Brazil has confirmed its place at the 2023 Americas Cup – one step closer to Rugby League World Cup qualification – with an emphatic 56-0 victory over Colombia.
The final game of the South American Championship in the picturesque Andean town of Jericó saw Brazil needing to win to inch out rivals Chile for the title.
The Carcarás showed they meant business from the second minute when fullback Ravi Araujo scored, and rarely took their foot off the pedal as they led 34-0 at halftime.
Prop and captain Caio Ozzioli, who has been pioneering rugby league in Brazil since 2014, scored a rare hat-trick, but did not get carried away with the win.
Prior to the event starting, the town gave all three teams a street parade that lasted 30 minutes, led by a 40-strong person marching band, and ending with more than 1000 people gathered in the town square.
In the shadows of the most diverse Rugby League World Cup ever being held in England a week before, it was another positive sign to start the journey to France in 2025.
Player of the tournament was bestowed upon Brazilian second-rower Leandro ‘The Horse’ Caetano, who posted three tries against Colombia, after also being amongst Brazil’s best in the tense 20-18 win against Chile.
Final Table:
Brazil – 2 wins, 0 losses, 4pts (+58)
Chile – 1 win, 1 loss, 2pts (+18)
Colombia – 0 wins, 2 losses, 0pts (-76)
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