Chile's national rugby team coach, Pablo Lemoine, has offered a characteristically insightful and pragmatic reaction to his side's daunting draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
A Daunting Draw and a Pragmatic Vision
Los Cóndores, who made their tournament debut in France in 2023, have been placed in Pool A alongside the mighty All Blacks of New Zealand and the Wallabies of Australia, as well as fellow debutants Hong Kong. Speaking from Chile's high-altitude training base in Santiago, the former Uruguay prop acknowledged the sporting thrill of the fixture while highlighting the practical challenges.
"Thinking only of sport it's fantastic – it's awesome," Lemoine said. "But thinking of the real impact Chile needs: development programmes, political impact, social impact … for our fans, it's much more difficult to find tickets when you play the All Blacks or Australia."
Lemoine, who played professionally for Bristol and Stade Français, has now steered Chile to two consecutive World Cups. For the 2027 tournament, he immediately identified the pivotal clash. "Our final is Hong Kong," he stated, targeting what would be Chile's first-ever World Cup victory.
New Format Offers a 'Magic' Chance for Emerging Nations
The 50-year-old coach was full of praise for the competition's new enlarged format, which will feature pools of four teams and see four third-placed sides advance to a last-16 knockout stage. He believes this structural change is transformative for Tier 2 nations like Chile.
"To have a chance to qualify by winning one game … half a chance is already magic, you know?" Lemoine explained. "It's a huge difference to the old format… Now you could win one game and qualify. That's a huge difference in the minds of Tier 2 countries."
He confirmed that this possibility would "definitely" alter his tactical approach against the pool's heavyweights, even while remaining realistic about the likelihood of a positive result against rugby's traditional powerhouses.
A Call for Support and a Warning for the Sport's Health
Despite Chile's historic achievements, Lemoine was blunt about the level of support from the game's global governing body. When asked if he felt supported by World Rugby, his answer was a simple "No."
He revealed that funding for Chile's high-performance system has remained static for three years, a situation he finds unacceptable for a nation preparing for a World Cup. "I'm not happy with that but we will keep fighting," he added.
Lemoine's concerns extend beyond the challenges facing developing nations. He pointed to systemic issues within the sport's heartlands, suggesting rugby's growth model is flawed.
"It's clearly in trouble even in countries like Wales – famous rugby countries. It doesn't work," he warned. "The biggest countries in the world don't play rugby. In China, India and Pakistan there are billions of potential fans."
Reflecting on his own career, which saw him become the first Uruguayan to play professionally in Europe, Lemoine identified the core values he instils in his squad: humility, respect, and ambition. His journey from a non-English speaking newcomer at Bristol to a World Cup-qualifying coach underscores the potential for growth in emerging rugby nations, provided they receive the necessary backing to build on their momentum.
