Overview
- Paraguay withdrew from the Final Qualification Tournament upon discovering it fielded an ineligible player in play-off wins over Brazil.
- Brazil takes Paraguay’s place in the four-team repechage in Dubai scheduled for November 8–18.
- Belgium, Brazil, Namibia and Samoa will contest the final berth for Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
- Paraguayan Rugby Union president Gustavo Borgognon said the rule was misunderstood and emphasized there was no attempt to gain advantage.
- World Rugby reiterated unions must verify eligibility and highlighted its Player Eligibility Checker, while neither it nor the URP named the player, who was identified only in media reports.