Manuel Ardao Explained

Manuel Ardao
Fullname:Manuel Ardao Ferres
Birth Date:9 September 1998
Birth Place:Montevideo, Uruguay
Height:1.77 m
Weight:92 kg
Relatives:Diego Ardao (Uruguayan XVs and Sevens international)
Position:Hooker, Flanker, Number 8
Currentclub:Miami Sharks
Youthclubs1:Christian Brothers College
Years1:20??-2020
Clubs1:Old Christians Club
Apps1:??
Points1:??
Years2:2020−2023
Clubs2:Peñarol
Apps2:34
Points2:65
Years3:2023-
Clubs3:Miami Sharks
Apps3:12
Points3:31
Repyears1:2017−2018
Repteam1:Uruguay Under 20
Repcaps1:8
Reppoints1:30
Repyears2:2018–
Repteam2:Uruguay Sevens
Repcaps2:23
Reppoints2:11t
Repyears3:2018–
Repcaps3:23
Reppoints3:10
Clubupdate:15 July 2023
Repupdate:9 September 2023

Manuel Ardao Ferres (born 9 September 1998) is a Uruguayan rugby union player who generally plays as a flanker. Ardao plays for Miami Sharks in Major League Rugby (MLR) and represents Uruguay internationally.[1] [2]

Career

Old Christians Club

Ardao began his career at Old Christians Club, following in the footsteps of his brother Diego Ardao,[3] He was part of the team that won the national championship in 2019.[4]

Peñarol

In 2020 he gained a professional contract at Peñarol.[5] He played his first game on March 4, 2020 against Selknam. This match also turns out to be the last of the season, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the following year he featured again for Peñarol, with Peñarol reaching the final of the Superliga Americana de Rugby losing to Jaguares XV 36-28. Ardao started in the next two finals for Peñarol winning both.[6] He was named MVP for the 2022 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby season.[7]

Miami Sharks

In August 2023, the Miami Sharks signed Ardao for its inaugural season in Major League Rugby.[8] Ardao was ultimately joined on the Sharks by three fellow Uruguayan internationals: Felipe Etcheverry, Tomás Inciarte, and Reinaldo Piussi.

For the 2024 Major League Rugby Season, Ardao had twelve appearances, scoring five tries for a total of 31 points and distinguished himself through excellent defensive play.

International career

Manuel Ardao plays with the Uruguay under-20 team in 2017 and 2018, as part of the World Rugby U20 Trophy. In 2017, his team finished third in the competition. The following year, his team finished in fifth place, but Ardao distinguished himself by scoring six tries in four games.

He made his international debut for Uruguay against Fiji on 17 November 2018.[9] He was included in the Uruguayan squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup held in Japan marking his first World Cup appearance.[10] He featured in two of Uruguay's games.

Honours

Old Christians Club

Peñarol

Personal

Notes and References

  1. Web site: SLAR . 2023-07-15 . regi.superrugbyamericas.com.
  2. Web site: Manuel Ardao. ESPN scrum. 25 September 2019.
  3. Web site: worldrugby.org . Diego Ardao: My plan is to travel the world World Rugby . 2023-07-15 . www.world.rugby.
  4. Web site: 2019-11-16 . Old Christians Club crowned 2019 Uruguayan Champions . 2023-07-15 . Americas Rugby News . en-US.
  5. Web site: Penarol Squad for 2020 .
  6. Web site: SLAR . 2023-07-15 . regi.superrugbyamericas.com.
  7. Web site: 2022-05-26 . SLAR – 2022 MVP . 2023-07-15 . Americas Rugby News . en-US.
  8. Web site: 2023-08-20 . Miami Sharks Complete Huge Signing of Manuel Ardao From Uruguay . 2023-08-20 . Americas Rugby News . en-US.
  9. Web site: Uruguay v Fiji. ESPN scrum. 25 September 2019.
  10. News: 30 August 2019 . Los Teros name squad for Japan 2019 . rugbyworldcup.com . Rugby World Cup . 25 September 2019.