Uruguayan back row forward Manuel ‘Manu’ Ardao played in Major League Rugby during the 2024 season. He represented the Miami Sharks for their inaugural MLR season in 2024.

A capped international with Uruguay, Ardao is a veteran of 2 Rugby World Cups with Los Teros, representing them in both 2019 and most recently in 2023, where he was a standout. Ardao won 6 turnovers for Uruguay in their World Cup game against Italy, equalling a RWC record.

A then-24yo Ardao’s signing was announced by the Miami Sharks on 20th August 2023, 1 day before he was announced as a part of the Uruguay squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Ardao was the 7th player in Sharks history to be announced, and would join the Florida team from Peñarol in the Super Rugby Americas competition, where the Uruguayan club had just won their 2nd title in a row. Ardao had an excellent 2024 season, scoring 5 tries in 12 games (all starts) for the Sharks, completing over 115 tackles and gaining over 550m from the back row as the Miami Sharks recorded an admirable inaugural season that included a victory over the reigning champion New England Free Jacks.

On November 9th, 2024, the Miami Sharks announced the return of Manu Ardao for the 2025 MLR season.

Achievements:

• MLR Team of the Week: 2024 – Rd 4