Brazil Advance to Final Qualifying Tournament as Paraguay Crash Out of World Cup
Rugby NewsFriday, 24 October 2025 at 12:37
Paraguay’s journey towards their first-ever Rugby World Cup has come to an abrupt and painful end — before the team could even step onto the field for the Final Qualification Tournament.
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Los Yacares had earned their spot in the decisive tournament — which will determine the 24th and final qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia — after a thrilling two-legged victory over South American rivals Brazil. Paraguay triumphed 39–19 in the first match and sealed the deal with a 31–24 win in the return leg, securing a 70–43 aggregate result that sparked celebrations across the nation.
But those celebrations were short-lived.
In a stunning twist, the Paraguayan Rugby Union (URP) discovered that the team had unknowingly fielded an ineligible player during both matches. Upon realising the error, Paraguay made the difficult decision to withdraw from the competition entirely.
As a result, Brazil — the team they had defeated — will now take Paraguay’s place in the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai, joining Samoa, Namibia, and Belgium. Both Brazil and Belgium are yet to make their Rugby World Cup debuts and will enter the tournament as underdogs among the experienced sides.
In a statement confirming the development, World Rugby said:
“World Rugby can confirm that Brazil will replace Paraguay at the Final Qualification Tournament for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Dubai (8–18 November) as a consequence of Paraguay withdrawing from the competition, having discovered that they fielded an ineligible player in the recent play-off matches between the two teams.
“World Rugby welcomes Paraguay’s voluntary admission of fault and accepts the explanation that an administration oversight led to the fielding of an ineligible player for both qualifiers against Brazil.”
Paraguayan Rugby Union President Gustavo Borgognon expressed deep regret over the situation but emphasised the importance of integrity in the sport.
“This is a difficult moment for our team and our community, but it’s a decision we must make as men of principle, in keeping with rugby’s core value of integrity,” Borgognon said.
“The Regulation 8 provision on player eligibility was misunderstood; there was no attempt to gain a sporting advantage, and we accept responsibility for the resulting consequences.”
“The Regulation 8 provision on player eligibility was misunderstood; there was no attempt to gain a sporting advantage, and we accept responsibility for the resulting consequences.”
Despite the disappointment, Borgognon praised the progress made by Paraguayan rugby and the people behind it.
“On behalf of the Paraguayan Rugby Union, I extend our deepest gratitude to everyone whose dedication brought this sporting milestone to life. Rugby in Paraguay has advanced significantly through sustained effort and commitment. Our high-performance programmes are producing results, and by continuing to work together we will recover and keep growing the sport we love.”
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