🔗 Share this article

While many fans in the UK focus on their clubs' early-season performances or discuss upcoming fall test matches, the battle for 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification continues unabated.

Chile's Historic Achievement

Chile secured their back-to-back appearance at the competition with a stunning playoff victory against Samoa recently, leaving only one place left to be claimed for Australia in two years. At the same time, Paraguay stunned Brazil by twenty points in the first leg of their qualifying series.

The return match is scheduled this Saturday in Jacareí, near São Paulo, as Brazil's men's team aims to follow the women's success and secure qualification for the first occasion.

Upcoming Qualifying Clash

Whether Paraguay manages a shock overall win, or Brazil recovers following manager Emiliano Caffera's departure, the participants for next month's Dubai qualification tournament will then be finalized. Namibia, the Belgian squad, and the Samoan side have already secured their places for the Dubai-based competition from 8-18 November.

Worldwide Qualifying Developments

Many other nations have likewise earned their spots. Hong Kong China achieved first-time World Cup entry following beating Korea by a large margin in July, and Zimbabwe will return to the sport's premier tournament for the first time in over three decades after claiming victory in the Rugby Africa Cup.

Chile's Rising Reputation

The knock-on effect of Chile's playoff success means that Los Condores will face Italy for the first time in November during the fall test series, replacing Samoa who must compete in Dubai.

The global governing body's chief executive described Chile an "exciting and rapidly rising force" in confirming the upcoming fixture in the Italian city. While local the sport promotional efforts aim for larger crowds, Chilean rugby is thriving. A capacity crowd of more than twenty thousand saw the playoff victory in Viña del Mar, and manager Pablo Lemoine has led the team on an improving path since his appointment in 2018.

Coach's Notable Career

The 50-year-old ex- Uruguay international prop has been making an impact for many years: recruited by Bristol in the 1990s, he famously broke through the English defense to touch down at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

His influence as head coach has been similarly powerful: Chile have risen to seventeenth place, their highest-ever ranking. During the last tournament in France, they were defeated in all matches, allowing over two hundred points and registering twenty-seven, featuring a 71-0 defeat against the English team.

Nevertheless, they proudly found the positive aspects, and after the tournament draw in Sydney on December 3rd, Lemoine can begin planning in earnest. They faced Scotland previously, defeated 52-11 before twenty-four thousand fans, and although they were beaten over two legs by the Uruguayan side in the first qualifying round, they achieved a 21-18 win on the road in Montevideo.

Samoa's Qualifying Struggle

The Samoan team, meanwhile, have not missed all Rugby World Cup since 1991, but are currently languishing in sixteenth position in the global rankings. They were winless in this year's regional tournament, leading to qualifying disappointment against Chile, and the requirement to face nations such as Belgium adds additional difficulty for the rugby-loving country.

Competition Format Changes

Beyond individual nations' fortunes, it is important to consider how different the expanded competition will look in the next edition. For the first occasion, there will be a knockout stage with six groups of four teams instead of four pools of five teams. Pool-stage risk is much lower because the top four third-placed teams will also advance.

Hosts and Standings Implications

The hosts, Australia, are now placed seventh in the world, meaning they would miss out on top seeding and could meet either South Africa, New Zealand, Ireland, the French, England, or the Pumas in Pool A. They could rise into the highest seeds during a busy November, however: England, the Italian side, the Irish squad, and France are their fixtures, with a game versus Japan in the capital additionally planned for October 25th.

Wales, on the other hand, are balanced in 12th, with the Japanese side behind, and the consequences of dropping to 13th and into the third seeding group are possibly severe.

American Presence and Upcoming Events

Another new dimension for 2027 is the presence of five teams from the American continent: Argentina, Uruguay, USA, the Canadian team, and Chile – with Paraguay or Brazil potentially becoming the sixth. From the governing body's perspective, engagement from the Americas is positive, especially with the 2031 tournament scheduled to be staged by the USA, and the selection process for the 2035 edition was launched last month.

Current Focus

First things first, however. The second installment of Brazil v Paraguay sets up a four-way Dubai shootout, combined with a potential rankings shake-up throughout Europe in the coming month. No matter the outcome, Chile's qualification for a second Rugby World Cup has already established them as a resounding success story.