2026 marked the first year of the Super XV, Portugal’s rugby league, which underwent profound changes in its format and structure, prompting a surge in international signings.
All 12 competitors have been able to secure top talent from all over the world, some of whom have even featured in World Cups or the opening month of Nations Cups.
Among the most notable names are Samoan internationals Jay Tuivati, who competed in both MLR and ProD2, Tevita Langi and Brook Toomalatai, along with Uruguayan internationals Ícaro Amarillo, Santiago Cagnone and Manuel Ardao, as well as the talented professional from Zimbabwe, Chile’ Murangas Lucanwa.
In addition, Canadian internationals Izaak Kelly and Sam Miller remained contracted to SL Benfica until the end of August, but it is still unclear whether both will remain with the current title holders.
However, a strong influx of international players is nothing new for Portugal, as the league has attracted a number of high-quality players in recent years, from Los Leones to Stejarii internationals.
The allure of the league has also attracted Georgian talent, with several ex The black lion players and Georgia Nikoloz Sutidze, Ioseb Gusharashvili and Zviad Maisuradze have been linked with a move to Portugal.
Portugal’s rebirth at the 2023 World Cup has sparked continued interest in local competitions among players from rival nations, and the birth of the Super XV appears to have further fueled this trend. That view is supported by Manuel Ardao, a Los Teros winger who, after spending several years Major League Rugby and Super Rugby Américas, decided to take the plunge and join Portugal’s newly revamped club competition.
“It’s a completely new challenge for me, because I’ve been playing professionally since 2020. Portugal is still mostly a semi-professional or amateur scene. That did not surprise me, because I already knew how the league and clubs functioned. However, I was impressed with the quality of the Super XV, mainly the sheer amount of talent in each side.”
Ardao joined last season’s league runners-up and Taça de Portugal winners, GDS Cascais, looking for a new challenge, one that would help him hone his skills even further.
“I wanted to leave my comfort zone and play in Europe, and Cascais and Portugal gave me that chance. It’s a country that shares some similarities with Uruguay, but it’s different at the same time.”
As for his decision to move to Portugal, Ardao explains that players like him, or Ícaro Amarillo, were looking for entry to Europe as they hit top form ahead of the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup.
“I can’t speak for the players Chile or other nations playing here; however, in our case, we were looking for a competitive league from another nation, and Portugal ended up being the perfect match. The quality of life I found in Cascais, for example, is also a big incentive to be here.”
For players of his profile, who have never secured a move to France or England, Portugal’s Super XV offers a platform from which new heights can be reached.
“It’s the perfect gateway to Europe, especially now under Super XV colours. Players like me have the perfect stage to showcase their skills and talent to a wider audience, or at least a European one. There’s still ground to cover and a lot to do, but the revamped league is moving in the right direction.”
Having arrived exactly two months ago, Ardao can offer insight into the local Portuguese rugby system, particularly how it supports international players and steers clubs towards a new, more professional era.
“The Lobos players have a very professional structure that helps them be great; at least that’s the idea I get from those who play in Cascais,” said the 28-year-old.
“In my opinion, the next step is for the clubs to become professional, or at least adopt a more professional structure, as this will surely encourage them to grow even more and challenge the best European competitions.”
Ardao enjoyed a prolific debut, helping his new club lift the first major trophy of the season, the Super Cup, beating SL Benfica 34-11, although the winger did not start the game on the right foot.
“Well, my official debut had a bit of everything: I started but ended up getting sent to the sin bin; I came back and scored to help Cascais win the Super Cup against SL Benfica, last year’s league champions! We’re in a really good place right now.”
Despite a good start to this new Portuguese championship, Ardao will be out of contention for Cascais in November as he joins Los Teros in their pursuit of better results during this second term of the Nations Cup.
“We have three tough tests ahead of us, starting with Spain. Then we go to London to face Zimbabwe and then back to Lisbon to face Portugal. Each one will be a tough challenge, but we hope to come out of each clash as winners. We just need to make sure we don’t give them an inch of space.”
After the disappointment of July, November marks the beginning of a new chapter for Uruguay led by Guzaman Barreiro, with Arda and company looking to push the nation across the finish line.
“Our focus for November is to continue to develop the squad and improve our game plan, combinations, set pieces, etc. We are determined to work beyond the results as we aim for the Men’s Rugby World Cup next year. The Nations Cup will be crucial to that end.”
An intriguing subplot is the fact that Uruguay and Portugal will meet twice before the end of 2027. Their first meeting comes on November 21, before they renew their acquaintance on October 11, 2027 at the Men’s Rugby World Cup.
With several Portuguese internationals, including Martimo Belo and Nuno Mascarenhas, among his Cascais team-mates, Ardao has been thinking about what it will be like to line up against them when Uruguay and Portugal meet in the coming months.
“Oh yeah, we’ve already shared a few words about that upcoming World Cup game. The Argentinian boys tried to pit us against each other, but it didn’t work! We still have a long way to go, and before that, I want to help Cascais win the title.”
One thing is for sure: Manuel Ardao is excited to be competing in the Super XV in Portugal, which keeps him a professional player and closer to the epicenter of the best club rugby in the world.
“The Super XV has several professional players, many of whom joined last summer. The competition has changed format for the new season and is on the air, all positive signs. It’s growing by the second and I’m happy to be here.”
