Portugal clinch REC26
Portugal won the Rugby Europe Championship 2026 in dramatic fashion — Manuel Vareiro’s clutch play sparking jubilant celebration as the nation lifted the trophy rugby_europe on X. The victory also nudged Portugal up the World Rugby rankings to 14th, part of a wider reshuffle that moved Wales to 11th after their Italy win X post on rankings.
Portugal beat Georgia 19-17 in the Rugby Europe Championship final at Estadio Ontime Butarque in Madrid on 15 March 2026. (rugbyeurope.eu) Georgia crossed for three tries to Portugal’s one while Portugal kicked four penalties and one conversion to reach 19 points. (rugbyeurope.eu) Portugal trailed 12-3 at half-time after Ilia Spanderashvili and Tornike Jalagonia touched down for Georgia, before a second-half shift in scrum dominance following Portugal’s front‑row changes. (rugbypass.com) Vincent Pinto scored Portugal’s only try after a charge from José Monteiro and Hugo Camacho’s pass, and the Portuguese kicker added four penalties plus the decisive touchline conversion. (rugbypass.com) The win ended Georgia’s eight-year stranglehold on the Championship and a 43‑match unbeaten run in the competition, delivering Portugal their first REC title at this level since 2004. (rugbypass.com) The final also drove a shake-up in the World Rugby table, with Portugal moving up into the mid‑teens and overtaking both Uruguay and the United States in the updated rankings. (europesays.com) Portugal finished the 2026 tournament as champions (their second title at this level), with Luka Matkava the top points scorer on 49 and Rodrigo Marta the top try scorer with five. (en.wikipedia.org)
