On September 6, 2025, Uruguay sealed their place in the Rugby World Cup 2027Australia with a heart-stopping 46-37 aggregate victory over Chile in the Sudamérica Rugby Championship 2025Montevideo final. The win wasn’t pretty—it was messy, physical, and decided by inches and nerve. But for a nation where rugby is more than a sport, it was everything.
The First Leg: A Foundation Built in Santiago
The story began on August 30, 2025, at Estadio Municipal de La Pintana in Santiago, where Uruguay stunned Chile 28-16. Four tries in the first half—by Juan Manuel Pérez, Mateo Kessler, Santiago Arata, and Ignacio Álvarez—put Uruguay in complete control. Felipe Etcheverry, their fly-half, converted all four and added a penalty to make it 25-13 before halftime. Chile fought back with a try from M. Garafulic and three penalties from Martín Videla, but it wasn’t enough. Even when Uruguay lost Ignacio Álvarez and Deus to yellow cards late, Chile couldn’t turn the tide. That 12-point cushion? It became the difference between glory and heartbreak."It’s a win, but it doesn’t mean anything yet," said Manuel Ardao, Uruguay’s captain and flanker, after that first leg. "We’ve only played the first half of the series." He wasn’t being humble. He was being realistic. And he was right.
The Second Leg: Desperation in Montevideo
Fast forward to September 6, 2025. Estadio Charrúa was electric. 22,000 fans, a sea of blue and white, roared as Chile came out like a team with nothing to lose. And they did. Dittus, Chile’s fullback, scored a hat-trick—two of them confirmed by the TMO after long reviews. By the 70th minute, Chile led 21-18. The aggregate was 37-37. The world held its breath.Uruguay’s defense, battered and bleeding, held. Ardao and Santiago Arata both went to the sin bin in the final six minutes, leaving Uruguay with just 13 men. Chile had a golden chance. They pressed, they drove, they kicked for the corner. But Uruguay’s forwards—led by Arata, the veteran lock who’s now been part of four consecutive World Cup qualifiers—stood like a wall. No try. No breakthrough. The final whistle blew. Montevideo exploded.
"We’ve done this before," said Arata afterward, sweat dripping, jersey torn. "2015. 2019. 2023. This ground knows what we’re capable of. This time, we didn’t need magic. We just needed grit."
Why This Matters Beyond the Scoreline
This isn’t just about Uruguay qualifying for their fifth straight World Cup. It’s about the evolution of rugby in South America. For the first time, the winner of the Sudamérica Rugby Championship 2025 earns an automatic berth as Sudamérica 1. Chile, as runner-up, now enters the high-stakes South America/Pacific Play-offAmerica First Field against the lowest-ranked team from the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2025—likely Canada, Samoa, Tonga, or the USA. The winner goes to Australia. The loser? They join Brazil, Belgium, Namibia, and the Pacific loser in the Final Qualification TournamentTBD in November.That’s the brutal reality. Only one team from that four-team round-robin gets the last spot. The others? Their World Cup dreams end in a hotel room in some unnamed city, watching the draw on TV.
The Legacy of Estadio Charrúa
Estadio Charrúa has become Uruguay’s rugby cathedral. It’s where they qualified for the 2015, 2019, and 2023 tournaments. It’s where they beat Fiji in 2019—a 30-27 upset that still gives fans goosebumps. Now, it’s where they did it again. No stars. No million-dollar contracts. Just a squad of professionals, students, and factory workers who train after work, who fly economy to away games, who know every tackle matters.Chile, meanwhile, will fight on. Their players, young and fearless, showed they’re no longer just a development team. They’re a threat. But in rugby, as in life, sometimes the margin between greatness and heartbreak is a single yellow card… or a missed conversion.
What’s Next?
Uruguay will now prepare for the World Cup draw in December 2025, likely facing traditional powerhouses like England, South Africa, or New Zealand. But they won’t be intimidated. They’ve earned their place. And in rugby, that means something.Chile’s next test comes on September 20 in Salt Lake City, then back to Santiago on the 27th. The stakes? Everything. Meanwhile, Brazil—third in the Sudamérica Championship—will train harder than ever. They know they’re one win away from the Final Qualification Tournament. And they’re not giving up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Uruguay qualify for RWC 2027 despite losing the second leg?
Uruguay won the first leg 28-16, giving them a 12-point aggregate advantage. Even though Chile won the second leg 21-18, the combined score was 46-37 in Uruguay’s favor. Rugby World Cup qualifiers use aggregate scoring across two legs, not just the result of the final match. That first-leg cushion proved decisive.
Who are Uruguay’s next opponents in RWC 2027?
The draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup pools happens in December 2025. Uruguay will be seeded based on their World Rugby ranking, likely placing them in a pool with teams like England, South Africa, or New Zealand. Their recent history—especially their 2019 win over Fiji—shows they thrive as underdogs, and they’ll be ready for any challenge.
What happens to Chile if they lose the South America/Pacific Play-off?
If Chile loses the two-legged play-off against Canada, Samoa, Tonga, or the USA, they’ll enter the Final Qualification Tournament in November 2025. There, they’ll face Brazil, Belgium, Namibia, and the loser of the Pacific/South America tie. Only one team from that group qualifies for RWC 2027. It’s a brutal path, but not impossible.
Why is Uruguay’s qualification significant for South American rugby?
This is the first time the winner of the Sudamérica Rugby Championship earns an automatic spot in the Rugby World Cup as Sudamérica 1. It signals growing recognition of South America’s competitiveness. Uruguay’s consistent success is raising the bar for Chile, Brazil, and Argentina’s second-tier teams, pushing the entire region toward professionalism and global relevance.
How did Uruguay’s forwards contribute to the win?
Santiago Arata and the forward pack dominated the set pieces and breakdowns, especially in the first leg. Their scrum and lineout efficiency gave Uruguay consistent ball, allowing Etcheverry to control the game. In the second leg, despite being down to 13 men, their discipline and physicality prevented Chile from scoring a decisive try. Experience won the day.
What’s the next major rugby event for Uruguay?
Uruguay’s next major event is the World Cup draw in December 2025, followed by intensive preparation for the 2027 tournament. They’ll likely play a series of warm-up matches against Tier 1 nations in early 2027. Meanwhile, their domestic league, the Liga Uruguaya de Rugby, will see increased investment as the country looks to build depth for the long-term.
