Football powerhouse Brazil handed second chance for Rugby World Cup

Football superpowers Brazil have been given a lifeline in their bid to appear at their first men's Rugby World Cup after Paraguay were thrown out of next month's qualifying tournament, World Rugby said on Friday.

Brazil, the men's football World Cup champions on a record five occasions, were beaten by their fellow south Americans over two legs earlier this month.

However, World Rugby withdrew Paraguay from the qualifying tournament to be held between November 8-18, after they were found to have fielded an ineligible player during the play-off.

Brazil, known as Os Tupis, will face Samoa, Belgium and Namibia in a round-robin competition in Dubai, with the winner advancing to the final tournament in Australia in 2027.