Ireland rise to third in World Rugby Rankings after Six Nations Round 3
Ireland’s emphatic victory over England and Scotland’s dramatic comeback against Wales have led to changes in the latest World Rugby rankings following Round 3 of the 2026 Six Nations.
World Rugby Rankings After Six Nations Round 3
Ireland climbed two places to third in the updated World Rugby rankings after a 42-21 win over England. The result lifted Andy Farrell’s side back into the top three, strengthening their position in the northern hemisphere standings.
England, who have now suffered consecutive defeats in this year’s championship, dropped one place to fifth. The loss significantly dents their Six Nations title hopes and impacts their global ranking position.
France remain among the leading nations despite shifting one place to fourth in the standings. South Africa continue to hold the number one ranking, with New Zealand in second.
Ireland Win Over England Boosts Ranking
Ireland’s response to earlier setbacks in the tournament proved decisive. After an opening defeat to France and a tight win over Italy, the victory over England delivered valuable ranking points.
The win marked a significant improvement in performance levels and reinforced Ireland’s credentials ahead of the remaining championship fixtures.
Scotland And Wales Ranking Changes
Scotland’s 26-23 win over Wales earned them ranking gains, moving them up to seventh in the world standings. The narrow victory keeps them within reach of the leading group.
Wales slipped to 12th following another defeat. Italy remain 10th after their 33-8 loss to France, with no ranking points exchanged in that fixture.
With two rounds remaining in the Six Nations, further changes in the World Rugby rankings remain possible as teams continue to compete for championship honours.
World Rugby Top 10 Rankings:
| Rank |
Team |
Rating Points |
| 1 |
South Africa |
93.94 |
| 2 |
New Zealand |
90.33 |
| 3 |
Ireland |
88.89 |
| 4 |
France |
88.40 |
| 5 |
England |
85.62 |
| 6 |
Argentina |
84.97 |
| 7 |
Scotland |
81.71 |
| 8 |
Australia |
81.53 |
| 9 |
Fiji |
81.14 |
| 10 |
Italy |
79.81 |
