Uruguay powered past Paraguay on Saturday to advance in Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifying. Los Teros were 78-10 winners in Montevideo in the second of two matches between the sides. Having won game one 38-0 in Asunción, Uruguay successfully advance to the South American Final against Chile with an aggregate score of 116-10 against the Paraguayans.
Paraguay started with a spark. Having won an attacking penalty, Los Yakares kicked for field position and won an attacking lineout. They went right looked dangerous; Uruguay’s defense was genuinely tested. Los Teros held on and threatened toe score at the other end.
Uruguay’s first scoring opportunity was taken only to be chalked-off for a knock-on. Paraguay were relieved; albeit only temporarily. Two subsequent attacks from Los Teros saw N8 Carlos Deus scoring twice. Santiago Álvarez converted both.
Paraguay fought back to open their scoring with a penalty; however, a determined Uruguay made sure that they were in control. Backs Ícaro Amarillo, Juan Gonzalez, Felipe Arcos Pérez and Santiago Álvarez all scored tries to give Uruguay a 42-3 lead late in the half.
Paraguay had the final say with two tries, the first of which was disallowed. It saw the clock go well beyond the regulation 40 minutes and Agustín Benítez ultimately scoring Paraguay’s one try of the afternoon.
Ignacio Álvarez Akiki scored two second half tries while Carlos Deus and Juan Gonzalez both added to their earlier scores. Additional Uruguay tries went to Bautista Amaya and replacement hooker Guillermo Pujadas. Amaya also took over the goal-kicking and proved to be very good.
| AUSTRALIA 2027 – SOUTH AMERICAN RWC QUALIFYING PICTURE |
Uruguay and Paraguay started their Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifying campaigns at different times. Uruguay’s regular participation in Rugby World Cups, results and ranking saw Los Teros starting this year. In contrast, Paraguay, who have never qualified for a Rugby World Cup, competed in South American qualifiers in 2024.
Paraguay secured a spot in the final round of the South American qualifiers for Rugby World Cup 2027.Los Yacarés did so with a record win over Colombia in October. The 49-18 victory saw Paraguay securing the final spot in the Sudamericano 2025 alongside Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.
The result saw Colombia eliminated. Los Tucanes booked their spot against Paraguay by being crowned champions of the third tier of South America. It involved a Four Nations competition, which also featured countries from Central America, with Colombia being joined joined Costa Rica, Peru and Venezuela.
Colombia won the tournament with comfortable wins over Costa Rica and Venezuela. Los Tucanes’ 50-05 win over Venezuela meant Colombia advanced to face Paraguay with Costa Rica, Peru and Venezuela all eliminated.
Paraguay’s pathway to facing Colombia began in the Southern Cone against Chile and Brazil. Los Cóndores and Os Tupis both won Rugby World Cup Qualifiers against Paraguay to book their spots alongside Uruguay in the South American Semi Finals. Paraguay claimed the remaining spot with the aforementioned win over Colombia.
Either Uruguay or Chile will be the Sudamericano 2025 champion. That team will qualify for Rugby World Cup 2027 as South America 1, joining Argentina as the second South American competitor confirmed in the Australia hosted tournament.
The runner-up of the Sudamericano 2025 will face the bottom team from the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup in a winner goes to the Rugby World Cup clash. The third placed team from the Sudamericano 2025 will advance to the Final Place Play-Off tournament to determine the 24th competitor at the World Cup.
- Uruguay advance to face Chile in the South American Final. Los Cóndores will host Game 1 in at the Estadio de La Pintana on August 30.
- Felipe Aliaga captained Uruguay for the first time.
- Carlos Deus scored a hat-trick for Uruguay.
- Mateo Sanguinetti earned his 94th cap. He is on track to be the second Uruguayan Centurion.
- Manuel Rosmarino debuted for Uruguay.
- Juan Martín Sebriano and Patricio Cabrera debuted for Paraguay.
- Uruguay remains unbeaten against Paraguay.
URUGUAY (78)
TRY – C Deus (3), Í Amarillo, J González (2), F Arcos Pérez, S Álvarez, I Álvarez Akiki (2), B Amaya, G Pujadas
CON – S Álvarez (7), B Amaya (2)
PARAGUAY (10)
TRY – A Benítez
CON – J Mussi
PEN – J Mussi
URUGUAY
1 Mateo Sanguinetti, 2 Facundo Gattas, 3 Reinaldo Piussi, 4 Felipe Aliaga, 5 Ignacio Dotti, 6 Santiago Civetta, 7 Lucas Bianchi, 8 Carlos Deus, 9 Santiago Álvarez, 10 Ícaro Amarillo, 11 Ignacio Álvarez Akiki, 12 Andrés Vilaseca, 13 Felipe Arcos Pérez, 14 Baltazar Amaya, 15 Juan González
Replacements: 16 Guillermo Pujadas, 17 Francisco Suárez, 18 Ignacio Péculo, 19 Manuel Rosmarino, 20 Manuel Ardao, 21 Juan Manuel Taffernaberry, 22 Joaquín Suárez, 23 Juan Manuel Alonso
PARAGUAY
1 Daniel Cabral, 2 Agustín Benítez, 3 Enrique Quinteros, 4 Juan José Heisecke, 5 Mariano Garcete (capt.), 6 Juan Martín Sebriano, 7 Ariel Núñez, 8 Francisco Bareiro, 9 Gonzalo Bareiro, 10 Joaquín Mussi, 11 Juan González, 12 Sebastian Urbieta, 13 Ramiro Amarilla, 14 Facundo Paiva, 15 Arturo López
Replacements: 16 Lucas Otaño, 17 Cesar Pérez, 18 Estefano Aranda, 19 Camilo Blasco, 20 Adrian Léon, 21 Diego Miño, 22 Rafael Bareiro, 23 Patricio Cabrera
Video: to Follow
Referee: Damian Schneider (AR)
Assistant Referees: Tomás Ninci (AR); Federico Solari (AR)
TMO: Ignacio Calle (AR)
