Brazil's Rugby Revolution: From Favela Streets to World Cup Glory

Brazil, a nation synonymous with football, is now making waves in the world of rugby. The Brazilian women's rugby team has made their historic debut at the Women's Rugby World Cup, a monumental achievement for a country where rugby remains a relatively unknown sport.

The Journey to the World Cup

Despite being the lowest-ranked team at the World Cup (25th), Brazil's journey to this stage has been nothing short of inspiring. The team has only played 16 Tests of XV-a-side rugby, celebrating their first win in 2023 over Portugal. To qualify for the World Cup, Brazil had to defeat Colombia in the South American play-off, a hurdle they had failed at six times previously. The decision to bring in their sevens stars for the play-off game resulted in a comfortable 34-13 victory.

Raquel Kochhann: A Symbol of Resilience

Fly-half Raquel Kochhann's story encapsulates the toughness and resilience of the Brazil women's team. Kochhann, who has only six caps in XVs, was one of the players head coach Emiliano Caffera approached to help seal qualification. Her footballing background offered a point of difference and helped seal a spot in the national sevens squad by 2012. Kochhann's rapid rise continued, with her playing sevens at the Rio Olympics and being the Brazil flag bearer for the Paris Olympics after a remarkable return to the sport following a breast cancer diagnosis in 2022.

The Challenges and Triumphs

Brazil's path to the World Cup has been fraught with challenges. Spain, ranked 13th in the world, defeated Brazil 41-12 in the lead-up to the tournament. However, the Brazilian team has shown remarkable resilience and determination. Head coach Emiliano Caffera expressed confidence in the team's ability to make an impact, stating, "It is going to be tough but I have no doubt that we are going to make some noise in one or two games."

Inspiring the Next Generation

The Brazilian rugby team's journey is not just about the players but also about inspiring the next generation. Half of the sevens girls are from tough favela backgrounds, and their success is starting to make rugby a genuine option for changing lives in these communities. As Crystal Kaua, Brazil women's sevens coach, noted, "These girls are tough, courageous, and brave. Until you've been here, you can't imagine the magnitude of where our players come from."

Looking Ahead

Brazil faces South Africa, Italy, and France in their pool, all of which are big rugby-playing nations. This offers an ideal platform for Brazil to catch the public imagination and continue their rugby revolution. With players like Raquel Kochhann leading the charge, Brazil's rugby future looks bright.