Portugal - Os Lobos

Team Preview

Coach:
Tomaz Morais

Previous World Cups:
Nil

Best Performance:
Nil

Played:
0

World Ranking:
No.21

Fixtures:
v Scotland, St-Etienne, September 9
v New Zealand, Lyon, September 15
v Italy, Paris, September 19
v Romania, Toulouse, September 25

Facts:
1. Portuguese fans had to wait 31 years for their side's first international win, which came in 1966 against Spain.
2. Portugal was the surprise winner of the 2003/04 European Nations Cup.
3. Coach Tomaz Morais was nominated for the IRB's Coach of the Year award that season.
4. The team is nicknamed 'Os Lobos' - Portuguese for 'The Wolves'.
5. Portugal is the only side in this year's competition that did not participate in the 2003 finals.

Key Players:

It is always a proud moment for any captain to lead his team out in a major competition.

When Portugal's Vasco Uva does so in the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium for his country's first World Cup Pool C match against Scotland on September 9 it will be far and away the most significant moment of his career so far.

The 24-year-old has been an integral part of the Portuguese team which defied all the odds to become the first amateur side ever to qualify for the World Cup.

In a country where football dominates the sporting agenda, the Portuguese team - under the guidance of coach Tomaz Morais - has proved that hard work and dedication can help you achieve anything.

After a qualifying campaign that was four years in the making, Portugal defeated Uruguay in a two-legged play-off to secure its place alongside the likes of New Zealand, Australia and England in France.

"I am very happy to have qualified for the World Cup, and it was the culmination of four years of hard work," Uva told PA Sport.

"It was extremely difficult because most of us are still amateurs - and we had to leave our families and work behind. That was hard, but in the end it was worth it because we have made such an amazing achievement."

It is an achievement for any team to qualify for a major competition, but the fact the Portuguese players reached that required standard while juggling their work and families makes it even more admirable.

As a flanker, Uva is accustomed to battling on the pitch - and off it he is just as tough, earning his living as a lawyer.

"It is a little bit difficult combining my work as a lawyer with my rugby training, but I have managed it so far," he added.

"I have an agenda and have to organise my days minute-by-minute. That includes training, meeting with clients and also all my gym work to stay fit."

Modest Uva points towards inspirational coach Morais as the man responsible for changing the face of Portuguese rugby.

After an injury forced Morais to retire from the game early, the university professor concentrated on developing rugby in Portugal - and the results have been startling.

As coach of both the Sevens and full Portuguese teams, Morais has instilled a work ethos into his players.

"Tomaz was the first person to really believe in us and Portuguese rugby," Uva continues.

"He gave us belief and told us that if we train and work hard we will succeed. I cannot speak highly enough of him - his is the key to all our success."

Portugal has been given a tough task in its World Cup debut - and as well as being drawn alongside Scotland, will also then face Italy, Romania and World Cup favourite New Zealand.

Uva rates the date against the Kiwis - in Lyon on September 15 - as the most significant of all.

"For Portugal it will be the moment of truth when we face New Zealand. It will be the greatest moment of my career and in our history," he enthused.

"It will be men who have had to work as well as play rugby against the best in the world - and it will be a fantastic occasion. I will be very proud."

As the tournament`s underdogs, Portugal is expected to make little impact. However, Uva says his team is targeting a win against fellow minnows Romania.

"We are ambitious and want to beat Romania. It will be difficult - but that is our objective," he said.

"We will play to win that game and play the other games trying to show off Portuguese rugby and the qualities of our game."

The World Cup will also be somewhat of a family affair for the Uva family - Vasco's brother Goncalo and cousin Joao are also part of the Portugal team.

"I enjoy playing alongside my brother and my cousin. It is very special for our family," said the captain.

"My brother is a good player and he plays for Montpellier - a good professional club in France."

"It will be a very proud moment for our father to see us all playing. He has always come and watched us and supported us."

With Goncalo one of the few Portuguese players to make it professionally, Vasco reveals it is his dream to follow suit - either in France or England.

"I would like to move into the professional game and I have had contacts with clubs in England and France," he concluded.

"It is my dream to play professionally after the World Cup ... we will have to see what happens."