Guilherme Coghetto establishes main Yaras goal: Women's Rugby World Cup 2029 qualification

With Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 already far gone in the rear window mirror, the Yaras have, for the last two months, quietly adjusted and tweaked themselves ahead of the WXV Global Series Challenger.

Now under the guidance of Guilherme Coghetto, recently appointed head coach of Brazil’s women’s national team, the Yaras are looking to the future, as he explains.

“The 2025 World Cup will always be a wonderful moment in our history, but we need to look forward and keep growing. If we want to win a game in a World Cup, we need to be more competitive, and for that the team needs to increase its output, be it physical, technical and psychological.”

Coghetto was unveiled as the Yaras‘ head coach in April, after years working as an assistant coach with them and the Cobras franchise, earning the chance to lead one of the biggest brands in Brazilian rugby.

With Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029 set as the ultimate goal for the next four years, Coghetto reveals what they sought to establish from day one.

“Our immediate goal was to establish a high-performance program that would meet the demands we would face from 2026 onwards, mainly with our inclusion in the WXV and our desire to qualify again for the World Cup,” the 34-year-old coach said.

“Although we couldn’t include everything we wanted, we are going in the right direction thanks to a joint effort from everyone in the Brazilian union.”

A former Brazil international himself, the now-head coach has a clear idea of the challenges that the Yaras and his country face in the next few years. For him, the last few years have been all about learning.

“While my duties and concerns as an assistant coach centred on the rugby itself, as head coach I now need to have a broader overview of everything, with my work extending beyond what happens on the field,” the former Tupi confided.

“I have to be concerned about nutrition, physiotherapy, player management, etc. It is a hefty challenge, but one that I’m enjoying.”

With his task of guiding the Yaras into the future, Coghetto feels optimistic about Brazil’s future, not only because of the team’s growth but also due to the development of a strong youth player pathway.

“Brazilian rugby is packed with talent and huge potential. The pathway for women in Brazil not only exists, but it is developing a good range of players, with the ‘Nina’ project spearheading this movement. Several of the former ‘Nina’ prospects have already debuted for the national team, and I believe it will be the Yaras backbone.”

For that talent to arrive at Test-match level better prepared, however, the standard of the domestic game must improve.

“We need the local game to grow and expand. We need to increase the number of games and give players a more competitive scene. The clubs are making a massive effort in that regard. The Tupís former head coach, Rodolfo Ambrósio used to say to us, ‘a player only gets better by playing’, and he is 100 per cent right.”

With an eye on the squad’s long-term renewal, the Brazil head coach has divided the next four years into two strategic phases, both crucial to the success of the project he now heads.

“We have split the next four-year cycle into two: the qualification for the 2029 Rugby World Cup; and getting ready for the World Cup. The most experienced players will be heavily involved in the first phase, while the newcomers will start to fill the ranks in the second one. We have a clear idea of the path ahead.”

With the road ahead still largely untraveled, Coghetto acknowledges the importance of establishing a solid foundation in every aspect – especially regarding the Yaras‘ playing style, an area that demands his particular attention.

“We have to take our culture and who we are into account. The Brazilian people are creative, dynamic, resilient, and intense. We want to embody that in our style of play; we want to play on instinct and improvisation, yet maintain strong, durable structures that won’t collapse. We want to be hard-workers, but also to jogar bonito [play with razzle and dazzle] as we say in Brazil.”

As the team begins to align with the vision of Coghetto and his staff, he hopes the WXV Global Series Challenger will allow the Yaras to experience something they only encountered in 2025, and which will be crucial for reaching 2029: exposure.

“That’s our goal for this WXV Global Series Challenger. We need the team to be exposed to high-level competition to understand exactly where we are right now. We want to win games, no doubt about it, but our sights are set beyond it, as we want to prepare the team for the World Cup qualification.”

Although Brazilian fans might be dreaming with a win or two, the head coach believes success at WXV in Hong Kong China should not be measured solely by results, but by the progress the Yaras have shown since 2025.

“Success for me at a WXV stage is if we have really made progress in the several areas that we’ve been working on for the last few months. Whether it is the scrum, lineout, ruck exit, or quick succession of phases, we want to take a step forward in those areas.”

Coghetto’s goal is to take the Yaras to a new level, one they deserve to reach not only because of their immense talent, but also because of their resilience and unwavering belief.

“My only goal is to help players reach their full potential. When I leave this position – whether it happens in four, eight or 12 years – I want to feel that I made a difference for the Yaras and that I somehow pushed them in the right direction.”

With rugby on his mind from dawn to dusk, Coghetto believes the sport has given him everything he has today, and he hopes to repay that gift by giving something back to the game.

“Rugby has and will always be my life. I met my wife because of rugby. I had my daughter because of rugby. I breathe, eat and think about the game every single minute. This sport or way of life has been an inspiration for my life, and that’s why it matters to me to help the Yaras in any way I can.”

For Coghetto, this opportunity means matching the dedication and passion the Yaras bring to representing Brazil, despite the daily challenges they face.

“To share my day-to-day life with these players, with these proud Yaras, is something reserved for a lucky few, and I am one of them. They have unique life stories that represent much more than just a sport. They are not afraid to push themselves beyond the limit; they embrace the effort and are willing to work at a level that few imagine.”

With their WXV debut scheduled for Sunday 13 September, Guilherme Coghetto is ready and confident for the challenges ahead because he knows he has the Yaras on his side.

“A Yara is the Brazilian woman. A warrior. Someone who believes in herself and someone imbued with a fighting spirit. Relentless, focused and hard-working. A Yara has the power to inspire others to believe that they can go the extra mile even when everyone says she won’t survive the journey.”