Italy’s 18-15 win over Scotland in rain-sodden Rome has resulted in the teams swapping places in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings.
Once the rankings are officially updated at noon on Monday, the triumphant Azzurri will move up to ninth following their first opening weekend win in 13 years, with Scotland falling to 10th.
It is the first time that Italy have been ahead of Scotland in the rankings since June 2013, when the teams were ranked 10th and 11th.
Italy will receive an additional 0.82 points for an improved rating of 79.81 points, 0.41 points more than Scotland, who lose an identical amount in exchange.
Italy and Scotland are not the only Six Nations teams to trade places. France have climbed above Ireland into fourth place, as a result of Les Bleus convincing 36-14 win in Paris in the 2026 Six Nations curtain-raiser. The Irish are down to a near four-year low of fifth.
England remain in third place with an unchanged rating of 89.41 points as their dominant 48-7 win over Wales at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham did not come with any rankings reward.
Wales are also unchanged in 10th place on 74.24 points.
There were away wins for the two Iberian teams in the opening round of the Rugby Europe Men’s Championship.
Spain began their bid to go one better than last year when they finished runners-up to Georgia with a 51-33 win over the Netherlands in Amsterdam, while Portugal managed to avoid a potential banana skin against Belgium, coming away from Mons with a 47-17 victory.
Los Leones’ ranking of 15th will not be altered by the result, but Os Lobos will move up to 19th at the expense of Samoa, who will drop to a record low of 20th.
The remaining two matches in the opening round of the Rugby Europe Championship take place today, with Switzerland at home to defending champions Georgia and Germany hosting Romania.
Updated World Rugby Men’s Rankings Top 12
1. South Africa 93.94
2. New Zealand 90.33
3. England 89.41
4. France 88.40
5. Ireland 86.81
6. Argentina 84.97
7. Australia 81.53
8. Fiji 81.14
9. Italy 79.81
10. Scotland 79.40
11. Wales 74.23
12. Japan 74.09