The World Rugby rankings have been freshly updated following the conclusion of the 2025 Six Nations Tournament and the Rugby Europe Championship, stirring discussions among rugby fans and analysts alike. The rankings, released on March 19, 2025, reveal some surprising shifts, particularly for traditional powerhouses.
In a significant move, Ireland has fallen to third place, despite sticking to its reputation as a leading European nation. Their drop comes after a disappointing loss to France, who triumphed with a score of 42-27 during the tournament held in Dublin. Ireland's ranking is now 89.71 points, down from 90.78 earlier in January, reflecting how a single match can ripple through the competitive landscape of rugby.
France, on the other hand, retains its position at fourth with a boost in points from 88.51 to 89.51, despite not surpassing Ireland. "Despite winning the Six Nations 2025 and defeating Ireland in Dublin, France remains fourth in the World Rugby rankings," reported Rugby Europe, highlighting the turbulent nature of competitive rankings.
We must also commend England, who has notably climbed past Scotland in the latest rankings, edging closer to Argentina as they now sit at fifth place with 84.37 points, just trailing Argentina at 84.97. This surge for England, especially after a strong showing in the competition, has been significant, illustrating their effort to regain status among top-tier rugby nations.
Meanwhile, the standout team from the Rugby Europe Championship, Georgia, continues to make headlines by surpassing Wales to claim 11th place. The Georgian team showcased their might by defeating Spain decisively with a score of 46-28 on March 16, 2025. This victory marks their consistent performance in the tournament, as they have dominated the Rugby Europe Championship since its inception, only stumbling in 2017 when Romania claimed the title. Currently ranked at 74.69 points, Georgia's rise shines a promising light on their future potential.
This change in rankings brings the status of Wales under fresh scrutiny. With this season marking their third wooden spoon since the Six Nations expanded in 2000, questions arise regarding the viability of their current strategies and whether a promotion and relegation system might be beneficial for the tournament. Observers are urging to consider the integration of Georgia into the elite tier of European rugby, as their performance speaks for itself.
With these developments, the latest World Rugby rankings are as follows: 1. South Africa, 92.78; 2. New Zealand, 90.36; 3. Ireland, 89.71; 4. France, 89.51; 5. Argentina, 84.97; 6. England, 84.37; 7. Scotland, 82.36; 8. Australia, 81.52; 9. Fiji, 80.07; 10. Italy, 77.89; 11. Georgia, 74.69; 12. Wales, 73.75; 13. Japan, 72.95; 14. Samoa, 72.68; 15. United States, 70.02; 16. Portugal, 68.30; 17. Spain, 67.34; 18. Uruguay, 67.06; 19. Tonga, 65.46; 20. Romania, 62.76.
This fluctuating environment in World Rugby will keep fans on the edge of their seats as teams prepare for their next fixtures, needing to keep up performance levels in order to climb the ladders of global ranking.
