Record High For Fijiana In World Rugby Women’s Rankings

Fijiana’s first-ever Rugby World Cup victory has cata­pulted them into the top 20 of the World Rugby Women’s Rank­ings powered by Capgemini.

Wednesday 19 October 2022 | 01:51

Rooster Chicken Fijiana 15s winger Vitalina Naikore (with ball) during the team’s training session at Grammar Tec Rugby Football Club ground on September 27, 2022. Photo: FRU Media

Rooster Chicken Fijiana 15s winger Vitalina Naikore (with ball) during the team’s training session at Grammar Tec Rugby Football Club ground on September 27, 2022. Photo: FRU Media

Fijiana’s first-ever Rugby World Cup victory has cata­pulted them into the top 20 of the World Rugby Women’s Rank­ings powered by Capgemini.

Having picked up four rating points for their 21-17 victory against South Africa on Sunday, the tournament debutants are now up to 16th, an improvement of five places.

To underline how far they have come in a short space of time, Fiji entered the rankings at number 32 when they were first introduced in February 2016.

South Africa, meanwhile, have fallen by a couple of places to 13th with Spain and Japan - despite the Sakura Fifteens’ 30-17 loss to USA - each moving up one place as a re­sult.

Neither of the top two, England and New Zealand, received any ad­ditional points for their respective victories over France and Wales.

But third-placed Canada have closed the gap on the Black Ferns to just 1.74 points after they saw off the challenge of in-form Italy by winning 22-12.

Australia gained three-quarters of a point after they came back from 12-0 down to beat Scotland 14-12.

The Wallaroos stay seventh but are just 0.34 of a point behind USA.

In addition to the six second-round matches at Rugby World Cup 2021, there was one Rugby Africa Women’s Cup 2022 match to factor into the equation.

Tunisia beat Senegal 24-7 and climb two places to a new high of 29th, above Madagascar and Ken­ya.

The defeat sees Senegal fall two places to 35th.

Story By: -Rugby World Cup



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