South American Qualifying Pathway for Rugby World Cup 2027

Americas Rugby News has learned the structure for South American teams ahead of the regional Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifiers. How will South American teams qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027? Due to results from France 2003, Argentina has qualified already. World Rugby’s forthcoming announcement of the global qualifying pathway will see South America given one spot. Two others could, in theory, also qualify.

Three South American countries competed at Rugby World Cup 2023 while Asia had one participant and North America zero. The changes decided upon by World Rugby do not allocate places for Australia 2027 in a manner representative of such competitiveness.

The qualifying process will be expanded compared to that for Rugby World Cup 2023. It will, however, be reduced when compared to that used for Rugby World Cup 2019. The qualifiers are to begin very soon; in August 2024.

The first round will see four teams competing in what are to be Semi Finals. They will be divided into two with Colombia vs Costa Rica in one bracket and Peru vs Venezuela in the other.

The second round will be played between August and October. It will be a triangular series between Brazil, Chile and Paraguay. Dates are yet to be finalized, though ARN has learned that one match will be played per month.

ARN understands that Brazil will have home advantage against Paraguay and face Chile away while Paraguay will play host to Chile. The top two placed teams from this triangular series will advance to face Uruguay in 2025.

The bottom placed side of Brazil, Chile and Paraguay will face the best team from round one in a subsequent qualifying match. The winner of that will join Uruguay and two other Sudamérica Rugby teams in the final round.

The competition is to utilize titles Bronze, Silver and Gold (in Spanish) for the different rounds. The Bronze Trophy will go to the winner of Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, and Venezuela. The Silver will be between Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay. Repechage will be Bronze winner vs Silver third. The Gold will be decided in 2025.

The winner of Gold will qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027 as Sudamérica Rugby 1. The Gold runner-up will enter a play-off against the bottom side from the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) in a play-off with the winner qualifying for Rugby World Cup 2027. This excludes Fiji and Japan who have already qualified for Australia 2027. In other words, the South American team will face the bottom side out of Canada, Samoa, Tonga and the USA.

The final place at Rugby World Cup 2027 will be decided in repechage. World Rugby’s Final Qualification tournament will include (a) the winner of Asia / Africa play-off, (b) Europe 5, (c) South America 3 and (d) the loser of the South America vs PNC play-off.

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