Selknam’s plan for his first year after the World Cup

These days, Selknam will begin to prepare for its participation in the Super Rugby Americas , a biannual tournament where the best franchises on the continent compete. He will do it with a new head coach and without some of his most important players. It’s a change of cycle but not a change of project. Cristian Rudloff, president of Chile Rugby, speaks with La Tercera about this new year for national rugby.

With France 2023 over, the oval begins a new journey, a new period. Pablo Lemoine will still continue to lead high performance, but new names are appearing on the program. The most important is undoubtedly that of Jake Mangin, New Zealand coach who will take over as Selknam’s new head coach in 2024.

The arrival is exciting and promises a change within a team which in 2022 managed to reach the final of the continental tournament (at the time called SLAR). This also marks the end of the period led by Nicolás Bruzzone, who will remain linked to the Federation in any case.

Regarding the arrival of the ocean vessel, which worked for almost a decade in Brazil, Rudloff is clear. His arrival aims to enhance areas of the team. “It is very important to generate new game alternatives. It offers dynamic gameplay this is what he did at Canterbury (New Zealand team) and in Brazilian rugby, where it gave him dynamism, speed and a very important whirlwind of play, particularly in attack, which we are looking for also to be developed. , he emphasizes in conversation with El Deportivo.

This point is key in the plan. Over the years, the Chilean franchise, and consequently Cóndores, has shown its great strength in defense. Even during the World Cup, this was what most marked Lemoine’s team, which, despite having little experience in these situations, managed to have moments of equality against powers like the Samoa, Japan, Argentina and England.

“We had a very important defensive work and now what we are looking for is to be able to complement this experience, this defensive work, with more options and opportunities in attack. . That’s the main reason why (Mangin) is coming. Taking charge of our professional program, which is the basis of the Cóndors and which has brought us so much success and joy in recent years,” adds the president of Chilean rugby.

The arrival of the New Zealand coach also means the departure of Nicolás Bruzzone from the post of head coach. The Argentinian, a reference for the 7 transandines, will in any case continue to work within the Federation, being a key man in the development of rugby. This is confirmed by Rudloff.

“Nico (Bruzzone) continues, that’s the most important thing. You will be in charge of all high-level programs aimed at minors, and this is precisely where we want all your experience to be put at the service of an area that urgently needs to be developed and valued. . The future of Chilean rugby depends on it,” he says.

The figure of Bruzzone was decisive in the professionalization of the discipline. He has always been one of Lemoine’s biggest supporters and was even an integral part of the qualified staff present at the World Cup in France. “He is a person with great experience and we are very, very happy that he continues to take on this challenge and is responsible for future generations. He also continues as Pablo’s assistant in the senior adult programs, but with a more full-time focus on all minor programs. “added Rudloff.

Another issue for 2024 will be the composition of the team. After the great experience of the World XV, the Selknam players have increased in price and we already know that many of them will not continue on national soil. From the 2023 team, Domingo Saavedra, Santiago Videla and Augusto Böhme They will emigrate to the United States, Rodrigo Fernandez and Vittorio Lastra They signed for clubs in Italy, while Nicolás Herreros returned to Europe, specifically Portugal. Martín Sigren, who although he was playing in England in 2023, will also not be an option, since he also chose to continue his career in the 50-state country.

The situation raises the question of whether Selknam will again look for foreign players for his team, something which had happened in specific cases in the early years but which had been avoided in 2023 to favor the chances of Chilean rugby players with options for the World Cup. .

In this regard, Rudloff admits that it is a possibility. “Regarding the arrival of foreign players, We are talking to some potential players who could strengthen our team, but always thinking about legacy and knowledge transfer. and the experience they can offer our players. Whoever comes to Chile must be someone with experience and capable of strengthening and teaching our own players, which is what we are looking for the most,” he concluded.