Chile has named a competitive roster for the World Rugby Nations Cup. The South Americans will play three home test matches against fellow Rugby World Cup 2027 competitors. The Nations Cup has been organized by World Rugby to prepare the teams ranked outside of the Top 12 for the Australia hosted tournament next year.
The Chileans open their Nations Cup campaign in Santiago on July 04 against Romania. Next up on July 11 will be the match against Hong Kong in Viña del Mar before the toughest assignment of facing Georgia on July 18 in La Serena.
Pablo Lemoine has assembled a roster that runs deep. There are multiple options across a range of positions and both established names and options for the immediate future as the countdown to Rugby World Cup 2027 heats-up.
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
Hooker Augusto Böhme is missing from the roster as is flanker Martín Sigren who has been battling injuries. Böhme was Selknam’s regular hooker in Super Rugby Americas 2026. Raimundo Martínez returns from Bourgoin in France to bolster the roster options. He is includes covering both hooker and flanker. N8 Joaquín Milesi is also notably absent.
Vittorio Lastra, who has secured his playing future in France, is not on the roster. There are uncapped props included covering both loose head and tight head with Emilio Shea and Baltazar Gurruchaga both change their first caps. Both players are no strangers to Chile rosters.
In terms of the backs three names stand out as missing. First, scrum-half Benjamín Videla is not on the roster. He debuted for Chile against Samoa at Rugby World Cup 2023. Second, fly half Tomás Salas will not feature. He has played for Chile in big matches before including starting against Scotland in 2024. Third, the experienced Nicolás Garafulic will not add to his 32 caps this July.
 CHILE ROSTER – FORWARDS |
LOOSE HEAD PROP
Norman Aguayo (Selknam, 6 caps)
Javier Carrasco (Selknam (37 caps)
Salvador Lues (Selknam, 33 caps)
Emilio Shea (Selknam, uncapped)
HOOKER
Jorge Delgado (Selknam, 1 cap)
Diego Escobar (Racing 92, FR, 19 caps)
Raimundo Martínez (Selknam, 29 caps)
TIGHT HEAD PROP
Matías Dittus (Annonay, FR, 39 caps)
Baltazar Gurruchaga (Selknam, uncapped)
Iñaki Gurruchaga (Selknam, 28 caps)
SECOND-ROW
Javier Eissmann (Agen, FR, 37 caps)
Santiago Pedrero (Selknam, 24 caps)
Bruno Sáez (Selknam, 11 caps)
Max Schlesinger Cifuentes (Selknam, uncapped)
Santiago Valenzuela (Selknam, 1 cap)
BACK-ROW
Alfonso Escobar (Selknam, 35 caps)
Clemente Saavedra (Selknam, 39 caps)
Ernesto Tchimino (Selknam, 11 caps)
Augusto Villanueva (Selknam, 2 caps)
| CHILE ROSTER – BACKS |
SCRUM-HALF
Lucas Berti (Selknam, 10 caps)
Juan Sebastián Bianchi (Selknam, 1 cap)
Marcelo Torrealba (Selknam, 22 caps)
FLY HALF
Rodrigo Fernández (Selknam, 34 caps)
Juan Cruz Reyes (Selknam, 12 caps)
CENTER
Rodrigo Araya (Selknam, uncapped)
Martín Escobar (Selknam, uncapped)
Matías Garafulic (Selknam, 26 caps)
Nicolás Saab (Selknam, 9 caps)
Domingo Saavedra (Selknam, 37 caps)
Santiago Videla (Chicago Hounds, US, 43 caps)
WING
Marco Alvano (Selknam, uncapped)
Clemente Armstrong (Selknam, 4 caps)
Manuel Bustamante (Selknam, uncapped)
FULLBACK
Iñaki Ayarza (Oyonnax, FR, 27 caps)
Cristobal Game (Selknam, 12 caps)
Felipe Méndez (Selknam, uncapped)
Luca Strabucchi (Selknam, 6 caps)
| CHILE JULY FIXTURES – WORLD RUGBY NATIONS CUP |
- July 4, 2026: Chile vs Romania
- July 11, 2026: Chile vs Hong Kong
- Time: 18:00 Local Time
- Venue: Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile
- July 18, 2026: Chile vs Georgia