone-shattering power that can turn any game from the inside out.<\/p>\n

Lalli is a living legend of Belgian rugby, having represented the 7s national team in more than 70 international tournaments, painting the town red (and black) every single time thanks to those handling skills that can discombobulate any incoming tackler.<\/p>\n

With Belgium making a return to the Women\u2019s Rugby Europe Championship fold, Lalli will be one of her side\u2019s aces-in-the-hole come their games against Portugal and the Netherlands.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Nina Jacquemot (Belgium \u2013 Stade Rochelais)<\/p>\n

If you are a Nadine Roos fan, please follow Nina Jacquemot, as Belgium\u2019s and Stade Rochelais scrum half possesses traits similar to the Women Springboks n\u00ba9, injecting a heavy dose of unpredictability and marvel for any side she plays for.<\/p>\n

Jacquemot has a keen eye for finding spaces in the opposition\u2019s wall, working well with her pack before unleashing the backline to take advantage of those errors and set them on a very promising route.<\/p>\n

While she is one of the youngest players to feature in this list, we couldn\u2019t overlook her talent, as she will be crucial for Belgium\u2019s aspirations of nailing at least a win in their return to Rugby Europe\u2019s top level.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

By Francisco Isaac<\/p>\n

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