The team reported the breach themselves, leading to removal from the competitionParaguay players warm up before a match against Brazil(Image: Getty Images)

Paraguay have been disqualified from qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup after fielding an ineligible player during their playoff victory over Brazil.

The South American nation believed they had secured a place in the Final Qualification Tournament following a 70–43 aggregate win against their fierce rivals, sparking huge celebrations at home.

However, those celebrations quickly turned to heartbreak after the Paraguayan Rugby Union (URP) discovered that an ineligible player had featured in both legs of the tie.

The union reported the breach themselves, leading to Paraguay’s removal from the competition.

As a result, Brazil will now take Paraguay’s place in the next stage, where they’ll face Samoa, Namibia and Belgium in Dubai for the final qualification spot for Australia 2027.

Both Brazil and Belgium are aiming to reach the Rugby World Cup for the first time.

Paraguay become the third nation to be ruled out of the 2027 tournament, following Russia and Belarus, who remain suspended by World Rugby due to their involvement in and support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup will take place on 3 December 2025, with a new six-pool format confirmed.

Wales are currently set to be placed in Band 2 based on the latest World Rugby rankings.

* Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.

You can also follow us on social media on our X account, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

For more exclusive stories and in-depth analysis, you can sign up for the Inside Welsh Rugby substack newsletter here.