Six Nations 2026: World Rugby Rankings Update After Round Four

Following a compelling round of the 2026 Six Nations, here’s how round four of the Championship impacted the World Rugby rankings. The weekend’s action began with a hard-fought 27-17 victory for Ireland over Wales, setting the stage for further upsets.

Key Results from Round Four

While Ireland secured a win, the biggest surprises came from Scotland and Italy. Scotland defeated France 50-40, and Italy achieved a historic 23-18 victory over England.

Impact on the World Rugby Rankings

Despite their win, Ireland did not gain any rating points against Wales but maintained their third-place position, as France’s defeat to Scotland prevented a shift in rankings. France remained in fourth place.

Scotland’s Ascent

Scotland earned 1.37 rating points for their win over France, allowing them to remain in seventh place but significantly close the gap on the top five. They now lead Australia by more than 1.5 points. The Guardian reports this bonus point win kept them in the Triple Crown and Championship hunt.

Italy’s Historic Rise

Italy’s historic win against England earned them 1.28 rating points, while England lost the same amount. Italy remains in tenth position, but Steve Borthwick’s England has fallen to sixth, with Argentina moving into the top five. Italy now has a substantial seven-point buffer over 11th-placed Japan and is only 0.05 rating points behind ninth-placed Fiji.

England’s Decline

England’s performance in the 2026 Six Nations has been concerning. Starting the year in third place, they have now dropped to sixth after four rounds and could fall further if they fail to win their remaining matches against France and Scotland. AP News highlights this decline.

Latest World Rugby Rankings (As of March 7, 2026)

1. South Africa 93.94
2. New Zealand 90.33
3. Ireland 88.89
4. France 87.03
5. Argentina 84.97
6. England 87.03
7. Scotland 83.08
8. Australia 81.53
9. Fiji 81.14
10. Italy 81.09
11. Japan 74.09
12. Wales 73.62
13. Georgia 73.48
14. Uruguay 69.19
15. Spain 68.86
16. USA 68.26
17. Portugal 66.74
18. Chile 66.72
19. Tonga 66.66
20. Samoa 66.43

Source: World Rugby Rankings as of March 7, 2026

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