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Manuel Diana is in a league of his own. The 27-year-old is far and away the best player in Super Rugby Americas 2023. After ten rounds of the season, the Peñarol N8 has a return of 12 tries.
Diana is a natural fit for the N8 position. He is is 1.90m (6ft 3) tall and weighs 104 Kg (230 lbs). He has the height to work as an extra option in the lineout, the size to be powerful on defense and the mobility to be ever-present around the field.
The Uruguayan is potent with ball in hand. Many of his tries in Super Rugby Americas 2023 have seen him burst clear. His acceleration is in no small part connected to his aforementioned weight and overall physique.
Diana was man-of-the-match for Peñarol against the American Raptors on Sunday. It was yet another man-of-the-match for him. Diana is on fire in Super Rugby Americas 2023. He has scored tries for Peñarol in all but one match this season.
He also scored in Peñarol’s season opener against the same opposition. He scored two against Dogos in game two. He then scored at home against Os Cobras and scored the first try against Yacare.
Peñarol were praised for their away win over Selknam. Diana was again a try scorer. He also touched down away to Yacare before bagging a double at home against Los Dogos. He went even better in Denver, Colorado. Diana scored a hat-trick against the Raptors at altitude.
Coincidentally or not the one match without Diana’s name on the scoresheet was the team’s only defeat thus far. Diana did not enter the try zone in the 20-19 away loss against Los Pampas.
Diana’s impressive season may well be his last in Uruguay. He has simply been in a league of his own that leading clubs needing a N8 ought to be eyeballing him. Either Bayonne or Castres could more than find room for him. They are, of course, home to Manuel Leindekar and Santiago Arata. Diana previously played Major League Rugby (MLR) for the Toronto Arrows.
