Chile Prepares for 2027 Rugby World Cup with Ambitious Vision Amid Challenges
Chile will compete in the 2027 Rugby World Cup, drawn in a pool with Australia, New Zealand, and debutants Hong Kong as part of an expanded format featuring four teams per pool. They secured their spot by defeating Samoa in a playoff.
Head coach Pablo Lemoine stresses a broad development and social-impact vision that should accompany World Cup participation. He acknowledges the difficulty in securing tickets against top teams, affecting fan access. Training takes place at Parque Mahuida in Santiago, around 1,000 meters above sea level, where connectivity challenges require the use of satellite internet.
The new World Cup structure provides tier-2 nations like Chile a chance to reach the last 16 by winning at least one pool match, shaping Chile's strategic approach and mindset when facing stronger opponents. Lemoine remains realistic about the outcomes against rugby powerhouses Australia and New Zealand, focusing instead on fostering belief and promoting high-performance standards within the team.
Former coach Mark Cross credits Lemoine with professionalizing Chile's rugby setup and transforming the sport's landscape in the country. Lemoine himself was the first Uruguayan to play professionally in Europe, joining Bristol in 1998. He emphasizes core values of honesty, humility, respect, and ambition, noting he never earned income from rugby while playing in Uruguay.
Lemoine criticizes World Rugby's funding as insufficient for Chile's needs and calls for greater support to develop the game. He endorses expansive growth initiatives like those proposed by Agustín Pichot and points to significant growth potential in emerging markets including China, India, and Pakistan.
