Uruguay turn to former Rugby World Cup coach to lead them into new era

Uruguay have unveiled Guzmán Barreiro as head coach of Los Teros, with the former High Performance director replacing Argentinian Rodolfo Ambrósio in the role.

With one year to go before the next Rugby World Cup, the Uruguayan Rugby Union made significant changes to the coaching staff, entrusting Barreiro with full control over assembling a staff that reflects his vision for the national team.

Barreiro’s senior coaching career began in the early 2010s, when he joined Montevideo’s Old Christians Club, leading the club to three national titles before joining the union in 2016 as an assistant coach of Esteban Meneses team.

After helping Uruguay achieve their second-best run at a Rugby World Cup in 2019, he was named the union’s High Performance director, while also coaching the U20 side.

Barreiro played a key role in developing several generations of international players, many of whom will now work under his leadership.

Joining him is Los Teros legend Joaquín Pastore, who will serve as assistant coach, while recently retired Uruguay internationals Andrés Vilaseca and Gastón Mieres have also joined the coaching staff.

The union’s leadership sought to reinforce the structure with former players and key figures from Uruguayan rugby, strengthening ties between the national team and the grassroots level.

Uruguay’s ‘second’ team will be competing in the Americas Rugby Championship, facing the likes of Chile XV, Argentina XV and Paraguay, with Barreiro expected to oversee his first match since his appointment this Saturday.

However, the first real test will come in November when Uruguay heads to Europe to face Spain, Zimbabwe, and Portugal, currently sitting in last place in the Americas-Pacific pool of the World Rugby Nations Cup, alongside Canada, Tonga, and Samoa.

Los Teros secured qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup by defeating Chile in the Sudamérica Rugby play-off and were drawn in Pool C, alongside Portugal, Scotland, and Ireland.

Having already tasted the World Cup experience as an assistant coach, Barreiro will now take the reins as Uruguay prepares for its sixth appearance on rugby’s biggest stage.