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Simon Mannix names injury depleted Portugal squad for Ireland
By Ian Cameron
Head coach Simon Mannix has named his side to face Ireland, with Portugal welcoming back the likes of Nicolás Martins, Manuel Cardoso Pinto, Lucas Martins, Martim Bello and David Wallis.
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The Lobos have spent the past two weeks in camp, including a joint training session with the British and Irish Lions, as they prepare for their first-ever official fixture against Ireland.
The match is set to take place at the Estádio Nacional do Jamor on 12 July, but Portugal will be without several key players. Rodrigo Marta (fractured eye socket), Anthony Alves, Raffaele Storti (calf strain), Samuel Marques (shoulder), Cody Thomas and José Lima (shoulder surgery) are all unavailable for selection.
Veteran prop Francisco Fernandes has now officially retired and will also miss the fixture.
The absentees hand Mannix the opportunity to blood some of Portugal’s emerging talent. Manuel Vareiro (bound for Pro D2 side Provence), Martim Souto (Aurillac) and Boaventura Almeida (Suresnes) are all pushing for inclusion in the matchday squad.
CA Brive hooker Lucas da Silva has also been called up, having missed the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship campaign. The powerful front-rower, who scored 15 tries for his club last season, could make his debut and is seen as a significant prospect for the Lobos.
There’s also a welcome return for back-rower David Wallis, who is set to feature after 18 months on the sidelines through injury.
Portugal, who secured qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup back in March, are placing real emphasis on this meeting with Ireland – their only Test match of the summer.
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PORTUGAL SQUAD:
Abel D’Cunha
Alfredo Almeida
Andre D’Cunha
Antonio Campos
Antonio R Andrade
Boaventura Almeida
David Costa
David Wallis
Diego P Ruiz
Diogo H Ferreira
Diogo Rodrigues
Francisco Almeida
Frederico Couto
Francisco Meneres
Gabriel Aviragnet
Guilherme Costa
Guilherme Vasconcelos
Hugo Aubry
Hugo Camacho
João Granate
José Lávos
José Rodrigues
Luka Begic
Lucas da Silva
Lucas Martins
Marcio Pinheiro
Manuel C Pinto
Manuel Fatti
Manuel Vareiro
Martim Belo
Martim Souto
Nicolas Martins
Nuno Mascarenhas
Nuno S Guedes
Pedro Ferreira
Pedro Lucas
Pedro Vicente
Santiago Lopes
Simão Bento
Tomas Appleton
Vasco Batista
Vasco I Silva
Vicent P Pinto