Crédito Foto: Prensa Chile Rugby

Chile’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Selection Radar – ARN Guide

Los Cóndores have a target for 2025: qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027 as South America 1. The pathway to making this happen is to win the South American Finals. Chile will face Brazil in the Semi Finals with the winner taking-on either Uruguay or Paraguay in the final. The prize is a place in Australia 2027.

Chile was the only Rugby World Cup debutant in France 2023. That was under the 20-team format. Expansion to 24 teams increases the chances of Chile qualifying. However, it is going to be easier said than done as South America have not been given any favors from World Rugby. The Asian Champions will qualify direct. This means a first time competitor. Chile overcame Canada and the USA to qualify for 2023.

The qualifiers will be the center of attention all year. On the field, though, the focus will begin with Super Rugby Americas which begins in February. Selknam will be jam-packed with Chilean test players; it is the same recipe that proved a differential in Chile’s qualifying campaign for France 2023.

This article analyses the picture now and who is and is not on Chile’s selection radar for the Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifiers.

 

CHILE – 2024 ALL STARTING PLAYERS

1 Javier Carrasco (9)
2 Augusto Böhme (7); Diego Escobar (2)
Iñaki Gurruchaga (8); Matías Dittus (1)
4 Santiago Pedrero (6); Clemente Saavedra (2); Bruno Sáez (1)
5 Javier Eissmann (5); Bruno Sáez (2); Clemente Saavedra (2) 
6 Martín Sigren (8); Alfonso Escobar (1)
7 Raimundo Martínez (5); Clemente Saavedra (3); Alfonso Escobar (1)
8 Alfonso Escobar (5); Ernesto Tchimino (2); Raimundo Martínez (1); Clemente Saavedra (1)
9 Benjamín Videla (6); Marcelo Torrealba (2); Lucas Berti (1)
10 Tomás Salas (5); Juan Cruz Reyes (2); Rodrigo Fernández (2)
11 Nicolás Garafulic (8); Matías Garafulic (1)
12 Santiago Videla (7); Nicolás Saab (2)
13 Domingo Saavedra (9)
14 Cristóbal Game (7); Clemente Armstrong (1); Matías Garafulic (1)
15 Luca Strabucchi (5); Iñaki Ayarza (2); Diego Warnken (1); Santiago Videla (1)

 

CHILE – 2024 MOST COMMON SELECTIONS

1 Javier Carrasco
2 Augusto Böhme
3 Iñaki Gurruchaga
4 Santiago Pedrero
5 Clemente Saavedra
6 Martín Sigren (capt.)
7 Raimundo Martínez
8 Alfonso Escobar
9 Benjamín VIdela
10 Tomás Salas
11 Nicolás Garafulic
12 Santiago Videla
13 Domingo Saavedra
14 Cristóbal Game
15 Luca Strabucchi

 

CHILE’S RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 QUALIFIERS RADAR

Pablo Lemoine took a thin roster with him to Europe for the 2024 November tour. A larger roster has been identified below. Players are listed across all positions based on their standings now at the start of the year. Additional names are included to attempt to also predict potential call-up’s if certain leading candidates happen to be injured or not available. The roster is followed by the projected Los Cóndores line-up to play in the South America 1 Final.

FORWARDS: 

LOOSE HEAD
1 Javier Carrasco (Selknam)
2 Vittorio Lastra (Rovigo, IT)
Standby: Salvador Lues (Selknam)

HOOKER
1 Diego Escobar (Racing 92, FR)
2 Augusto Böhme (NOLA Gold, US)
Standby: Jorge Delgado (Selknam)

TIGHT HEAD
1 Iñaki Gurruchaga (Selknam)
2 Matías Dittus (Sarlat, FR)
Standby: Baltazar Gurruchaga (Selknam)

SECOND-ROW
1 Javier Eissmann (Agen, FR)
2 Santiago Pedrero (Selknam)
3 Bruno Sáez (Selknam)
4 José Miguel Contreras (US Issoire, FR)
Standby: Augusto Sarmiento (Selknam)

BACK-ROW
1 Martín Sigren (Selknam)
2 Clemente Saavedra (Selknam)
3 Raimundo Martínez (Selknam)
4 Alfonso Escobar (Selknam)
5 Ernesto Tchimino (Selknam)
6 Joaquín Milesi Real Ciencias (ES)
Standby: Inti Ubeda (Selknam)

BACKS: 

SCRUM-HALF
1 Benjamín Videla (Selknam)
2 Marcelo Torrealba (Selknam)
Standby: Lucas Berti (Montpellier, FR)

FLY HALF
1 Rodrigo Fernández (Colorno, IT)
2 Tomás Salas (Selknam)
Standby: Juan Cruz Reyes (Los Tordos, AR)

CENTER
1 Santiago Videla (Miami Sharks, US)
2 Domingo Saavedra (Selknam)
3 Matías Garafulic (Selknam)
4 Nicolás Saab (Selknam)
Standby: Clemente Armstrong (Selknam)

WING
1 Nicolás Garafulic (Selknam)
2 Cristóbal Game (Selknam)
Standby: Franco Velarde (Selknam)

FULLBACK
1 Iñaki Ayarza (Vannes, FR)
2 Luca Strabucchi (Selknam)
Standby: Diego Warnken (Selknam)

 

PROJECTED CÓNDORES RWC 2027 QUALIFYING LINE-UP
# PLAYER TEAM POSITION CAPS
1 Javier Carrasco Selknam LH 29
2 Diego Escobar Racing 92 (FR) HK 12
3 Iñaki Gurruchaga Selknam TH 20
4 Javier Eissmann Agen (FR) LO 29
5 Santiago Pedrero Selknam LO 16
6 Martín Sigren (Capt.) Selknam FL 38
7 Clemente Saavedra Selknam FL/LO 31
8 Alfonso Escobar Selknam N8 27
9 Benjamín Videla Selknam SH 9
10 Rodrigo Fernández Colorno (IT) FH 29
11 Nicolás Garafulic Selknam WI 26
12 Santiago Videla Miami Sharks (US) CE/FH/WI 35
13 Domingo Saavedra Selknam CE 35
14 Matías Garafulic Selknam WI/CE 18
15 Iñaki Ayarza Vannes (FR) FB/CE 20

 

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Formally created in June 2015, this website's goal is to increase media exposure of the Tier 2 rugby nations, and create a hub with a focus on the stories of rugby in the Americas - North, Central and South.

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