🔗 Share this article

While numerous supporters in the UK focus on club season-opening performances or debate upcoming fall test matches, the contest for 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifying continues unabated.

Chile's Historic Achievement

Chile secured their second consecutive spot at the tournament with a stunning qualifying win over Samoa last month, leaving one place left to be claimed for the host nation in two years. At the same time, Paraguay stunned Brazil by twenty points in the opening match of their qualifying series.

The return match is scheduled this Saturday in the Brazilian city, close to São Paulo, as Brazil's men's team attempts to emulate the women's success and secure qualification for the first time.

Forthcoming Qualifying Showdown

Whether Paraguay manages a shock overall win, or Brazil recovers after manager Emiliano Caffera's departure, the lineup for next month's Dubai qualification tournament will then be finalized. The Namibian team, Belgium, and the Samoan side are already confirmed their places for the Middle Eastern showdown from 8-18 November.

Worldwide Qualification Developments

Many other nations have also earned their spots. The Hong Kong China team sealed first-time World Cup entry following beating Korea by a large margin in the summer, while Zimbabwe will return to rugby union's premier tournament for the first time in over three decades after winning the Rugby Africa Cup.

Chile's Growing Profile

The knock-on effect of Chile's playoff success means that Los Condores will play against Italy for the first occasion next month during the fall test series, replacing Samoa who must participate in the Dubai tournament.

The global governing body's chief executive called Chile an "exciting and fast-emerging force" in announcing the upcoming match in Genoa. As local the sport promotional efforts aim for larger crowds, rugby in Chile is buoyant. A sell-out audience of more than twenty thousand saw the qualifying win in the coastal city, and head coach the national coach has guided the squad on an improving path since his appointment in recent years.

Coach's Impressive Career

The fifty-year-old former Uruguayan prop has been making an impact for many years: recruited by Bristol in the 1990s, he memorably ran straight through the English defensive line to score at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

His impact as national coach has been equally powerful: Chile have climbed to 17th, their best position. During the previous World Cup in France, they were beaten in all matches, allowing 215 points and scoring twenty-seven, featuring a heavy loss to England.

However, they confidently took the positives, and after the 2027 draw in Sydney on December 3rd, Lemoine can begin planning seriously. They hosted Scotland last year, defeated 52-11 in front of 24,000 fans, and although they were beaten over both matches by the Uruguayan side in the initial 2027 playoff, they achieved a 21-18 away victory in the Uruguayan capital.

Samoa's Qualification Challenge

Samoa, in contrast, have participated in all Rugby World Cup since 1991, but are presently sitting in sixteenth place in the men's rankings. They were winless in the recent regional tournament, leading to playoff misery versus Chile, and the requirement to face teams like Belgium adds further difficulty for the proud rugby nation.

Competition Format Changes

Apart from specific teams' performances, it is important to consider how changed the larger tournament will appear in the next edition. For the first time, there will be a knockout stage with six pools of four teams instead of four pools of five. Pool-stage jeopardy is much lower because the four best third-placed teams will additionally qualify.

Hosts and Standings Implications

The hosts, Australia, are currently placed seventh in the global rankings, meaning they would miss out on top seeding and could face either South Africa, the All Blacks, Ireland, the French, England, or the Pumas in their group. They could climb into the highest seeds during a busy November, however: England, Italy, Ireland, and the French team are their opponents, with a match versus the Japanese team in the capital also scheduled for 25 October.

The Welsh team, on the other hand, are balanced in 12th, with Japan below, and the implications of falling to 13th and into the third seeding group are potentially severe.

Americas Presence and Upcoming Tournaments

Another new dimension for the next World Cup is the presence of five nations from the American continent: the Argentine team, Uruguay, the United States, the Canadian team, and Chile – with either Paraguay or Brazil potentially becoming the sixth. From World Rugby's viewpoint, American interest is beneficial, particularly with the 2031 tournament scheduled to be staged by the United States, and the host selection for the 2035 edition was initiated recently.

Current Focus

First things first, however. The return match of Brazil versus Paraguay prepares a four-team Dubai shootout, along with a potential standings change throughout the European nations in the coming month. Regardless of how things pan out, Chile's qualification for a second consecutive World Cup has already made them as a resounding triumphant example.