Scotland win leads to big swing in World Rugby Women's Rankings

Only one place separated Scotland from Wales in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings heading into Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, but the picture has changed significantly following the result of Saturday’s match between the teams in Salford.

Scotland’s crushing 38-8 win over their Six Nations rivals – their largest in the 32-year history of the fixture – will result in them jumping two places in the rankings to sixth when they are officially updated at noon on Monday.

Bryan Easson’s side have leapfrogged Australia and Italy to move to within one place of their all-time best ranking of fifth, while Wales are now one off their worst-ever ranking of 11th, having been ninth before the start of play.

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

With 2.05 points won by Scotland and an identical amount lost by Wales, a gap of 7.26 points now exists between the teams in terms of their respective ratings.

Other than that, there has been precious little movement in the rankings after a set of results that was entirely predictable.

None of the higher-ranked teams lost to underdogs, and, as such, the status quo remains very much the same, with the top five of England, Canada, New Zealand, France and Ireland unchanged.

However, the USA have actually moved up a place despite losing 69-7 to hosts England in the tournament’s curtain raiser in Sunderland on Friday night.

While the USA’s rating of 72.05 remained unaffected by the defeat, Wales’ has dropped to 70.13 points, placing them ninth and 10th respectively.

The Scotland vs Wales match was not the only match where rating points were won or lost. France made slight gains for their 24-0 win over Italy, but nowhere near enough to improve on their current standing of fourth, while Ireland’s reward for beating Japan 42-14 was negligible.

Updated World Rugby Women’s Rankings*

1. England – 97.76
2. Canada – 90.13
3. New Zealand – 88.74
4. France – 85.82
5. Ireland – 78.82
6. Scotland – 77.39
7. Australia – 76.31
8. Italy – 75.96
9. USA – 72.05
10. Wales – 70.13

*as of noon on Monday, 25 August 2025