Uruguay dismisses coaches Ambrosio, Figallo a year from RWC 2027

The Unión de Rugby del Uruguay (URU) has terminated the contracts of Los Teros coaches Rodolfo Ambrosio and Juan Figallo, effective immediately. This decision comes just over a year before the Rugby World Cup 2027, with the URU citing dissatisfaction with the national team's direction.

Americas Rugby News reported the URU's confirmation that the two Argentines are no longer leading the men’s national team. Ambrosio was appointed Head Coach in 2024, with Figallo joining his staff later.

Underperformance Leads to Review

The coaching change follows an "embarrassing" home defeat against Hong Kong last month in Montevideo. While Uruguay's World Rugby Nations Cup performances at home were underwhelming, they occurred with a depleted player roster. The team lost to Georgia, drew with Romania, and was beaten by Hong Kong.

Both the URU and Ambrosio had sought an expanded player base, but results did not improve. The URU conducted a comprehensive review process involving the entire Uruguayan national rugby community, which led to the decision for a new strategic plan.

All-Uruguayan Coaching Staff Planned

Uruguayan Rugby expert Ignacio Chans noted that the new coaching staff is expected to be entirely Uruguayan. This fresh leadership will take over before the upcoming Americas Rugby Championship.

The 2026 Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) is scheduled for August 29 to September 6 in Chile. Following the withdrawals of Brazil and the USA Falcons XV due to scheduling and financial conflicts, the tournament was restructured into a four-team, straight round-robin format.

The participating teams include Argentina XV, Chile XV, Uruguay XV, and Paraguay, who will field their full test side. Uruguay's participation in this regional competition is a key early test for the incoming coaching staff.

Upcoming International Schedule

Beyond the ARC, Uruguay is set to travel to Europe in November for the final three rounds of the World Rugby Nations Cup. Los Teros have test matches scheduled against Zimbabwe on November 7, Spain on November 14, and Portugal on November 21.

These fixtures will provide further opportunities for the new coaching setup to implement their strategic vision and prepare for Rugby World Cup 2027. Readers can find world rugby coverage on these and other international tournaments.