Rugby World Cup team remove head coach 14 months out from tournament

Uruguay head coach Rodolfo Ambrosio and assistant coach Juan Figallo have lost their jobs just over one year out from Rugby World Cup 2027.

Following a disappointing opening month in the World Rugby Nations Cup, in which the team won only one game, the board reviewed the work of Ambrosio and Figallo, and both parties agreed to part ways.

Ambrosio, who had previously held the Brazilian Tupís head coach position, joined Uruguay in 2024 after Esteban Meneses opted not to extend his stay after more than a decade working with the Teros.

In a short statement published on the official website of the Uruguay Rugby Union, the board said. “The decision was made following an analysis to have the entire national rugby community enthusiastically engage with the new strategic plan for all the national teams representing the Uruguay Rugby Union.”

Although the coaching staff made a promising start, highlighted by a competitive 43-28 defeat to France in their debut Test, Uruguay suffered several disappointing setbacks over the past 12 months.

The shock 42-40 loss to Hong Kong China ultimately proved to be the final nail in the coffin, with the board opting to change their coaching staff one year before the Rugby World Cup.

Uruguay qualified for Australia 2027 after defeating Chile on aggregate, securing a spot in the competition for the sixth time in their history. Unfortunately for Ambrosio, his record as Uruguay’s head coach was far from positive, with Los Teros conceding 10 losses in 16 Test Matches.

The only highlights were victories over Chile, Portugal, and Romania in the last three years. However, the past year has been difficult for Los Teros, with several of their top players making themselves unavailable, weakening the squad and ultimately affecting the team’s results on the field.

The union has yet to announce a replacement, leaving uncertainty over who will lead the national team into the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Drawn in Pool D with Ireland, Scotland and Portugal, Los Teros are scheduled to open their campaign on October 3, 2027, with fans holding high hopes of the team qualifying for the knockout stages.