Chile vs Georgia moved behind closed doors in Santiago as storm forces World Rugby to act

Saturday’s World Rugby Nations Cup match between Chile and Georgia will be played behind closed doors at CARR Mahuida in Santiago after a red weather alert forced organisers to abandon the original La Serena venue on safety grounds, with kick-off set for 13:00 local time.

The fixture pits two of the three remaining unbeaten sides in the tournament against each other, making it the standout game of the round. La Serena was stripped of hosting rights after authorities flagged the threat posed by an approaching storm, prompting Chile Rugby and World Rugby to relocate the match to the capital.

In an official statement, World Rugby said: “Following a thorough assessment of the evolving weather situation and in consultation with relevant authorities, Chile Rugby has confirmed that the match will be played at CARR Mahuida in Santiago. The safety and wellbeing of players, team staff, match officials, workforce and fans remains the highest priority. Given the forecast weather conditions expected across the region, the match will be played without spectators.”

World Rugby acknowledged the disruption to supporters who had planned to travel to La Serena, and confirmed that operational decisions would continue to be guided by safety considerations. Both governing bodies said they would monitor conditions closely in coordination with local authorities.

The two nations have met twice previously — in 2005 and 2024 — with each side claiming one victory, adding an extra edge to a contest that already carries significant tournament implications at the top of the standings.