Manuel Ardao

{{Infobox rugby union biography

|name=Manuel Ardao

|image=

|fullname=Manuel Ardao Ferrés

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1998|09|09|df=y}}

|birth_place=Montevideo, Uruguay

|height=1.77 m

|weight=92 kg

|nickname=

|occupation=

|school=

|university=

|relatives=Diego Ardao (Uruguayan XVs and Sevens international)

|position=Hooker, Flanker, Number 8

|currentclub= Miami Sharks

|youthyears1=

|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–

|repteam3={{nrut|Uruguay}}

|repcaps3=23

|reppoints3=10

|clubupdate=15 July 2023

|repupdate=9 September 2023

}}

Manuel Ardao Ferrés (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.{{Cite web |title=SLAR |url=https://regi.superrugbyamericas.com/jugador/47 |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=regi.superrugbyamericas.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/301243.html|title=Manuel Ardao|website=ESPN scrum|access-date=25 September 2019}}

Career

= Old Christians Club =

Ardao began his career at Old Christians Club, following in the footsteps of his brother Diego Ardao,{{Cite web |last=worldrugby.org |title=Diego Ardao: My plan is to travel the world {{!}} World Rugby |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/738952?lang=en |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=www.world.rugby}} He was part of the team that won the national championship in 2019.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-16 |title=Old Christians Club crowned 2019 Uruguayan Champions |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2019/11/16/old-christians-club-crowned-2019-uruguayan-champions/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Americas Rugby News |language=en-US}}

= Peñarol =

In 2020 he gained a professional contract at Peñarol.{{Cite web |title=Penarol Squad for 2020 |url=https://www.peñarol.org/Noticias/Penarol-se-prepara-para-participar-de-la-Superliga-Americana-de-Rugby-uc7166}} 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.{{Cite web |title=SLAR |url=https://regi.superrugbyamericas.com/partido/45 |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=regi.superrugbyamericas.com}} He was named MVP for the 2022 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby season.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-26 |title=SLAR – 2022 MVP |url=https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2022/05/25/slar-2022-mvp/ |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Americas Rugby News |language=en-US}}

= Miami Sharks =

In August 2023, the Miami Sharks signed Ardao for its inaugural season in Major League Rugby.{{cite web |date=2023-08-20 |title=Miami Sharks Complete Huge Signing of Manuel Ardao From Uruguay |url= https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2023/08/20/miami-sharks-complete-huge-signing-of-manuel-ardao-from-uruguay/ |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=Americas Rugby News |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/match/300898.html|title=Uruguay v Fiji|website=ESPN scrum|access-date=25 September 2019}} He was included in the Uruguayan squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup held in Japan marking his first World Cup appearance.{{cite news |date=30 August 2019 |title=Los Teros name squad for Japan 2019 |website=rugbyworldcup.com |publisher=Rugby World Cup |url=https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/446222 |accessdate=25 September 2019}} He featured in two of Uruguay's games.