Rugby Europe continue our interviews with some of the key players taking part in the Rugby Europe U18 and U20 Championships, where we look to figure out their goals, playing style and much more.
Manex Pujana, one of Spain’s leaders, shared his goals, roots and what he hopes to achieve by the end of the U18 championship. Can the young leones win the competition for the first time?
Hello, Manex. Can you tell us what are your team’s goals for the 2024 Men’s Rugby Europe U18 Championship?
We have only one goal: to win! We have been working hard to be ready to fight for the right to win, and we are also a very ambitious team. We know the other teams in it to win, but I do believe we have what it takes to finish at the top!
How would you present yourself to the fans? What is your style of play, at what do you excel more and what can you promise to do in the competition?
I would say I am a player who likes the physical side of the game but can also handle the ball well. The physicality comes from my rugby origins, as I was born and raised in the Basque region, and we tend to favour the physical aspects of the game. The handling skills came from my time as a back-line unit.
Do you have any individual objectives that you would like to achieve in the competition?
Lineout and scrum. I want to help ou set-piece to be perfect, so I have to perform well in my duties as a jumper and coordinator.
Can you define your team in three words?
Quick, strong and dynamic. Let me explain why I chose those three. We are a team that likes to play with pace and a more dynamic kind of game. To be able to do that we have to be strong handling the ball and quick to secure turnovers, lineout steals, etc.
What message would you like to share with your team’s fans?
For our fans, I just want to say that we have grown as a team for the past year. We are more solid than ever, and we have fully devoted ourselves to getting to a level that allows us to win the Rugby Europe U18 Championship. Vamos, Espãna!
As Spain will only play in the U18 Championship, due to the U20s having secured their seat in the World Rugby U20 Trophy, we add two extra players from the U18s.
Marçal Carreras (U18 / Prop): a gifted scrummager who has an inclination to evade tacklers when carrying the oval-shaped ball, Marçal Carreras is one of the best talents on the Spanish roster.
Pablo Aragó (U18 / Utility back): if you are looking for a rugby trickster, Pablo Aragó should be on your list as the utility back can pull some insane plays that any magician would feel envious of. His incredible speed and polished handling skills have the potential to carry Spain towards the try-line.
By Franciso Isaac
