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RWC 2027 qualifier produces biggest men's win in 20 years
By Jon Newcombe
Colombia put Costa Rica to the sword as the latest round of South American qualification matches for Rugby World Cup 2027 produced the most one-side match in men's Test rugby in two decades.
Los Tucanes might not have played for 13 months but they began their bid to make it to the game's marquee event in Australia with the biggest win in their history, beating hapless Costa Rica 136-0.
It is the biggest win in test rugby since Argentina beat Paraguay 147-7 in May 2004 and is ranked seventh overall, falling just 16 points shy of the all-time record which is shared by Argentina (152-0 v Paraguay) and Japan (155-3 v Chinese Taipei).
You can watch a full replay of the match here>>
Colombia had only won 27-12 when they'd last met Costa Rica in 2011, but it quickly became apparent that there was a major gulf in the standard of the teams as Los Tucanes racked up a 66-0 half-time lead and then bettered their return in the second half, bringing up their century in the 62nd minute.
Argentina went on to star at the Rugby World Cup three years after their trouncing of Paraguay, winning the bronze medal. But Colombia have several more hurdles to negotiate before they can even dream of competing at a Rugby World Cup for the first time.
Colombia's women had hoped to get there first but their chances of participating at Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 in England next year were dashed by defeats to the Netherlands and Brazil in the qualifiers.
Next up for Los Tucanes is Sunday's game against Venezuela, again in the Colombian city Medellin.
Venezuela won their first RWC 2027 qualifier on the same evening Colombia were running rampant, with a 27-15 victory over Peru. But Colombia will start as heavy favourites having won the last six meetings dating back to 2011.
A second win for Colombia would put them in a play-off with the lowest-ranked team in the 'Phase 2' round robin tournament, most probably Paraguay, who were heavily beaten by Brazil in their first game and it is doubtful they will be a match for Chile in their second qualifier this weekend.
The winner of that play-off would then compete in Sudamericano 2025, which includes Uruguay, for the right to represent the region at RWC 2027.
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