Shock Upsets, Historic Surges Lead To Shake Up In World Rugby Rankings
Shock Upsets, Historic Surges Lead To Shake Up In World Rugby Rankings
Wales hit a record low in the World Rugby Rankings after a loss to Japan, while Chile celebrates an historic rise following key victories over Romania.
Welsh Rugby’s woes deepened this weekend as the team slipped to an all-time low of 14th in the World Rugby Rankings following a 24-19 loss to Japan in Tokyo.
The result marks the Welsh side’s 18th consecutive test loss and the squad's second-half collapse once again highlighted a troubling trend for Matt Sherratt’s men, who led 19-7 at the break.
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Japan’s comeback not only lifted spirits in the Far East, it also helped the team's position in the global rankings. Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms moved up to 12th, leapfrogging Samoa and Wales. Japan is now just 0.99 points behind 11th-place Georgia.
The weekend’s action also saw historic highs for two emerging nations.
In Santiago, Chile delivered a commanding 40-16 victory over Romania—Chile's first win against the Oaks in three attempts.
The result propelled Los Condores into the world’s top 20 for the first time in history, a significant milestone as they prepare for the Sudamericano 2025 World Cup qualifiers against Brazil.
Romania, meanwhile, slid to a record low of 21st.
Further east, the United Arab Emirates capped off a remarkable 12-month climb with a 29-21 victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Ranked 52nd this time last year, the UAE now sit at a national-best 40th. The win earned the team second place in the 2025 Asia Rugby Championship and a playoff berth against the Rugby Africa runners-up, keeping their hopes of a Rugby World Cup 2027 berth alive.
Among the traditional powerhouses, South Africa maintained its grip on the No. 1 spot after a 42-24 win over Italy, though New Zealand closed the gap slightly following a gritty 31-27 triumph over France in Dunedin. The All Blacks now trail the Springboks by just 1.8 points.
Ireland and France remain third and fourth, respectively, while England made the most significant move into the top tier.
Steve Borthwick’s men celebrated George Ford’s 100th cap with a clinical 35-12 win over Argentina in La Plata. England leapfrogged Los Pumas into fifth, opening a notable gap ahead of sixth-place Argentina.
Scotland held firm in seventh, while Australia clung to eighth after Harry Wilson’s late try secured a 21-18 comeback win over Fiji. The defeat dropped the Pacific Islanders below the 80-point mark and left them ninth.
With Chile entering uncharted territory, and the UAE continuing its steady rise, the rankings reflect a global game becoming increasingly competitive, where upsets are more frequent and opportunities greater for those outside rugby’s traditional elite.
World Rugby Rankings – Top 20 (as of July 7, 2025):
- 1. South Africa – 92.78
- 2. New Zealand – 90.98
- 3. Ireland – 89.83
- 4. France – 88.90
- 5. England – 86.72
- 6. Argentina – 82.98
- 7. Scotland – 82.36
- 8. Australia – 82.08
- 9. Fiji – 79.52
- 10. Italy – 77.77
- 11. Georgia – 74.69
- 12. Japan – 73.70
- 13. Samoa – 72.68
- 14. Wales – 72.65
- 15. USA – 70.02
- 16. Spain – 67.34
- 17. Uruguay – 67.06
- 18. Portugal – 66.44
- 19. Tonga – 65.46
- 20. Chile – 63.20
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