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All of the Rugby World’s eyes are on Chile in 2023. Los Cóndores’ qualification for the Rugby World Cup is what is new about France 2023. How the Chileans qualified is what others’ seeking to qualify ought to scrutinize over deeply.
An article published by World Rugby last week was titled: Netherlands can ‘do a Chile’ and reach future Rugby World Cups. It was a quote from Netherlands head coach Lyn Jones. The 58-year-old is highly experienced to make such a statement in confidence.
Jones played for Wales and as a coach he has been in charge of a range of teams including Ospreys, Welwitschias, and London Welsh. He coached Russia at Rugby World Cup 2019 and coached the side that Chile defeated in Russia in November 2021. He is now the head coach of the Netherlands.
Not only did Chile’s players, staff and supporters commemorate Los Cóndores qualification, the achievement was celebrated in Chile off the field. However, replicating it is no walk in the park. In covering Chile’s qualification a local reporter noted that the Rugby World Cup is such a closed group of participants.
The quest to ‘do a Chile’ is multifaceted. How did Chile do it? There was an acceptance that the model needed to be changed. Chile Rugby President Cristian Rudloff oversaw changes. Rudloff took over at a time when Chile was amateur and losing by big scores.
Chile lost 71-8 at home against the USA in the 2019 Americas Rugby Championship. The next match between the countries was far closer; the Eagles won 22-21 in Santiago. That was the first of two RWC 2023 qualifiers. Los Cóndores needed to win by two or more which they did with Santiago Videla securing a 31-29 victory in Glendale, Colorado.
The turn-around saw Chile working together with South American neighbors. The Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) saw Chile’s test players, the vast majority of whom were home-based, competing against teams from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The players were training more than ever and playing at a higher level that prepared them for the challenge of Rugby World Cup qualifiers. Rudloff also brought in a new head coach, someone who had been there before. The arrival of Uruguayan Pablo Lemoine was a masterstroke.
The High Performance Center and Selknam were Chile’s pathway. There was no scouting the world for players eligible via a grandparent nor of any test players with Chilean heritage who could change allegiance. Yet, 91% of Samoa’s roster at RWC 2019 were not homegrown and Chile face Samoa at RWC 2023. In short, it was Chile breaking through via hard work with South American collaboration.
Comparisons can be made between SLAR and the Rugby Europe Super Cup. Both consist of teams from within their respective regions. Chile has Selknam and the Netherlands has Delta. Both are the bridge between amateur systems and the test arena.
The Rugby Europe Super Rugby features teams from Belgium, Georgia, Israel, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain and formerly Russia. Georgia, Portugal, Romania, and Spain all qualified for RWC 2023. Spain miss out which enabled Portugal to eventually qualify.
Did the competition help Portugal qualify for their first RWC since 2007? Likely, as fifteen Lusitanos XV players were on the Lobos roster that qualified for RWC 2023. The Portuguese team had a 5-1 record in the 2022 season while Delta went 1-5.
Meanwhile, Spain’s new leadership has an affinity with Sudamérica Rugby. Juan Carlos Martín Sánchez ‘Hansen’ is a close ally of Agustín Pichot and of the governing body. The relationship with the independent KiwiHouse and the securing of The Match between Spain and Argentina before RWC 2023 speak volumes.
All of the Rugby World’s Eyes will be on Chile in 2023. A first-time team on the grandest stage of them all gives supporters something new. How it was achieved and the short timeframe it took gives unions insight.
