Latest World Rugby rankings: Springboks top as final 2025 standings confirmed ahead of World Cup draw
World Ranking with Rassie Erasmus.
The Springboks end 2025 in the same position they started it, top of the official World Rugby Rankings.
South Africa thrashed Wales 73-0 in the final game of the international season, but despite the margin of victory, the Springboks earned no ranking points boost for the result.
Top 10 teams in the World Rugby Rankings
Ahead of the final match of the weekend, the bands for the 2027 Rugby World Cup were already set in place with Japan notably moving ahead of Georgia in the rankings and in Band 2, courtesy of a 25-23 victory.
Hosts Australia will automatically feature in Pool A, but will have one of South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France or Argentina joining them as the Wallabies failed to end the year in Band 1.
The biggest movers this year in the top 10 of the World Rugby rankings were England as Steve Borthwick’s charges started the year in seventh place but ended it in third, only behind South Africa and New Zealand.
The All Blacks have moved from third to second since the start of the year, while Ireland have dropped two places into fourth.
France have surrendered one position, dropping down and the same is true for Argentina, who ended the year in sixth and the final Band 1 position.
While Australia set their sights on sixth spot later in the year, the Wallabies fell just one spot shy. They are one place better off than they were in January.
Fiji, Scotland, and Italy round out the top 10 respectively, while only the Azzurri stay in the same position they started the year (10th). Scotland have fallen from sixth to ninth, while Fiji moved up one place to eighth.
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Movement outside the top 10
Wales were ranked as low as 14th at one point this year, but ultimately ended the year as they started it in 11th place. Japan crucially moved into 12th during the final full weekend of Test rugby – one place better off than in January. The opposite is true for Georgia, who are one place worse off in 13th.
Uruguay (17th) and Spain (18th) both moved up three positions this year, while the USA dropped down to 16th. Chile’s charge to the Rugby World Cup qualification resulted in a jump in the rankings from 21st position to 17th.
Tonga are one place better off in 18th while Samoa plummeted from 14th down to 19th, with Portugal rounding out the top 20, having started the year in 16th.
Romania (22), Hong Kong China (23), Zimbabwe (24), and Canada (25)are the other teams who have secured 2027 World Cup qualification who are ranked outside the top 20.
Confirmed Rugby World Cup draw bands
Band 1: South Africa, New Zealand, England, Ireland, France, Argentina
Band 2: Australia, Fiji, Scotland, Italy, Wales, Japan
Band 3: Georgia, Spain, Uruguay, USA, Chile, Tonga
Band 4: Samoa, Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong China, Zimbabwe, Canada
When will the 2027 World Cup draw be made, and where can I watch it?
Final World Rugby Rankings for 2025
Updated as of 29/11/2025
1 South Africa 93.94
2 New Zealand 90.33
3 England 89.41
4 Ireland 87.97
5 France 87.24
6 Argentina 84.97
7 Australia 81.53
8 Fiji 81.14
9 Scotland 80.22
10 Italy 78.98
11 Wales 74.23
12 Japan 74.09
13 Georgia 73.18
14 Uruguay 69.19
15 Spain 69.01
16 USA 68.26
17 Chile 66.72
18 Tonga 66.66
19 Samoa 66.43
20 Portugal 64.98
