{"id":79659,"date":"2025-08-19T10:18:07","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T10:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/79659\/"},"modified":"2025-08-19T10:18:07","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T10:18:07","slug":"brazil-aim-to-make-waves-at-their-first-womens-rugby-world-cup-womens-rugby-world-cup-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/79659\/","title":{"rendered":"Brazil aim to make waves at their first Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup | Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sixteen. That is how many Tests Brazil\u2019s women\u2019s rugby team has played, just six more than England played in 2024 alone. The Yaras have recorded five wins but one of those was history-making: a first victory against Colombia last June that secured qualification for the Rugby World Cup. They will be the first South American country at the women\u2019s tournament and the first Brazil<\/a> team, male or female, to compete in rugby\u2019s global showpiece. \u201cIt is incredible,\u201d says their captain, Eshyllen Coimbra.<\/p>\n

The remarkable story began in 2008 with their first international match. Brazil lost 10-0 to the Netherlands in what would be their sole fixture before an 11-year hiatus, mainly due to a lack of regional opponents. Brazil\u2019s union focused on women\u2019s sevens and rugby league before the 15s team was revived in 2019. One of the main reasons for doing so was the potential for World Cup qualification.<\/p>\n

For the 2021 tournament (staged in 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic) Brazil were beaten by Colombia in\u00a0a\u00a0qualifier, the victors going on to lose to Scotland in a playoff. However, for the expanded 2025 tournament, South America was granted a guaranteed qualification spot. That place was decided in a winner-takes-all encounter between Brazil and Colombia.<\/p>\n

Brazil came away with a convincing 34-13 victory in which Coimbra was one of the try-scorers. The captain was emotional when the full-time whistle blew, but World Cup qualification was not the first thing on her mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a very unbelievable thing to win the game against Colombia because we had about six or seven losses before that game, it was the first time we won,\u201d says Coimbra, who has a full-time player contract with Brazil and is also studying journalism. \u201cI wasn\u2019t thinking about the Rugby World Cup, it was the first win, and I couldn\u2019t believe it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI started to think about the World Cup the next day and I just thought: \u2018I cannot believe I am in the tournament.\u2019 I\u2019m so glad we made it and it is incredible to achieve it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The playoff was just the second win in the team\u2019s history, the first coming against Portugal in December 2023. Emiliano Caffera took charge just after the Portugal victory and the head coach, who is also in charge of the men\u2019s team, focused on developing the players\u2019 skills for the 15-a-side game, with many of the players transitioning from sevens.<\/p>\n

He says: \u201cAll of the skills of sevens start the preparation for 15s. I had to work on the weaknesses which were the scrum, maul, defence and kicking game. We really focused there. The scrum-half, the No 10s, didn\u2019t have the knowledge of 15s, so we had to start from scratch \u2026 that was the key to start making that history that we didn\u2019t have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many of the squad also bring rugby league knowledge. One of the most experienced players is Edna Santini, who is poised to become the first player to appear at a Rugby World Cup, Rugby World Cup Sevens, Sevens World Series, Olympic Games and a Rugby League World Cup.<\/p>\n

The 33-year-old says: \u201cIt is a very important personal milestone. Having the opportunity to play each tournament is really meaningful to me. To conquer everything with Brazil rugby, it\u2019s so important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edna Santini has already appeared in a Rugby League World Cup and an Olympic Games. Photograph: fotojump<\/p>\n

Santini and the rest of squad are keen to make it clear they are not at the 2025 tournament just to make up the numbers. They want to make an impact, while acknowledging the difficulty of their pool.<\/p>\n

Pool D contains South Africa, Italy and France, three opponents they have never played, all of whom will be favourites. Positive results may be difficult to come by so what will success look like? The message is clear throughout the squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an opportunity to show the Brazilian way to play rugby,\u201d Coimbra says. \u201cWe want to do our best, without looking at results. We want to surprise people and make people see what Brazil rugby is about. Each game there are expectations to play the best rugby we can but the main goal is to show Brazilian rugby for the first time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Santini says: \u201cBrazil being in the World Cup is new, we have high expectations in terms of doing our best, playing the hardest we can. We want to show we trained really hard to represent the Brazil rugby union in the best way we could.\u201d<\/p>\n

Performance and pride in the shirt may be the main objectives but the best opportunity for a surprise win will be their opener against South Africa. While the Springboks have far more experience, Italy and France are both another step ahead.<\/p>\n

Caffera believes his side are capable of causing an upset. The 46-year-old, who played for Uruguay at the men\u2019s 2003 Rugby World Cup, says: \u201cFor me it is the game that, if we do all good things and we have an amazing day, maybe we can do it. I don\u2019t think it\u2019ll happen against Italy or France. But with the weaknesses of South Africa and our strengths, maybe that can be the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Brazil squad face a tough challenge but are determined to show their abilities. Photograph: Jo\u00e3o Neto\/Fotojump<\/p>\n

Regardless of results, the coach believes the tournament will hugely benefit his squad. He explains the experience of playing Tier 1 nations will be significant but to continue to progress, they need more games. The creation of a South American tournament would be the answer for Caffera but he understands the challenges \u2013 nations such as Argentina and Chile do not have established women\u2019s teams.<\/p>\n

The coach adds: \u201cIt\u2019s [about] playing with big countries and playing in big tournaments. At the moment we don\u2019t have that and we don\u2019t have that on the continent, it\u2019s going to be hard for us growing in the future without a 15s tournament. We really need a South American tournament to grow this team and grow the young players too. If we want to be a good team in the future we need to grow the young players and for me tournaments and games like that are key.<\/p>\n

\u201cWXV [World Rugby\u2019s annual global women\u2019s 15s competition] started some things but it is only one tournament for us. We don\u2019t have Six Nations, we don\u2019t have a strong club league, we don\u2019t have Super Rugby Americas for women, we need to send players to other clubs and countries. That is going to be the start because here we don\u2019t have anything. It is going to be really hard for World Rugby to give us more games. Players have to go to other countries like England, Italy, Spain, USA, New Zealand. We have good players, they need to play more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brazil will break new ground at this World Cup; the next challenge is ensuring it is not their last.<\/p>\n

Boosting body positivity<\/p>\n

Rachael Burford believes England can have a more powerful impact on body positivity if they win the Rugby World Cup than the Lionesses\u2019 Euros victory earlier this summer.<\/p>\n

Burford, the former England player who won the Rugby World Cup in 2014, adds the entire tournament will positively impact body image but the further the Red Roses go, the bigger their spotlight will be.<\/p>\n

Rachael Burford (right) in action against France in 2016. Photograph: Adrian Dennis\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

She says: \u201cHaving seen what the Lionesses have done and not taking anything away from them, it\u2019s about what is unique to our sport, which is that it is for any body. Every body type is needed in our game.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look to players like Sarah Bern who has spoken about how she struggled with her body image and now she is empowered by it. I think that could have such an impact on young girls\u2019 body image which in society is such a challenge for their self-esteem and self worth. Thinking they have to look a certain way.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have these powerful role models across all 16 teams where they can say \u2018she looks like me, she is the same size as me and she is an international rugby player playing on the best stage\u2019. Football has done so much but they are all similar in shape and size. So being able to have that relatability and connection piece [in rugby] could have a massive impact in society.\u201d<\/p>\n

Memory lane<\/p>\n

August 2017: The wing Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scored eight tries against Hong Kong at Billings Park in Dublin in New Zealand\u2019s 121-0 victory in the Rugby World Cup pool stage. It\u2019s the joint second-highest winning margin in a women\u2019s World Cup game, alongside the US\u2019 121-0 win over Japan in 1994 and only beaten by the Black Ferns\u2019 134-6 victory against Germany in 1998. Woodman-Wickliffe said after the game: \u201cIt\u2019s all down to the girls on the inside with the ball \u2013 they were working in the middle and I just get the glory in the end to finish it off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Portia Woodman breaks clear to score one of her eight tries during the 2017 Rugby World Cup group game against Hong Kong. Photograph: David Rogers\/Getty ImagesStill want more?<\/p>\n

\u201cThis World Cup has the potential to change women\u2019s rugby for ever\u201d: England captain Zoe Aldcroft speaks to Donald McRae<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sarah Rendell chats to Marlie Packer<\/a> about overcoming losing the captaincy to remain a key part of the Red Roses squad.<\/p>\n

A definitive guide to the Women\u2019s Rugby World Cup pools<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Firefighter, mother, tattooist: three rugby part-timers<\/a> on their sacrifices to live a World Cup dream.<\/p>\n

And the Wallabies have broken South Africa\u2019s aura of invincibility. Is Australian rugby back?<\/a> Daniel Gallan on a shock result in the Rugby Championship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sixteen. That is how many Tests Brazil\u2019s women\u2019s rugby team has played, just six more than England played…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":79660,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,760,85],"class_list":["post-79659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-rugby","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=79659"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/79659\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=79659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=79659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=79659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}