IN CONVERSATION WITH MANU MORENO & JAIME MATA

interview JANA LETONJA

Spanish rugby players Manu Moreno and Jaime Mata play in the Spanish Rugby Union as part of the7’s team. Manu combines his athletic career with modeling and other sports, such as sailing, and Jaime loves songwriting and playing the guitar when he is not on the field.

jaime
full look GIORGIO ARMANI

manu
full look, except socks, AMI
socks UNIQLO

MANU MORENO

Manu, how did your passion for rugby begin, and what do you love the most about the sport?

Rugby was a sport I discovered as a grown up. My brother started playing when I was 14 and I went to see him play a few times, and loved the dynamics, the strength and the respect that existed within the field. I started playing the very next day after I saw my brother play and until today my passion for it has been growing. What I like the most about rugby is the environment in general, the fun there is in each event and in each group of rugby players. I think it's one level above any other sport. We like having fun.

How would you describe your development as a rugby player since you first started playing?

I believe that my evolution inside rugby has been very progressive since I started in the lower categories of the Spanish team. Thanks to those, I've grown along as a player. These past few years competing at the best international level all over the world is proof that the improvement has been exponential and it's not stopping here. I'm coming for much more and I'm sure the best years of my career are yet to come.

jumpsuit CARLOTA BARRERA
tanktop CARLOTA BARRERA
boxers MIRTO
trousers DEUS EX MACHINA

What are your biggest goals and dreams for the future of your career?

Sportwise speaking, I believe that this team deserves to represent Spain in the Olympic Games, so hopefully we'll see you in Los Angeles in 2028. On the other side, I'd love to finish my medical degree in a few years, and direct it to the sports side that I love.

shorts MANS
sneakers VEJA
socks UNIQLO

Another sport you enjoy is sailing. What do you love the most about sailing and how often do you get to do it with your busy schedule?

What I like most about sailing is spending time with my family and friends. It's a way of exploring the world from another perspective and live unique experiences. I try to sail as much as I can, but it's during the summer when life allows me to do it. I definitely try to spend my summer months sailing wherever I can.

full look N21

Besides being an athlete, you are also modelling. What role does fashion play in your life, and what do you love the most about fashion?

Honestly, fashion has arrived in my life recently and I have to say it's something I'm loving so far. I find it very fun to meet new people and places, and it's allowing me to discover a new side of myself.

left
full look AMI

right
full look LOEWE

How do sports and fashion intertwine in your opinion?

I think that high-level athletes have always been fashionable, so it's something that goes hand in hand. I'd like to motivate the upcoming generations into this lifestyle.

both looks LOEWE

full look GIORGIO ARMANI

JAIME MATA

Jaime, you were basically born with rugby in your hands. How early on in your life did you know this is what you will end up doing as a career?

I don’t really know. I think with rugby you have to fall in love with it first and then the opportunities start to come. In my case, I knew I loved it and I wanted to do this for a living thanks to everyone I met along the way and the friends I made at the rugby club.

 
You’re currently one of the top players in the game. What is coming up next for you career wise?

I would love to play the World Cup in Australia in 2026 and the Olympics in 2028 in LA. 

shorts MANS
sneakers VEJA
socks UNIQLO

Having been playing rugby for so long, what has been your biggest achievement in the sport so far?

Honestly, training every day for something I love and playing with the best players in the world and in the best tournaments is the biggest achievement I could have ever dreamed of. I used to wake up at 4 am and watch my favourite players and teams play, and being able to be part of that right now is beyond anything I could have imagined. The rest is just a gift.

What does playing as a part of the 7’s team mean to you?

It's something very special you dream of when you are younger. It's a great responsibility full of opportunities and also it's a way of expressing yourself and leaving a mark. 

left
jumpsuit CARLOTA BARRERA
boxers MIRTO
trousers DEUS EX MACHINA

right
shirt MANS
trousers GANT

manu
full look TOM FORD

jaime
shirt MANS
trousers GANT

Besides rugby, you also love songwriting and playing the guitar. What role does music play in your life?

Music is something that makes me connect with myself and others. Whether it is a big concert or a simple song, it can make you see things from another perspective or change your mood very quickly. It’s something very special. 

Can we expect to hear your own music in the future?

If I find the time to go into the studio, it could happen. I have written some songs that are waiting to be recorded.

both looks N21

TEAM CREDITS:
talents MANU MORENO & JAIME MATA
photography JAVIER BIOSCA
styling DIEGO SERNA
make-up & hair ANTONIO ROMERO
production ANGELA DEL VAL
photography assistant ENRIQUE ESCANDELL
editor TIMI LETONJA
editorial director & interview JANA LETONJA