Rugby world rankings: Ranking the best nations on the global stage

Footy is a century-old sport played and watched by most of the world's population. Qualifying Men's and Women's teams from member nations around the globe annually battle it out to become the World Cup Champion. Discover which teams dominate the current rugby world rankings.

Annually, the best rugby nations congregate for the World Cup. With the 2023 event slated for September and October, top teams eagerly await their chance to become top dogs. This article will feature the leading Men's and Women's Rugby World Rankings.

How are Rugby World Rankings calculated?

A Points Exchange system calculates the Men's and Women's rankings. According to the Ranking website, each side playing in an international match takes points off each other based on the match outcome, each team's relative strength, the margin of victory, and an allowance for home advantage. In summary, what one side loses, the opponents gain and vice versa.

Does the World Rugby Ranking affect the 2023 World Cup?

The 2023 Rugby World Cup will be played between the 8th of September and the 28th of October in France. Twenty teams will play 48 matches across 51 days in nine venues across 10 French cities.

Teams that can automatically qualify for the RWC are seeded based on their World Rugby Rankings. The twelve squads are positioned into three bands of four, with eight other members of the WRC roster joining through the global qualification process. Acknowledging the importance of the Ranking, former Rugby Union Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said,

Which are the best Men's rugby teams in the world?

A handful of countries have dominated the Union throughout the history of international tournaments. New Zealand stands as the most successful international Men's rugby team of all time, with three WRC titles and eighteen Tri-Nations titles. Here is a summary of the best Men's rugby teams in 2023.

The best Women's rugby teams in the world

The New Zealand Women's team has maintained their place as the most successful nation in the RWC history, with six Championship titles. The team that is rated second on the Women's World Ranking is expected to defend their 2022 World Cup title. Scroll down for the current Women's rugby world champion.

Which are the top 10 best rugby nations in the world currently?

Sports Brief has compiled the top 10 best rugby countries in the world based on the league's points exchange system in which teams receive a rating between 0 and 100 points. Compared to the men's side, squads on the women's side play fewer matches and have different starting ranking points, factors attributed to skewed rankings. Have a look at the 2023 rankings as of 7th August.

10. England Men's - 81.01

England is one of the most successful Six Nations teams, with seven victories between 2000 and 2020. In 2003 and 2006, England completed Grand Slams, where the team won all five fixtures in the tournament. Additionally, the all-time performer won one RWC Championship title in 2003.

9. Scotland Men's - 88.24

Rugby is a big sport in Scotland, and as such, the national squad is an all-time leader in performance. Although the team does not have a Six Nations title yet, it has won numerous Home Nations and Five Nations titles dating as early as the 1880s.

8. Canada Women's - 84.35

Canada's women's rugby team is one of the best in the world. Finishing fourth in the 2022 World Cup, the squad is expected to outperform itself. The country that is a favourite to win the Women's World Cup in 2023 is currently ranked fourth in the global ranking.

7. South Africa Men's - 88.97

Is South Africa the best country when it comes to rugby? Since their initial entry into the Union, the Springbok squad has been one of the winningest teams in the league. Their records include 3 RWC titles in 1995, 2007, and 2019 as well as two third-place wins in the World Cup tournament in 1999 and 2015.

6. France Men's - 89.00

Since 1906, Les Bleus have been constant participants in the RWC, advancing to the quarterfinals in three tournaments in 1987, 1999, and 2011 with one third-place win in 1995. Additionally, the squad won six Six Nations titles between 2002 and 2022.

5. France Women's - 89.62

The French Women's squad has not clinched a single RWC trophy like their male counterparts. They have, however, finished third in six World Cup tournaments in 1991, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2017, and 2021. The squad bested all their Six Nations counterparts, winning six titles in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2016, and 2018 with five Grand Slams.

4. New Zealand Men's - 90.77

Are the All Blacks the best rugby team in the world? The team is a global powerhouse with the highest winning percentage of 77.12% between 1903 and 2021. The squad that has held seven World Ruedgby’s Team of the Year titles holds numerous records, including 10 Tri-Nations trophies, seven RWC titles, and 19 Bledisloe Cups.

3. Ireland Men's - 91.82

Regarded as the kings of rugby, the Ireland rugby team has sealed its lofty position as an all-time top contender. The squad's performance is incomplete, with no RWC victories. However, they finished fourth at the World Cup Quarterfinals stage in 1987, 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015, and 2019 with four Six Nations titles between 2009 and 2018.

2. New Zealand Women's - 93.86

Which country is best at Women's rugby? With an 85% winning rate, the Black Ferns have dominated the union with six RWC titles in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2017 and 2021. From sold-out venues to millions in TV viewership, the squad's performance attracts a large number of spectators making it one of the few most viewed women's sporting events.

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1. England Women's - 94.55

With its success story termed 'meteoric', the two-time World Championships currently occupy the number one ranking with the highest points for men's and women's rugby. The Red Roses have distinguished themselves as an elite rugby team winning fourteen Women's Six Nations titles with two Grand Slams in 2019 and 2020.

There is potential for movement in the rugby world rankings owing to upcoming matches, including the final Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup 2023 warm-up matches. Countries expected to make minimal to significant climbs in the rankings include South Africa, Italy, Japan and Argentina.

Sports Brief recently published an in-depth analysis of the greatest rivalry in rugby. Rivalries exist in every competitive sport, with some spanning over decades.

The fierce rivalry between New Zealand's All Blacks and Australia's Wallabies has existed for over a century. Click on the link above to learn more about the historic rivals that have dominated the Rugby Union for decades.

Rank	Country	Points
1	Ireland	91.82
2	New Zealand	90.77
3	France	89.00
4	South Africa	88.97
5	Scotland	84.24
6	England	81.01
7	Argentina	80.86
8	Australia	79.87
9	Wales	79.18
10	Fiji	78.70