The Revolutionary Rise of Chilean Rugby: From Adversity to the World Stage
On 16th July 2022 started the beginning of a dream that seemed impossible for Chile, as they qualified for their first Rugby World Cup.
Under a grey sky and torrential rain, the grass at Santa Laura Stadium in Santiago turned to mud as 10,000 fans in red jerseys cheered their country on, defying the freezing 5°C (41°F) temperature. Chile faced the United States for a spot in the Americas playoff. The match didn’t go as planned, with Chile narrowly losing 21-22.
In the second leg, “Los Cóndores”, a team identified today by many for its sacrifice and effort, made history. In Colorado, they staged one of the most memorable comebacks in South American rugby history.
In a match full of suffering, a penalty kick in the 75th minute sealed a 29-31 victory, securing their place in the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and beginning a revolutionary period of growth for Chilean rugby.
The Impact of the World Cup: Rugby as a New Topic of Conversation
Chile’s historic qualification transformed rugby in the country from a little-known sport into a topic of national conversation. Cristian Rudloff, President of the Chilean Rugby Federation, highlighted how the World Cup not only impacted players, but also helped inform and engage Chileans with the sport.
“Something that I talk about with ordinary people, friends, and authorities is that today you can talk about rugby in Chile. That is the biggest impact. Something that didn’t happen a year ago,” Rudloff said, reflecting on the newfound relevance of the sport.
Even though rugby had been played before in the country, the President of Rugby Chile stated: “Rugby in Chile is played everywhere, it is a sport that existed before. Participation in the World Cup gave us more visibility”.
Internal Challenges: From Dirt Courts to World Stadiums
With the qualification to the World Cup, more resources began to arrive, both from sponsors and the government. This allowed for training conditions to improve, from lacklustre to a professional standard.
Matías Garafulic, one of the team’s youngest players at the World Cup, recalled the stark contrast between past and present conditions.
“We trained on dirt courts until the World Cup. There were days when we simply could not train because the field was too hard, and many players suffered injuries due to overload. Now we train every day in better conditions,” Garafulic explained.
Thanks to these improvements, the team now benefits from high-quality synthetic fields, allowing them to train at a professional level.
From “Amateurs” to Professionals
Team captain Martin Sigren highlighted how the team had gone from a completely amateur side to a semi-professional team in just a few years. Sigren recalled the times when conditions were very different for Chile, as there was very little financial backing for the team.
“The changes have been radical,” Sigren remarked. “Before, it was an absolutely amateur team, because we were not paid, but because of the way things were done. Today, we have players who are part-time and full-time, with daily training. This allows us to have a level of preparation that did not exist before.”
However, conditions still do not allow players in Chile to make a living from the sport, so some must continue with their university studies or have a “secondary” job to generate more income.
The Historic Match Against Scotland: Rugby at the National Stadium
On July 20th, 2023, the progress of Chilean rugby was showcased when “Los Cóndores” played a test match against Scotland at Santiago’s National Stadium. This historic event marked the first time rugby had been played in the country’s premier sports venue, which is usually reserved for football.
With 25,000 fans in attendance, the match set a record for rugby spectators in Chile, reflecting the growing interest in the sport. Matías Garafulic expressed his pride at seeing the National Stadium, a symbolic space in Chilean sport, repurposed for rugby.
“It was crazy; you could hear the people.” Garafulic exclaimed. “The saying that the National Stadium is only for the football national team is false, it is the stadium of all Chileans.”
The centre expressed his joy at seeing so many Chilean fans accompanying the team to the World Cup, something that would’ve been almost non-existent for teams of years before.
“We didn’t imagine that so many people would arrive. Usually, it’s always our families and some fans, but I think 30,000 Chileans arrived in France, and of those, 30,000 in every game made us feel at home,” added the 24-year-old.
A Generational Change: The Dream of the Younger Ones
The impact of World Cup qualification has gone beyond visibility, inspiring future generations. For the captain, one of the most evident signs of this change was the transformation in how children feel and experience rugby in the country.
“I really appreciate that when I went to school at my club, you always wore the Pumas, All Blacks, or South Africa jersey. Today, when I go to the clubs and see the youth teams, what I see is the youngest players wearing the Selknam or Chile jerseys, and that gives you an idea of the switch that is taking place,” Sigren observed.
This change is symbolic, as young people who used to admire the great powers of world rugby can now identify with the colours of their own national team. The possibility of playing professional rugby in Chile, something that seemed distant in the past, is now a closer dream for these young fans.
