Summer Tour Test Match: Portugal v Ireland

Three more debutants will feature right from the off in Lisbon, as the Ireland Men’s team close out their summer tour with a first ever Test meeting with Portugal, who have qualified for their third Rugby World Cup in 2027.

2025 SUMMER TOUR TEST MATCH:

Saturday, July 12 –

PORTUGAL v IRELAND, Estádio Nacional do Jamor, Lison, kick-off 7pm (live Virgin Media One/Virgin Media Play/RugbyPass TV (outside of ROI)/IRFU Live Blog)

Team News: Interim head coach Paul O’Connell has made six changes to the Ireland team that won 34-5 over Georgia, the last of which sees uncapped centre Hugh Gavin start after Jamie Osborne’s British & Irish Lions call-up.

The 21-year-old Gavin, who was originally included on the replacements bench for his senior international bow, has been promoted to join the experienced Stuart McCloskey in midfield. Osborne has flown Down Under as cover for the injured Blair Kinghorn.

Gavin’s Connacht team-mate, Shayne Bolton, will win his first Ireland cap on the left wing, combining in the back-three with full-back Jimmy O’Brien, and the scorer of two early tries on his debut in Tbilisi last Saturday, Tommy O’Brien.

The back-line sees one further change from the tour opener, as Munster star Jack Crowley will make his 26th appearance at out-half – and his sixth start for Ireland since last July – as he joins forces with captain Craig Casey.

Also becoming a senior international player is Alex Kendellen, who previously captained the Ireland Under-20s and led Emerging Ireland during last autumn’s successful tour to Bloemfontein. The 24-year-old will line out in the back row with Ryan Baird and the returning Cian Prendergast.

Waterford man Tom Ahern comes in for his first start following on from winning his first cap against Georgia. He will pack down with Darragh Murray in the engine room, behind an unchanged front row of Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, and Thomas Clarkson.

Following the news about Osborne’s addition to the Lions squad, Calvin Nash takes Gavin’s place on the bench, with Ben Murphy, one of six debutants in Tbilisi last weekend, and Ciarán Frawley the other back-line options.

Back from injury, Tom O’Toole is poised for his first Test match minutes since the 2024 Six Nations. Tom Stewart, Michael Milne, Cormac Izuchukwu, and Max Deegan make it a five-three split for the tourists.

Portugal will become the 21st nation that Ireland has awarded caps against, and the first ‘new’ nation since facing Russia in 2002.

Looking forward to the encounter with Os Lobos, O’Connell said: “I have been really pleased with the attitude of the players over the last number of weeks.

“The dedication and diligence of the squad in testing conditions over in Tbilisi demonstrated the players’ willingness to embrace challenges, and hopefully that bodes well again this weekend.

“This Saturday presents another opportunity to go out and try to play our game. Portugal are another impressive emerging side who look to play an exciting brand of rugby, and we know that we’re in for another battle hopefully in front of another big crowd of travelling supporters.

“To our three new debutants – Shayne, Alex, and Hugh – congratulations on their selection. On behalf of the Ireland team, I would like to congratulate Jamie on his selection to the British & Irish Lions.

“It’s fantastic news for Jamie and we wish him well in Australia. He has been a consistent performer for Leinster and Ireland, and I am sure he’ll be a great addition to the Lions squad.

“Good luck to Hugh, who will now make his first start for Ireland on Saturday in Lisbon, with the experienced Calvin (Nash) moving on to the bench.”

PORTUGAL: Nuno Sousa Guedes (CDUP); Simão Bento (Stade Montois), Vincent Pinto (Colomiers), Tomás Appleton (CDUL) (capt), Manuel Cardoso Pinto (Agronomia Rugby); Hugo Aubry (Beziers), Hugo Camacho (Beziers); David Costa (GD Direito), Luka Begic (Stade Montois), Diogo Hasse Ferreira (US Dax), Antonio Rebolo de Andrade (Agronomia Rugby), Pedro Ferreira (GD Direito), David Wallis (CF Belenenses), Nicolas Martins (Colomiers), Diego Pinheiro (Provence Rugby).

Replacements: Abel Cunha (Tarbes), Pedro Santiago Lopes (GDS Cascais), Martim Souto (Aurillac), Guilherme Costa (CR Técnico), Francisco Almeida (CDUL), Vasco Baptista (CDUL), António Campos (SL Benfica), Gabriel Aviragnet (Albi),

IRELAND: Jimmy O’Brien (Naas RFC/Leinster); Tommy O’Brien (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Stuart McCloskey (Bangor RFC/Ulster), Shayne Bolton (Connacht); Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Craig Casey (Shannon RFC/Munster) (capt); Jack Boyle (UCD RFC/Leinster), Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Tom Ahern (Shannon RFC/Munster), Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Ryan Baird (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster), Cian Prendergast (UCD RFC/Connacht).

Replacements: Tom Stewart (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Michael Milne (UCD RFC/Munster), Tom O’Toole (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Max Deegan (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Ben Murphy (Clontarf FC/Connacht), Ciarán Frawley (UCD RFC/Leinster), Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster).

Referee: Adam Leal (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (RFU), Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Pre-Match Quotes: Craig Casey (Ireland) –

It was a very hot day (for Ireland’s training session against Portugal before the 2023 Rugby World Cup), and in fairness to them they ripped us up at times.

“So we know how dangerous they can be, and we knew going into the World Cup how dangerous they are and that they would play good rugby. Their 15 is absolutely class, Sousa Guedes. His feet are absolutely electric.

“The other winger, Bento, is a very good player as well. The 13, Pinto, I played against him at Under-20 level so we know them quite well.

“Their seven (Martins) is a massive threat for them. He is a huge threat at the breakdown. He is their talisman, and they will look to their 12 as well, their captain (Appleton). We know how special this game is for them, but it is also special for us too.”

Cullie Tucker (Ireland) –

(Portugal have) a good, experienced front row. Looking back, they got some good joy out of Scotland last year. They were able to hold out plenty of scrums against the Springboks as well.

“So, there’s a nice challenge coming there. They’re experienced front rowers. They’ve been playing a really good brand of rugby. Nicolas Martins at seven is very, very strong over the ball. Vasco Baptista at eight.

“Their passing skills are really good. It’s going to be a good, open game. We’ve got to be expecting them to play very, very quick as well, playing to the edges very, very quickly.

“It’s going to be a big test for us, and we’re going to have to be focused around our set-piece, and focused in multi-phase on both sides of the ball. We’re not taking it lightly in any way, shape or form.”

Pre-Match Links –

‘I Like What I See Of Portugal. They Are A Threat’ – O’Connell

Ireland’s November International Tickets On Sale Today

Tucker: Portugal Are A Team To Be Taken Seriously

‘It Hasn’t Sunk In Yet’ – Osborne On His Lions Call-Up

In Pics: Ireland Captain’s Run In Lisbon

Stats Perform – Pre-Match Insights:

– Tommy O’Brien scored two tries on his Test debut for Ireland against Georgia last week, making him the first Irish player to score a brace on his senior international bow since Michael Lowry did so against Italy during the 2022 Six Nations

– Portugal’s Nicolas Martins made the most tackles of any player in the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship (94). He also claimed the most lineout takes of any player in the competition with 36, including a joint-high six steals

– Since the start of 2024, Ireland have conceded fewer tries per game than any other team in Men’s tier 1 Test matches (1.76). In fact, Ireland have conceded the fewest defensive 22-metre entries per game of any such side (6.5)

– Ireland put in 44 kicks in play during their victory over Georgia in Tbilisi, their most in a Test match since the 2011 Six Nations (46 v Wales). Portugal averaged the joint-most kicks in play per game of any team during this year’s Rugby Europe Championship (29.0, also Netherlands)

– Portugal were the only team to register dominant contact on at least half of their carries in the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship (51.2%), while Ireland had the second highest rate of any team in this year’s Six Nations (35.7%, England – 37.5%)

– Ireland have won each of their last five Tests away from home, with the most recent success in that run coming by 29 points (34-5 v Georgia), the same as the combined margin from the first four

– Excluding neutral venues, only once before have Ireland won more away Tests in a row (W6 from July 2022-February 2024)

– Ireland have won eight of their last nine Tests (L1) and have lost just one of their last 56 against non-Six Nations or Rugby Championship sides (W54, D1), a 19-12 defeat to Japan at the 2019 Rugby World Cup

– Portugal have lost all 11 of their Tests against tier 1 sides in the professional era. However, they have scored over 20 points in four of their last five such fixtures, while their most recent home loss against a tier 1 nation only came by seven points (38-31 v Italy in June 2022)

– Portugal lost their last two games in this year’s Rugby Europe Championship (v Spain & Romania) after winning their first three by an average margin of 27 points. The team leading at half-time has gone on to win each of Os Lobos’ last 10 Tests

– This will be the first ever Men’s Test match between Portugal and Ireland. Portugal will become the 21st different nation that Ireland have faced, and the first new one since they beat Russia in 2002 (35-3), while Ireland will become the 40th different nation that Portugal have played, and the first new one since they lost in South Africa last year (64-21)

Previous Meetings –

N/A

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