A new season and a vast ocean of talented players ready to bring their ‘A-Game’ back on to the pitch, Francisco Isaac looks at some of the players to keep an eye out for this season.
Black Lion
King of Hearts – Giorgi Tsutskiridze
After playing six years in France, Giorgi Tsutskiridze headed back to Georgia and was enlisted by the three-time champions, the Black Lion.
Capped 28 times, the Lelos international, Tsutskiridze is the sort of athlete any coach wants to have around, as the loose forward has a knack for creating havoc at the opposition breakdown, combining a resilient spirit with a sharp mindset.
As Ilia Spanderashvili left the Georgian franchise to play in France, Giorgi Tsutskiridze has the chance to start a new era in the Black Lion and win back his starting spot in the national team setup.
Ace of Spades – Luka Tsirekidze
After another great showing in the U20 Men’s Rugby World Cup, Luka Tsirekidze is ready to set the Rugby Europe Super Cup on fire. He has been recognized as one of the most talented units in European rugby. Be it due to his kicking or running skills, the outside back is the definition of a “diamond in the rough” and one to watch out for.
Castilla y León Iberians
King of Hearts – Vicente del Hoyo
In a combined setup of rising young stars and already capped Spanish internationals, Vicente del Hoyo is one of the leaders of the Iberian squad, and it doesn’t come down to his skills as a hooker or forward-pack commander.
Del Hoyo doesn’t allow the pressure of the game to weigh on him, forever putting in the hard yards and trying to inspire his teammates to keep going even when things seem to be going against them.
Juan Carlos Pérez, the Iberians head coach, will need a super Del Hoyo if the Spanish franchise has the desire to take down the Black Lion and the Lusitanos, prepping the team well before the November internationals.
Ace of Spades – Gonzalo Otamendi
If we speak about young rising prospects, Gonzalo Otamendi must be high up on the list. The fly-half is one of the most gifted U20 players in the World, capable of leading a senior team like he's an experienced veteran. If you blink – you will miss something special coming from him.
Lusitanos
King of Hearts – Tomás Appleton
What do you get when you combine a player with an unbending will, a sharp gameplay mindset, and a stern and calm voice capable of inspiring anyone? Tomás Appleton.
In his fourth season playing for the Lusitanos, the centre is one of the most vital pieces for the Portuguese franchise, not only because of his physical and technical abilities but also because of the way he can lead by example and guide his teammates to the right path.
Combined with his deep knowledge of the game, passing speed, and powerful carries, you end up with a game-changer of special proportions.
Ace of Spades – Manuel Vareiro
If you have been following the Rugby Europe youth grade competitions in the last couple of years, Manuel Vareiro’s name will ring more than a few bells, as the utility back has done spectacularly well in the U18s and U20s. His skills range from a sharp kicking prowess to a flamboyant and electric pace, gracing his side with special game-changer ability, one that Simon Mannix seems ready to make the best of at international level.
Romanian Wolves
King of Hearts – Hinckley Vaovasa
If you are looking for a magic show packed with illusions, a sense of wonder, and astonishing moments, then please get on board the Hinckley Vaovasa train, as the Romanian utility back has the potential to produce something special.
Vaovasa has been a superb asset for Romanian rugby, boosting the chances of his club and country to be closer to winning. Be it due to his silky handling skills, footwork, or genie-level imagination, the Romanian back can instil fear in his opponents.
The 26-year-old will certainly snatch a few tries and enable his teammates to a score a couple more, so keep your eyes on him!
Ace of Spades – Cristi Chirica
Recovered from a serious shoulder injury, the Romanian bulldozer Cristi Chirica is back into the fray and will grant a superb and threatening weapon to David Gérard’s side. His impressive physicality can crack open a few gaps making it easier for the Romanian franchise backline to step in and go for the score.
Delta
King of Hearts – Christopher Raymond
Thrashing players is Christopher Raymond’s game and he will undoubtedly excel at it once the Rugby Europe Super Cup season kicks off. The Dutch number-eight has the potential to be a persistent problem for those who have the task of taking him down, as his powerful carries have a chance to crack open the gain-line.
Raymond’s hulking presence emboldens Delta to go the extra mile, making hima vital piece of the Dutch franchise puzzle.
Ace of Spades – Gabor Besuijen
A fine scrummager, a devoted hard worker, and a talented prop who has earned his spot in the starting line-up of the Netherlands and Delta, and who we are impatiently waiting to follow in the Rugby Europe Super Cup. Gabor Besuijen might not produce a high number of “oomph” moments, but his skills in the set-piece can mean the difference between winning or losing.
Brussels Devils
King of Hearts – Dries de Keyser
If you see a towering Belgian lock jumping in the lineout, thwarting and catching the opposition’s throws, then it mostly certainly is Dries de Keyser. In 2023 he amassed eight lineout steals, helping the Devils to finish in 6th place, their best season since the dawn of the Rugby Europe Super Cup.
De Keyser has established himself as a valiant tackler, a trustworthy athlete, and a never-ending workhorse within the Brussels Devils roster and he will be invaluable in the fight for the top spot in Pool B.
Ace of Spades – Curtis Moucheron
Who doesn’t like an energetic, eccentric, and joyous scrum half? In Curtis Moucheron the Devils have one of the most exciting halfbacks of the Super Cup, who can elude the opposition and escape through the smallest of cracks to get his team closer to the try-line.
Bohemia Rugby Warriors
King of Hearts – Radek Novotný
We couldn’t close the Players to Watch for without adding a prop to the “King of Hearts” section, and Radek Novotný definitely deserves to be in here. The 31-year-old prop was among the best from the Bohemia Rugby Warriors team in 2023, showing his strength in the scrum and imposing more than a couple of dominant tackles.
He is the living embodiment of the Czech rugby desire to grow, and his set-piece knowledge and physicality will play a role in the 2024 Super Cup season.
Ace of Spades – Adam Putna
The Warriors backline is drenched in young talent from the Miracky brothers to Adam Koblic, but Adam Putna is one level above, as the fly-half can simply change the outcome of a play with a flick of the fingers. It almost looks like he can see things before they happen and that is a skill that can be decisive in the most nerve-wracking matches.
The competition gets underway this Saturday evening with the Lusitanos hosting their Iberian neighbours, Castilla y Leon Iberians at CAR Jamor, 7pm CET kick off (6pm Local) and will be available to watch live on Rugby Europe TV.
by Francisco Isaac
