Wales slump to record low in world rankings

Wales’ 22-15 defeat to Italy has seen Warren Gatland’s team sink to their lowest-ever position in the world rankings.

With Georgia beating the Netherlands in the Rugby Europe Championship in the earlier match on Saturday, Wales needed to draw or win against the Azzurri to hang on to 11th place.

However, they now find themselves down in 12th place after falling to a crushing 14th straight Test defeat in the Rome rain, with the Lelos equalling their best-ever position of 11th.

While Georgia’s rating remains at 73.86 points, Wales’ has been reduced to 73.75 with a loss of 0.26 points.

Wales are now only eight-tenths of a point better off than Japan, who they will meet in a crucial two-test series in July.

Unfavourable results in Kitakyushu and Kobe would likely result in Wales dropping out of the second band of seeds (7th to 12th) for the 2027 World Cup draw – unless they can somehow turn around their form in the remaining three rounds of the Six Nations.

England’s 26-25 win over France, meanwhile, has given them a chance of moving into the top band of seeds (1st to 6th) this weekend.

As things stand, England are still in seventh place with France in fourth, but any form of a win for Ireland over Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday afternoon would move Steve Borthwick’s battlers up a place at the expense of the Scots.

England gained 1.32 points for their last-gasp win over Les Bleus and have a new rating of 83.63 points.