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As numerous supporters in the UK focus on their clubs' season-opening performances or discuss upcoming fall test matches, the contest for 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifying continues unabated.

Chile's Remarkable Achievement

Chile earned their back-to-back spot at the tournament with a stunning playoff victory over Samoa last month, leaving one remaining spot up for grabs for Australia in two years. Meanwhile, the Paraguayan side stunned Brazil by twenty points in the first leg of their playoff.

The return match is scheduled on Saturday in the Brazilian city, close to São Paulo, while Brazil's men's team aims to emulate their women's achievement and secure qualification for the first time.

Upcoming Qualifying Showdown

Whether Paraguay completes a shock overall victory, or Brazil recovers after manager their coach's recent dismissal, the lineup for November's Dubai qualification tournament will then be finalized. The Namibian team, the Belgian squad, and the Samoan side have already secured their places for the Middle Eastern competition from 8-18 November.

Global Qualification Developments

Many additional teams have likewise earned their places. The Hong Kong China team sealed maiden qualification following beating Korea by a large margin in July, and Zimbabwe will make a comeback to the sport's premier tournament for the first time since 1991 by virtue of winning the Rugby Africa Cup.

Chile's Growing Reputation

The knock-on effect of Chile's playoff success ensures that Los Condores will play against Italy for the first time next month during the fall test series, taking the place of Samoa who must compete in the Dubai tournament.

The global governing body's chief executive described Chile an "thrilling and rapidly rising power" in confirming the upcoming match in the Italian city. As local rugby markets seek larger crowds, rugby in Chile is buoyant. A capacity crowd of over 20,000 witnessed the playoff victory in the coastal city, and head coach the national coach has guided the squad on an upward trajectory since taking over in 2018.

Coach's Notable Career

The 50-year-old ex- Uruguayan forward has been making an impact for decades: signed by the English club in the late 90s, he famously ran straight through the English defensive line to touch down at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

His influence as head coach has been similarly powerful: Chile have climbed to 17th, their highest-ever ranking. At the previous tournament in Europe, they were beaten in all matches, conceding over two hundred points and scoring twenty-seven, featuring a 71-0 loss against England.

Nevertheless, they confidently took the positives, and following the tournament draw in Sydney on 3 December, Lemoine can start preparations in earnest. They hosted the Scottish team previously, defeated 52-11 before twenty-four thousand supporters, and although they were beaten over two legs by the Uruguayan side in the first qualifying round, they managed a narrow away victory in the Uruguayan capital.

The Samoan Qualification Struggle

The Samoan team, in contrast, have not missed every Rugby World Cup since 1991, but are presently languishing in sixteenth place in the global rankings. They were without a victory in this year's Pacific Nations Cup, resulting in qualifying disappointment against Chile, and the need to face nations such as Belgium adds additional difficulty for the proud rugby nation.

Competition Format Changes

Beyond individual nations' fortunes, it is worth noting how changed the expanded tournament will look in 2027. For the first time, there will be a knockout stage with six groups of four teams instead of four pools of five teams. Pool-stage risk is significantly reduced because the four best third-placed teams will also advance.

Host Nation and Rankings Implications

The organizers, the Australian team, are currently ranked seventh in the global rankings, which means they would fall short on a top seed and could meet either the Springboks, the All Blacks, the Irish, the French, England, or Argentina in their group. They may climb into the top six during a busy November, though: the English team, Italy, Ireland, and France are their opponents, with a game against the Japanese team in the capital additionally planned for 25 October.

Wales, on the other hand, are balanced in 12th, with Japan below, and the consequences of dropping to 13th and into pot three are potentially significant.

American Presence and Upcoming Events

An additional new dimension for 2027 is the presence of five nations from the Americas: Argentina, the Uruguayan side, the United States, the Canadian team, and the Chilean squad – with either Paraguay or Brazil potentially becoming the sixth. From World Rugby's perspective, American interest is beneficial, particularly with the 2031 World Cup set to be staged by the USA, and the selection process for the 2035 tournament was launched recently.

Current Priority

For now, however. The return match of Brazil versus Paraguay sets up a four-team Dubai shootout, combined with a potential standings change across Europe in November. Regardless of how things pan out, Chile's qualification for a second consecutive World Cup has already made them as a resounding triumphant example.