Fiji climb to 13th as Women’s Rugby World Cup rankings shift after final pool round
The conclusion of the pool stage at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 delivered a notable reshaping of the world rankings. Fiji’s emotional 28-25 victory over Wales lifted the Pacific nation to a best-ever 13th, a four-spot gain that同时 pushed Wales down to 12th, their lowest position on record.
Spain also moved in the wrong direction, dropping to 14th after a 29-21 defeat to Japan, who celebrated a rise to 11th. Otherwise, the top 10 remained largely intact. New Zealand’s 40-0 win over Ireland saw their rating edge up by a mere 0.02 points, which wasn’t enough to lift them from third place.
World No. 1 England maintained their position, with Canada and France also holding their spots behind them despite wins over Australia, Scotland, and South Africa respectively. The USA and Italy, meanwhile, both benefited from victories over lower-ranked opponents but did not gain rating points to alter their standings.
With the quarter-finals set to take place this weekend, several teams will be aiming to capitalize on any momentum from this ranking snapshot. Here are the Top 15 rankings as they stood yesterday:
1. England 97.76
2. Canada 90.13
3. New Zealand 88.76
4. France 85.82
5. Ireland 78.79
6. Scotland 77.39
7. Australia 75.46
8. USA 72.90
9. Italy 72.37
10. South Africa 71.62
11. Japan 69.72
12. Wales 66.13
13. Fiji 63.98
14. Spain 62.42
15. Samoa 59.72
Context and outlook
These shifts come amid broader fluctuations across the sport. In the men’s game, Fiji recently broke into the top 10 after defeating Georgia, and Wales slid out of the top tier for the first time, underscoring how quickly rankings can move after key results. The women’s side has also seen volatility, with Fiji’s women’s team experiencing a drop to 15th ahead of the WXV 3 tournament in late September before the latest round of matches, illustrating the ongoing evolution of the game and opportunities for growth in regions like the Pacific.
What this means for the knockout stage
With the quarter-finals on the horizon, teams will be keen to translate ranking momentum into on-field performance. Fiji’s climb suggests a boost in confidence and momentum, particularly heading into matches against higher-ranked foes. Wales, Spain, and other previously rising teams will look to reassert themselves as the tournament moves toward the semis.
A hopeful note for growth
The weekend’s action reinforces the story of rugby’s expanding footprint and the rising competitiveness across tiers. With rising teams challenging the usual powerhouses, fans can expect tighter contests, more meaningful rankings shifts, and continued development of women’s rugby on the global stage.
Brief takeaway
The final pool round reshaped the landscape, highlighted by Fiji’s best-ever 13th and Wales’s historic drop to 12th, while Japan climbed to 11th and Spain fell to 14th. The top 10 remain anchored by England at the summit, with the knockout rounds poised to deliver more drama and opportunity for upsets and breakthroughs.
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