Dove Men+Care Portugal Rugby Youth Festival 2025: A Celebration of Youth, Rugby, and Inclusion

Written By Move Sports

Dove Men+Care Portugal Rugby Youth Festival 2025

The 2025 edition of the Dove Men+Care Portugal Rugby Youth Festival, organised by Move Sports, took place on 12–13 April at the Estádio Universitário de Lisboa, gathering more than 3,200 young athletes, over 125 teams, and thousands of supporters, families, and coaches from across the globe.

This year’s edition broke all previous records — not only in terms of participation, but also in estimated attendance, with around 35,000 people visiting the venue over the weekend.

More than just a competition, the festival delivered an unforgettable experience blending high-level sport, community, inclusion, sustainability and innovation.

Teams from Zimbabwe, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, Belgium, the USA and beyond competed across multiple age groups, delivering thrilling matches and unforgettable energy on and off the pitch.

 

Champions of 2025

Congratulations to the champions of each age group:

  • U13: AAAIS Agronomia (Portugal)

  • U15 Boys: VRAC Quesos Entrepinares (Spain)

  • U15 Girls: Richmond RFC (Ireland)

  • U17 Boys: CR Técnico (Portugal)

  • U18 Girls: Northcote (New Zealand)

  • U19 Boys: GD Direito (Portugal)

Each match was a celebration of teamwork, talent, and determination. The atmosphere in the Honour Pitch during the finals was electric, filled with pride, effort, and fair play.

 

Advancing Mental Health Conversations

On the eve of the tournament, Dove Men+Care presented the first national study in Portugal focused exclusively on men's mental health. Led by Dr. Madalena Lupi, the study highlighted:

  • 4 in 10 men feel they don’t look after their well-being adequately.

  • Only 10% feel comfortable discussing emotional health.

  • 94% say physical activity helps them maintain emotional balance.

The event included special guests: Joaquim Meirelles (Portuguese Rugby Federation) and three national team legends – António Prim, José Rebelo de Andrade, and Vasco Baptista.

 

A Global Stage, Accessible from Anywhere

All pitches were streamed live on the festival’s YouTube channel, allowing families and fans from all over the world to follow the action in real time. Whether supporting from Lisbon or abroad, everyone had front-row access to the excitement.

 

Education and Development On and Off the Field

This year’s edition also featured important educational components:

  • A Coaches' Training Course, certified by the Portuguese Rugby Federation (FPR)

  • Referee Assessment and Technical Training, focused on improving standards and consistency

  • Introduction of T1 Rugby, an innovative non-contact rugby format supported by World Rugby, designed to attract and engage new players in a safe and accessible way

 

Inclusion in Action

Inclusion played a key role throughout the festival:

  • A wheelchair rugby demonstration, in collaboration with the Portuguese Sports Federation for People with Disabilities (FPDD) and Casa Pia Atlético Clube, brought powerful visibility to adaptive sports.

  • SPEM (Portuguese Multiple Sclerosis Society) was present with an awareness action, engaging with attendees and encouraging dialogue around multiple sclerosis.

  • A partnership between Vila com Vida / Café Joyeux, OH GUI - Rugby para Todos, and the festival, including a Solidarity Ticket initiative, supported social inclusion through rugby and community engagement.

 

A Greener, Cleaner Tournament

Sustainability was a clear priority:

  • Through a partnership with ECO–filtered water, teams received reusable water bottles and cups, which could be refilled at several filtered water stations.

  • Recycling was actively promoted via collaboration with Sociedade Ponto Verde, which ensured the presence of recycling bins and educational actions throughout the venue.

 

Entertainment and Community

The festival atmosphere extended beyond the pitch:

  • At the Mullet Station, young players could get creative haircuts as part of the weekend fun.

  • The Fun Zone offered karaoke, climbing walls, bungee trampolines, face painting, and plenty of interactive brand activations.

  • The Coaches' Corner served as a networking space for team staff to share knowledge and build new connections across borders.

 

Recognised by Rugby Europe

Once again, the Dove Men+Care Portugal Rugby Youth Festival proudly carried the Rugby Europe approval seal. In addition, the festival partnered with Rugby Europe for refereeing, with several matches officiated by international Rugby Europe referees, enriching the standard of play and experience for all.

 

Thank You to Our Partners

We are grateful for the support of our partners and sponsors:

Title Sponsor:

  • Dove Men+Care

Prime Sponsors:

  • Santander

  • Joaquim Chaves Saúde

  • Honda

Sponsors:

  • EMEL

  • Heliocare

  • Isuzu

  • Brave Generation Academy (BGA)

Institutional Partners:

  • Junta de Freguesia de Alvalade

  • IPDJ

  • Portuguese Rugby Federation

  • Fundação do Desporto

Event Partners:

  • Brisa

  • Fundação Henrique Leote

  • Fiuza

  • Prozis

  • ECO – Filtered Water

  • Gilbert

Eco Partner:

  • Sociedade Ponto Verde

With the support of:

  • Visit Portugal

 

See You Next Year

Thank you to all players, coaches, families, volunteers, referees, and partners who made the 2025 edition truly special. The Dove Men+Care Portugal Rugby Youth Festival continues to grow as Europe’s leading youth rugby event, combining sport with purpose, inclusion, and joy.

📅 Save the date: the next edition will take place on 28–29 March 2026.
Until then, keep playing, keep growing, and keep believing in the power of rugby.

Move Sports
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