World Rugby announce new rankings table as Wales salvage World Cup lifeline
Wales have moved up in the latest rankings after previously slumping to their lowest ever position
Ben Thomas (L) and Tommy Reffell (R) of Wales celebrate
(Image: 2025 Getty Images )
Wales have climbed two places in the latest World Rugby rankings after ending their 644-day wait for a Test victory at the weekend.
Saturday's 32-21 win over Japan halted a sorry run of 18 straight Test defeats for Wales, who had previously sunk below the Brave Blossoms in the rankings after sinking to 14th. That was previously the lowest Wales have ever been in the world rankings, and having seen off Eddie Jones' side in Kobe, the hope will be that there's now a platform on which to build a way back into the top 10.
This overdue win means Wales have now eased their way up into 12th, ahead of Samoa in 13th, and just behind Georgia in 11th.
That is significant as the top 12 teams will be in the top two seeding groups for the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw, which takes place later in the year.
Wales celebrate at full time after beating Japan
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd )
If Wales were to slip below that again they would face a World Cup group of death in two years' time.
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They return to action for a tough Autumn schedule before the end of the year, with Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa all lying in wait.
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Australia are another big mover ahead of the first Test with the British and Irish Lions on Saturday, edging up from eighth to sixth, with Argentina (7th) and Scotland (8th), both slipping by one place.
Scotland were beaten 29-14 by Fiji on Saturday, while the Pumas lost to England for a second consecutive week.
South Africa still lead the way, with New Zealand, who thumped France, and Ireland second and third respectively, while France sit in fourth and England fifth.
The only other movement in the top 20 sees Spain switch places with the United States to move up to 15th.
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Rankings in full:
South Africa – 92.78 New Zealand – 91.72 (+0.74) Ireland – 89.83 France – 88.16 (-0.74) England – 87.64 (+0.93) Australia (↑8) – 82.08 Argentina (↓6) – 82.05 (-0.93) Scotland (↓7) – 81.37 (-0.98) Fiji – 80.50 (+0.98) Italy – 77.77 Georgia – 74.69 Wales (↑14) – 74.05 (+1.40) Samoa – 72.68 Japan (↓12) – 72.29 (-1.40) Spain (↑16) – 68.91 (+1.57) USA (↓15) – 68.45 (-1.57) Uruguay – 67.52 (+0.46) Portugal – 66.44 Tonga – 65.46 Chile – 63.20
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