D`Orey forced out of RWC

Morais has been forced into change

Morais has been forced into change

Portugal second row Marcello D'Orey has been ruled out of his side's remaining two Rugby World Cup games with a calf injury that he sustained against New Zealand.

To be forced out of the World Cup with injury is always bad, but especially when you have sacrificed as much as D'Orey in order to make the squad.

"I am very sad. It is complicated because I made an enormous sacrifice to be here and then it is suddenly over because of a stupid thing. Now I feel a little envious of the other players," he told IRB.

The 31-year-old lawyer divides his time between rugby and work, and will return to Portugal on Thursday where he will begin treatment on the injury that has shattered his dream. He will be replaced by Salvador Palha.

Having been born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he moved to Portugal aged thirteen, but still has family in Brazil that he tries to visit once a year.

"I have an aunt still living in Rio de Janeiro, so I try to go there at least once a year," he said.

"I wanted to go this month, but it was obvious I preferred to come to France instead and play in the World Cup."

He started playing rugby at 15 years old and was called up to the Portugal team a few years later.

"One friend from school told me I had the size and so I decided to give it a try," he said.

Despite a busy work schedule, D'Orey still finds time to drive a 400km round trip from Porto to Lisbon for weekly training with the national team.

"I pick up two other players who also live in Porto and we drive the afternoon before the training starts in Lisbon. After the training, we rush back to Porto because we all have to work early the next day."

While he recognises that Portugal are not in the same league as some of their competitors, D'Orey believes the team are playing the best rugby in the country's history.

"We have other jobs and we play rugby because we love it. I will continue to play rugby after I shake off this injury. To play in the World Cup was a dream that came true for us, and I think Portuguese rugby is growing and has everything in place to continue growing."