World Rankings: History-making Fiji and Hong Kong move up

NEWS: Fijiana are set to move to a new all-time high in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings after winning back the Oceania Women’s Championship title from Samoa.

A hard-fought 27-13 victory over the reigning champion in Brisbane on Sunday will increase their rating by 1.09 points to 59.74 points is enough for them to climb two places.

Samoa started the weekend as the higher-ranked of the two teams but Fiji will replace them in 15th, while leapfrogging the Netherlands in the process.

Sunday’s defeat will cost Samoa three places and they’re set to slip back to 18th, equalling their lowest-ever position.

It will be the first time in 12 months that Fiji are the higher-ranked of the two Pacific nations.

By winning the Oceania Women’s Championship 2024 Fiji also became the ninth team to qualify for the Women’s World Cup 2025.

Hong Kong China will be one of the beneficiaries of Samoa’s setback as the result from Brisbane combined with their 22-0 win over Kazkahstan in the final match of the Asia Women’s Championship 2024 is due to lift them up one place to 17th.

The win ensured Hong Kong China finished in second place behind champions Japan in the Asia Women’s Championship 2024, which qualifies them for WXV 3 along with Fiji and Samoa as the top two sides in the Oceania Women’s Championship 2024.

South Africa remain at 12 with 65.17 points.