- Springboks top of the tree in 15s
Sri Lanka, fresh from their fourth Asia Rugby Men’s Division-1 title win over the weekend, has jumped three places to occupy 41st position, in the latest updated version of Men’s World Rankings, released on the website of World Rugby (WR).
Before the commencement of the Asia Rugby Division-1 segment in Colombo, the island-nation was placed 44th in the World Rankings, in the 15-a-side code.
However, following lop-sided victories over India (45-10) and Kazakhstan (45-7) respectively, in the Asia Rugby Championship, Suhiru Anthony’s team has managed to surge forward in the international rugby pecking order.
This is also their best position in the rankings, since they were 40th in August six years ago, while Kazakhstan will continue to remain in 64th.
Qatar, who won the third-place play-off against India 34-25, has climbed four places to a new high of 90th, with India dropping two to 89th.
In the Asian region, Philippines, Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, continue to be ahead of the ‘Tuskers’ in the rankings, with Philippines, being marginally ahead with a points tally of 47.80 in the 40th position, compared to Sri Lanka’s 47.39.
As expected the Eddie Jones coached ‘Brave Blossoms’, continue to be the top dogs in Asia, being currently placed 12th in the rankings, with 74.27 points.
Expatriates-laden Hong Kong, are the next best outfit from the continent, being placed 24th, with a points tally of 59.80, with Korea pursuing them in the 30th slot, with a tally of 53.46 points.
Four-times world champions South Africa, continue to call the shorts at the top of the ladder, having amassed 94-54 points.
They are closely followed by 2024 Six Nations Grand Slam winners Ireland, who are placed second with 90.69 points and three-times world champions New Zealand, in third with 89.80 points.
A mouth-watering top of the table clash for rugby fans, will be in the offing, come July this year, when the Siya Kolisi-led Springboks, appear for the first time, since their momentous 2023 World Cup win in France, by hosting Six Nations champions Ireland, in a two-Test series.
The reigning world champions of Rasi Erasmus, before tackling the Irish, will be in action against the Warren Gatland coached 10th placed Wales, who have a points tally of 77.26 points, in a one-off Test in Cardiff, on 30 June.
Similarly World Cup runners-up All Blacks, under the new coaching regime of Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson, will welcome Steve Borthwick’s fifth placed World Cup semifinalist England, with 85.75 points, in a three-Test series.
Meanwhile, two-time world champions Australia, who missed out on the World Cup knock-out round for the first time ever in their history, are currently languishing in the ninth position in the World Rankings, with a tally of 77.48 points, will host the Welsh in a three-Test series in July.