World Rankings: Boks' No.1 spot under threat as top 10 shake-up could happen
NEWS: World Rugby has published the ranking permutations as the Nations Championship and World Rugby Nations Cup resume this weekend across Europe.
South Africa will surrender top spot if they fail to beat Italy, and New Zealand retain their perfect record against Scotland to move to number one.
France will replace Ireland in third if they beat Fiji and Argentina are victorious in Dublin.
Les Bleus, however, could fall as low as eighth for the first time since October 2019 if beaten, depending on the margin and other results.
Ireland will drop two to fifth in defeat if France and England both win, the latter over Australia on Sunday.
Scotland and Australia could both end the weekend in third if they can cause upsets and other results go in their favour. This would be a new high for Scotland and the Wallabies’ highest position since November 2021.
Meanwhile, England could drop as many as three places to eighth if Los Pumas win by more than 15 points and they suffer a defeat by a similar margin to Australia.
Japan will become the higher-ranked of the nations if they beat Wales, potentially returning to the top 10 unless Italy upset South Africa.
Wales can move up one place to ninth if they win by more than 15 points and Fiji lose to France.
Georgia cannot improve their rating with victory over Canada given the 11.65 point difference between the teams, and the Lelos will remain 13th whatever happens in the World Rugby Nations Cup this weekend.
Canada could return to the top 20 for the first time since February 2019 if they beat Georgia, depending on other Nations Cup results over the weekend.
Portugal and USA cannot rise from 14th or 15th if both are victorious over Chile and Hong Kong China respectively, as they can’t catch Georgia.
Chile will climb to a new high of 14th if they beat Portugal, making them the higher-ranked of the two nations.
Hong Kong China will fall a place to 25th if they lose and Zimbabwe beat Samoa, making them the lowest-ranked team in the competition. However, their Asian side could also equal their all-time high of 21st in victory.
Romania will return to the top 20 for the first time since June 2025 if they beat Tonga by more than 15 points, which would also make them the higher-ranked of the two nations.
Also, Tonga will climb above a beaten Uruguay into 18th if they are victorious in Bucharest and could go as high as 14th.
Defeat will see Samoa slip out of the top 20 for the first time since the rankings were introduced in October 2003 if Romania also beat Tonga.
Spain will climb one place to 16th if they beat Uruguay and Chile lose in Portugal. Los Leones could go 15th if they win by more than 15 points.
Uruguay could drop as low as 20th if they suffer a heavy defeat and other results go against them. Spain could also find themselves in this position if beaten.
Current World Rugby Rankings
1. South Africa – 93.09
2. New Zealand – 92.27
3. Ireland – 88.08
4. France – 87.43
5. England – 85.68
6. Scotland – 84.78
7. Australia – 84.43
8. Argentina – 82.24
9. Fiji – 77.85
10. Wales – 76.38
11. Italy – 76.30
12. Japan – 76.23
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