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Hard work has paid off for Chile. Chile Rugby has been granted High Performance status and large investment from World Rugby. It is guaranteed for at least the next two years.
Rugby has been booming in the region. The creation of the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) means that six South American countries now have professional rugby teams. Chile’s SLAR entrant, Selknam reached the Semi Finals of the 2021 SLAR.
Plans are advanced for a second team from Chile to join the league. Indications are that it would be a team based out of the southern city of Concepcíon.
Chile Rugby’s High Performance plans have seen the union allocated £100,000 in 2021 and a further £100,000 in 2022. The funding is to be directed at critical factors as identified by World Rugby. Noted is that Rugby Chile has state governance, solid leadership, strong relations with the public and private sectors and a commitment to the High Performance program.
Chile Rugby has the stated objective of qualifying for RWC 2023. Chile has never qualified for a Rugby World Cup, though SLAR and performances in 2020 note that the dream is closer now than in prior RWC cycles.
The national Men’s team, Los Cóndores are presently preparing for their upcoming RWC qualification elimination match. Chile will face Colombia in a winner-takes-all encounter on Saturday, July 03. It will be a home game at the Estadio Elías Figueroa in Valparaíso.
