"HE IS AN EXAMPLE"

Bound for a first-ever Rugby World Cup despite a horror injury, Selknam and Chile flanker IGNACIO SILVA is a poster boy for those who never want to give up a dream

- FRANKIE DEGES

SNAPPING AN Achilles when you are over 30 years old could well be time for a high-performance player to think about what comes next in your life.

However, with the chance of taking another shot at qualifying for the Rugby World Cup, Chile forward Ignacio Silva decided to continue working hard.

The dream became reality and the flanker was one of the heroes that put los Cóndores in their first Rugby World Cup ever, when beating the USA Eagles a year ago in a never-to-be-forgotten home-and-away series.

With the injury coming a year earlier, in 2021 as Chile were battling through the South American qualifying process, he somehow instinctively knew that his commitment to a long recovery process would have a silver lining attached.

For a player that first represented Chile U20 in 2008, Silva is not only one of the best-known players in his country but stands for all that is good about the game in the country.

“Being able to come back from such a difficult injury and being there to constantly support the team whilst he was recovering shows who he is,” says Pablo Lemoine, the wise coach who led his country, Uruguay, to RWC 2015 and then coached Chile into France 2023.

“His commitment and presence as a leader has been great. We certainly wish to find players in Chile with his playing ability; the way he plays for and defends his country and team is second to none."

Lemoine played against Chile many times as one of best front-rowers from Uruguay in his heyday; he coached against them from 2012 to 2015. "When preparing los Teros to play Chile, we always had to keep an eye on Silva."