Guzmán Barreiro Appointed Uruguay Rugby Coach for 2027 World Cup

Guzmán Barreiro is the new head coach of Uruguay's national rugby team, the 'Teros,' tasked with guiding the South American squad into the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The Uruguayan Rugby Union confirmed Barreiro's appointment, succeeding Rodolfo Ambrosio, who recently stepped down after leading the team since 2024. Barreiro's selection signals a new chapter for the team, with a focus on embodying the core values and identity of Uruguayan rugby.

The coaching staff will include Joaquín Pastore, Andrés Vilaseca, Gastón Mieres, Alberto Román, Nicolás Grille, Federico Capó, and Nicolás Brignoni. Additionally, Felipe Berchesi and Agustín Ormachea will oversee the monitoring of players based in Europe. The Union stated that the new process, featuring a significant presence of former players who represented Uruguay in historic matches, aims to be a true reflection of the nation's rugby spirit.

Ambrosio's tenure, which began in 2024, saw Uruguay win the 2025 South American Championship, securing their fourth consecutive qualification for the Rugby World Cup. This streak includes appearances in 2015, 2019, and 2023. The decision to change coaches was made after an analysis aimed at involving the entire national rugby community in a new strategic plan for all representative teams.

In their most recent matches in July, the Teros experienced mixed results, losing 42-40 at home to Hong Kong in the World Rugby Nations Cup, but previously defeating Romania and losing to Georgia. These results placed Uruguay at 18th in the World Rugby Rankings. Barreiro now faces the challenge of building on this foundation and preparing the team for the significant test of the 2027 World Cup.