Portugal name Marques in Nations Cup squad but rest two Rugby Europe title heroes

Portugal head coach Simon Mannix has named a 30-man squad for the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup, with experienced scrum-half Samuel Marques back in the fold after missing the Lobos’ last two Tests against Spain and Georgia. The tournament, held in North America, begins for Portugal against the United States on 4 July.

Marques, who has been central to Portugal’s rise over the past five years, has been training with the group since Monday following his club commitments with US Carcassonne and is expected to start against the USA. Rising back Manuel Vareiro also returns after completing his mandatory rest period following Provence’s promotion push, while José Madeira and Tomás Appleton will share the captaincy as they did during the Rugby Europe Championship.

Notably absent are Rodrigo Marta and Nicolás Martins, two of the key figures in Portugal’s Rugby Europe Championship triumph — their first title in more than 23 years. Marta, who scored seven tries during that campaign and is joining Section Paloise after three seasons with Colomiers, has been rested to allow him to begin the new club season in optimal condition. Martins, meanwhile, is nursing a minor injury and is expected to complete a move to Racing 92 in the coming weeks.

Three further players — Diogo Hasse Ferreira, Nuno Sousa Guedes, and David Wallis — are also absent through injury and are not expected to recover in time to feature in the final squad.

Two uncapped players, Jordan Lee Bacon and Tomás Baptista, have been included and could earn their first international caps during the tournament. Portugal enter the Nations Cup on a seven-game winning streak, with matches against Canada on 11 July and Tonga on 18 July to follow the opening clash with the USA.

Portugal squad — forwards: Abel Cunha, Cody Thomas, António Prim, Luís Lopes, Pedro Vicente, Luka Begic, Nuno Mascarenhas, Santiago Lopes, Duarte Nunes, Duarte Torgal, Guilherme Costa, Martim Bello, José Madeira, João Granate, André da Cunha, José Monteiro.

Backs: Hugo Camacho, Pedro Lucas, Samuel Marques, Domingos Cabral, Vincent Pinto, Manuel Vareiro, Tomás Appleton, José Madeira (shared captain).