Uruguay have made a major coaching change just 14 months before the 2027 Rugby World Cup, sacking head coach Rodolfo Ambrosio and assistant Juan Figallo after reviewing the team’s recent performances. With Los Teros already qualified for Australia 2027, the timing gives the next coach a rare opportunity to shape a World Cup campaign from an early stage — and it also keeps Warren Gatland in the conversation.
The decision leaves Uruguay with time on their side, but also with a clear challenge. The next appointment will not be about short-term rescue work. It will be about building a plan for Pool D, where Uruguay will face Ireland, Scotland and Portugal. That is a serious assignment, and one that demands a coach who can get a group organised quickly and make the most of a full preparation cycle.
Why the change matters now
Uruguay said the decision was made after an analysis designed to have the national rugby community enthusiastically engage with a new strategic plan for all the national teams representing the Uruguay Rugby Union. In practical terms, it means the union has chosen to reset early rather than wait until closer to the tournament.
That matters because Uruguay are not dealing with qualification pressure any more. They are already in. The question now is how much progress they can make between now and Australia 2027, and whether the next coach can turn qualification into genuine competitiveness at the World Cup.
Ambrosio had been appointed in 2024 after Esteban Meneses stepped down, but the union has now opted for a fresh direction. The scale of the decision suggests Uruguay want more than a simple continuation of the current approach.
Warren Gatland’s link to the role
That is where Warren Gatland comes into the picture. He left his role with Wales early last year, and last summer spent time in a consultancy role with Peñarol, helping guide the club to the domestic title. That connection to Uruguayan rugby gives him a natural link to any future international opening.
Gatland also made clear in December that he could be open to another World Cup cycle. He said that since February he had been enjoying a break, but that some sort of role with a national team going into the next Rugby World Cup could be a good challenge given his experience in preparing sides for these tournaments.
He also pointed to the value of the World Cup cycle itself, saying it is the one time when an international head coach has his players for an extended period, almost like a pre-season with a club side. For a coach with his background, that kind of runway could be appealing.
The World Cup picture for Los Teros
For Uruguay, the priority is now clear. They have already qualified, they know their pool, and they have time to work. That is a far better position than starting from scratch closer to the tournament.
Still, the next appointment will be judged on whether it can improve Uruguay’s standards quickly enough to matter against higher-level opposition. Pool D will not allow much room for drift. Ireland and Scotland bring elite-Test experience, while Portugal will also offer a stern challenge. Uruguay will need structure, clarity and a coach with a firm grasp of tournament preparation.
That is why this decision has immediate significance beyond Uruguay itself. It creates one of the more interesting coaching opportunities on the international scene, and it keeps a familiar name in Warren Gatland tied to the discussion. Whether he is actually part of Uruguay’s thinking remains to be seen, but the opening is there.
The next step will be the most important one: choosing the coach who will take Los Teros through the final stretch to Australia 2027 and decide whether qualification can be turned into something more ambitious.
