Brazil beat Colombia for the first time in seven attempts to stun their hosts and ensure they will make their Women’s Rugby World Cup debut at England 2025.
As Yaras had lost each of their six previous meetings with Las Tucanes prior to Saturday and sat 25 places beneath their opponents in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings at kick-off.
However, they dominated the South American play-off from start to finish and capitalised on some Colombian ill-discipline to book their ticket to England with a 34-13 victory in Luque.
Iris Coluna, Isadora Lopes, Eshyllen Coimbra and Aline Mayumi each crossed the whitewash to help give Brazil a 22-8 lead at half time.
Colombia threatened a comeback at the start of the second half but tries from Yasmin Soares and Mariana Nicolau in the final quarter extinguished those hopes.
Las Tucanes' points came via tries from Juliana Soto and Laura Gutierrez as well as a Maria Arzuaga penalty.
Brazil captain and Player of the Match Coimbra said she felt “a tremendous joy” having helped her team make history.
“We knew it would be a hard game, a battle, which would not be easy. But we were able to get victory thanks to our hard work,” she said.
“We worked very hard the last five, six months on the scrum, even pushing against the trunk of tree.”
Coach Emiliano Caffera added: "We had planned the game as it unfolded, our first half solid scrum wasn’t there in the second half, although we managed to control handle the ball a bit more and things happened for us.
"Everything starts with the set pieces which we worked very hard for, but for the Rugby World Cup we will have to work even harder."
As a result of their victory, Brazil will climb 12 places in the rankings to 39th when they are updated at 12:00 BST (GMT+1) on Monday. Colombia will fall three places to 29th.
