On the verge of writing a new chapter in Brazilian rugby history, the Yaras have been called up for their unprecedented participation in the Rugby World Cup, which will take place from August 22 to September 27 in England. The squad was announced at an event held at Pacaembu Stadium in São Paulo.

The team’s core is formed by athletes who compete in the sport’s two main formats: rugby XV and rugby sevens. Among the 32 players selected by head coach Emiliano Caffera, 11 have competed in at least one edition of the Olympic Games, which follow the sevens format. Standouts include Luiza Campos and Raquel Kochhann, both three-time Olympians—Kochhann was also the flag bearer for Team Brazil at the Opening Ceremony of Paris 2024.

“It’s hard to put into words what this call-up and World Cup participation mean. Everything we’ve achieved proves that Brazilian rugby deserves more attention. It will be a huge challenge for us. Rugby XV is very different from sevens, and it’s a much more inclusive format. This blend is what makes this squad so special,” explained Raquel Kochhann.

The women’s team has been holding training camps and friendly matches regularly since the beginning of the year. Since May, the Yaras have been training with a group of 46 athletes, giving Emiliano Caffera an opportunity to test combinations before finalizing the squad.

“These 32 players are the best athletes we have in Brazil right now, and I’m confident that this group, beyond doing well at the World Cup, will contribute greatly to the development of rugby in the coming years. This World Cup is another step toward growing the sport in our country,” said the Uruguayan coach, who has led the Brazilian national team since October 2023.

The Yaras will depart for England on August 14 and will make their World Cup debut on August 24 against South Africa, in Northampton. A week later, in Exeter, the team will face France, and their final group stage match is scheduled for September 7, against Italy.

For the tournament, Brazil will wear an exclusive uniform developed by the sportswear brand Oneallsports. While the Olympic jerseys for Paris featured graphic elements inspired by Indigenous art, this time the design was created by Indigenous artist Auá Mendes, who incorporated symbols from Tupi-Guarani cosmology to represent the strength and ancestry of the players.

“Brazil’s participation in this World Cup is a historic milestone for the sport in our country and the culmination of work that has been underway for many years. We’ve developed a project that ranges from grassroots development to high-performance, which allowed us to build a team capable of qualifying for the world’s biggest rugby tournament,” said Alexandre Chiofetti, CEO of Brasil Rugby. This will be the tenth edition of the women’s Rugby World Cup. Held since 1991, the tournament will, for the first time, feature a South American team.

Full squad list:

•Aline Mayumi – Pasteur (SP)

•Ana Carolina Santana – Melina (MT)

•Bianca Silva – Leoas de Paraisópolis (SP) & Nagato Blue Angels (Japan)

•Camilla Ísis – El-Shaddai (RJ)

•Carolyne Pereira – Melina (MT) & Grua (AM)

•Dayana Dakar – Niterói (RJ)

•Edna Santini – São José (SP) & São Miguel (Portugal)

•Eshyllen Coimbra – El-Shaddai (RJ)

•Fernanda Tenório – El-Shaddai (RJ)

•Franciele Barros – Sporting (Portugal)

•Giovana Mamede – Jacareí (SP)

•Giovanna Barth – Maringá (PR)

•Íris Coluna – Poli (SP)

•Isabela Saccomanno – São José (SP)

•Isadora Lopes – Melina (MT)

•Julia Leni – Curitiba (PR)

•Larissa Carvalho – Curitiba (PR)

•Larissa Henwood – Counties Manukau (New Zealand)

•Leila Silva – Leoas de Paraisópolis (SP)

•Letícia Medeiros – Jacareí (SP) & Bond University (Australia)

•Letícia Silva – Melina (MT)

•Luiza Campos – Charrua (RS)

•Marcelle Souza – El-Shaddai (RJ)

•Maria Gabriela Graf – Desterro (SC) & Brothers (Australia)

•Mariana Nicolau – São José (SP)

•Marina Fioravanti – Poli (SP)

•Natalia Jonck – Brothers (Australia)

•Pâmela Santos – Charrua (RS)

•Raquel Kochhann – Charrua (RS) & Desterro (SC)

•Samara Vergara – Pasteur (SP)

•Taís Prioste – Bobigny (France)

•Yasmim Soares – Melina (MT)