With Georgia reining supreme in the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship, and together with Spain, Romania and Portugal have qualified for the Men’s World Cup, and Belgium still have a shot to get to Australia, it is time to pick the Team of the 2025 Championship!
But before you scroll down and find out who made into the team, here’s the rationale behind it:
FRONT ROW
Nika Abuladze, Vano Karkadze and Diogo Hasse Ferreira are three human boulders that have set the standard for their team in this year’s Men’s Rugby Europe Championship.
Abuladze was unstoppable be it in the scrum, counter-ruck, short carries and tackling, muscling his way through the opposing packs.
Karkadze bagged a hat-trick in the final, and carried out his lineout duties with excellence, achieving a 90% success rate, one of the highest in the whole competition. Karkadze had already been a standout in 2024, so it isn’t unexpected that the Montpellier’s hooker keeps his place in the Team of the Tournament.
Portugal might not have finished on the podium, but Diogo Hasse Ferreira’s efforts were massive, working vigorously in the scrum. The Portuguese tighthead prop was also a threat tackle-wise, putting up some of the most dominant tackles of the competition.
LOCKS
Andrei Mahu was an unnatural force of nature for Romania, imposing his towering presence in the lineout and pilfering the ball on five occasions, two of which proved vital to help his team win the bronze medal.
The Netherlands might’ve fallen short of their World Cup aspirations, but Koen Bloemen was immense for his team, wrapping up the Men’s Championship with 50 successful tackles, three lineout steals and five turnovers. His presence was a shining light for the Oranje.
LOOSE FORWARDS
Let’s start with our number-eight pick, Raphaël Nieto. What a shift from the Leones loose forward, overpowering his direct opposition with brilliance and putting up a sensational physical show for the Rugby Europe fans. He was key to helping Spain qualify for the 2027 Men’s World Cup and the 2025 Men’s Rugby Europe Championship final.
On the flanks, you will find Nicolás Martins, a two-time Player of the Match, and Jean-Maurice Deccuber, the Belgian enforcer. Martins scored three tries and was one of the few overall great performers in Portugal’s camp.
Deccuber's astonishing defensive performances played a role in Belgium’s 5th place, closing any gaps that threatened to turn out in try opportunities for the Diables Noirs' rivals. The RC Vannes utility forward was inexhaustible and only rested when the deed was done.
SCRUM-HALF AND FLY-HALF
In the 9-10 pairing, we have the Georgian legendary combo of Vasil Lobzhanidze and Davit Niniashvili, two major pieces for Ricard Cockerill’s victorious puzzle. Lobzhanidze’s passing mastery and in-game knowledge steered his team towards victory.
And Niniashvili… well, there are no words to describe how special he was throughout the Men’s REC 2025. That monumental performance against Spain and the two tries he single-handedly created in the final were just a few sensational pieces of play from one of the best ballers in the rugby world. But if you are a data aficionado, here are some of his best stats: 39 points, six try assists, fifteen-line breaks, and 37 defenders beaten.
CENTRES
Gonzalo López Bontempo had his best Men’s REC season since his first game for Spain and was a decisive factor in how well the Leones faired in 2025. The centre’s masterful performance against Portugal in the semifinals would be forever remembered, slotting in 27 points from the boot. His passing game and physical prowess added an extra layer to the Spanish centre pairing, and he deserves his spot in our best XV.
At López Bontempo's side, you will find Jeremy To’a, one of the most unbreakable units it in the Swiss camp. His physicality kept Switzerland alive in the 7th/8th place playoff, carrying the ball like a battering ram on a V8 motor.
OUTSIDE BACKS
In the outside back roles, we had to pick the inevitable Akaki Tabutsadze who finished as the top try scorer of the season, bagging nine tries and settling in 6th place on the All-Time Test Match leading try scorers. When Tabutsadze stepped on the gas there was no other outcome than a Lelos celebration, being the biggest threat of all REC sprinters.
Martiniano Cian picked up from where he left off in 2024, with the Spanish wing putting up some spectacular performances throughout the campaign.
And, finally, Marius Simionescu, Romania’s skipper and one of the most reliable players of late for the Oaks. He secured 95% of the high-ball contests and denied four certain tries, one of which was vital for their 3rd place aspirations.
POWER BENCH
Front Row: Charles-Henri Berguet, Alvaro Garcia and Luka Japaridze
If you need a front-row bomb squad, let me advise you to pick these three, as Charles-HenriBerguet and Luka Japaridze were outstanding for Belgium and Georgia respectively, while Alvaro García was a vicious tackler and a super jackler.
Berguet’s speed off-the-ball and elegant handling skills helped Belgium step into another level, while Japaridze was an unmoveable ‘object’ in the scrum.
Utility Forwards: Manex Ariceta and Beka Saginadze
A Spanish and Georgian utility forwards walk onto a pitch, and they will certainly pinch the ball, steal a couple of lineouts and completely exhaust the opposition on any given occasion. Beka Saginadze was a super captain for the Lelos and has become an even bigger threat come ruck time.
Manex Ariceta is a special talent in the Leones, and his input on the lineout was inspiring, especially against Portugal. He can excel in more than one position, and his tackling technique is one of the best on display in the Men’s Rugby Europe Championship.
Backline: Estanislao Bay, Hinckley Vaovasa and Jens Torfs
Finally, if we need to add a bit of zing to our backline, Spain’s Tani Bay, Romania’s Hinckley Vaovasa and Belgium’s Jens Torfs are the players to go with.
Bay is an eccentric half back that goes from 8 to 80mph in a flick of his feet, quickly catching the opposition off-guard. Vaovasa can add a heavy dose of lethality to any side he plays for, as his suave offloading ability and rapid speed have the knack to break even the strongest of defences!
While Jens Torfs is that ruthless physicality capable of dismantling any tackler on his path and lead his team to a successful campaign, being the talisman of the Belgium side.
By Francisco Isaac
