🔗 Share this article

As numerous fans in the UK concentrate on club season-opening performances or debate forthcoming fall test matches, the contest for 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification rages on unabated.

Chile's Remarkable Achievement

Chile earned their second consecutive spot at the competition with a stunning qualifying win against Samoa last month, leaving one place left up for grabs for Australia by 2027. Meanwhile, Paraguay stunned Brazil by twenty points in the opening match of their qualifying series.

The second leg is scheduled on Saturday in Jacareí, close to São Paulo, as Brazil's squad attempts to emulate the women's success and qualify for the first time.

Upcoming Qualifying Clash

Regardless of Paraguay completes a surprise aggregate win, or Brazil bounces back after head coach Emiliano Caffera's recent dismissal, the participants for November's qualifying event in Dubai will be confirmed. Namibia, Belgium, and Samoa have already secured their places for the Dubai-based competition from 8-18 November.

Global Qualifying Updates

Several additional teams have likewise secured their places. Hong Kong China sealed maiden qualification after defeating Korea 70-22 in July, and Zimbabwe will return to the sport's premier tournament for the first occasion in over three decades by virtue of winning the Rugby Africa Cup.

Chile's Rising Profile

The consequence of Chile's playoff success means that Los Condores will face Italy for the first occasion next month during the fall test series, replacing Samoa who are obligated to compete in the Dubai tournament.

World Rugby's CEO called Chile an "exciting and rapidly rising power" in confirming the forthcoming fixture in Genoa. While local the sport markets aim for larger crowds, rugby in Chile is thriving. A capacity crowd of more than twenty thousand saw the qualifying win in the coastal city, and head coach Pablo Lemoine has led the squad on an upward trajectory since taking over in 2018.

Coach's Notable Career

The 50-year-old ex- Uruguay international prop has been influencing the game for many years: signed by the English club in the 1990s, he memorably broke through England defense to score at the 2003 global tournament.

His influence as head coach has been similarly significant: Chile have climbed to seventeenth place, their best ranking. At the last tournament in France, they were defeated in all matches, conceding 215 points and scoring twenty-seven, including a 71-0 defeat against England.

Nevertheless, they confidently took the positives, and after the 2027 draw in Sydney on 3 December, the coach can start preparations in earnest. They hosted Scotland previously, losing 52-11 in front of 24,000 supporters, and while they were defeated over two legs by Uruguay in the initial qualifying round, they achieved a 21-18 away victory in Montevideo.

Samoa's Qualification Challenge

Samoa, in contrast, have participated in every Rugby World Cup since 1991, but are currently sitting in 16th place in the men's rankings. They were without a victory in this year's Pacific Nations Cup, leading to qualifying disappointment versus Chile, and the requirement to face nations such as Belgium brings further difficulty for the rugby-loving country.

Tournament Structural Updates

Apart from specific teams' performances, it is important to consider how different the expanded competition will appear in the next edition. For the first time, there will be a round of 16 with six pools of four instead of four pools of five. Group phase jeopardy is significantly reduced because the top four third-place teams will additionally qualify.

Host Nation and Rankings Implications

The organizers, Australia, are now placed seventh in the global rankings, which means they would fall short on a top seed and could meet one of South Africa, the All Blacks, the Irish, France, England, or the Pumas in Pool A. They may rise into the top six during a busy November, though: England, the Italian side, the Irish squad, and the French team are their opponents, with a game against Japan in the capital additionally scheduled for October 25th.

The Welsh team, meanwhile, are balanced in 12th, with the Japanese side below, and the consequences of falling to 13th and into the third seeding group are potentially significant.

Americas Presence and Future Events

An additional new dimension for the next World Cup is the presence of five teams from the Americas: the Argentine team, Uruguay, the United States, the Canadian team, and the Chilean squad – with Paraguay or Brazil possibly making it six. From the governing body's perspective, engagement from the Americas is positive, particularly with the 2031 World Cup set to be staged by the United States, and the selection process for the 2035 tournament was launched last month.

Immediate Priority

First things first, though. The return match of Brazil v Paraguay sets up a four-team Dubai shootout, combined with a possible standings change throughout Europe in November. No matter the outcome, Chile's successful qualification for a second Rugby World Cup has undoubtedly established them as a resounding triumphant example.