Scotland Reaches All-Time High in World Rugby Women’s Rankings-2024 Updated
Scotland’s rugby squad reached new heights, ranking fifth in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings—their highest-ever place.
This incredible accomplishment follows a number of recent changes in the women’s rugby scene.
The World Rugby Women’s Rankings have shifted as a result of Ireland’s decisive 36-10 victory over Australia in Belfast on Saturday. Scott Bemand’s rapidly developing team isn’t the only one to gain from their historic performance at Kingspan Stadium.
Ireland has moved up two spots to seventh position with 1.72 points awarded and the same number taken away from Australia. Meanwhile, the Wallaroos have slipped one spot to sixth place as their revised rating of 76.28 points would leave them precisely half a point below Scotland.
Following their first-ever victory over Fiji, Scotland maintained their own rating of 76.78 points. This puts them in fifth place, which is their highest placing since the rankings were instituted in February 2016.
For a Scottish team that was below the top 10 as recently as April 2023, the mantra is constant progress.
Backs coach Matt Banahan stated in a recent interview with Scottish Rugby News, “My challenge now, along with the other coaches, is seeing how far we can push ourselves rather than sitting still and thinking where we have got to is fine.”
“Our goal is to excel in all we do. We wish to demonstrate that we are more than just the Scotland of the past and that we are prepared to take on the greatest.
With their lone prior victory in the series coming in August 2017, Ireland’s victory against Australia was their largest to date, comfortably surpassing their previous best score of 24 points.
Ireland’s victory brings them closer to their highest-ever ranking of fourth, but their current standing of seventh is their best since August 2022.
Ireland’s two-place advance has seen them pass both the USA and Italy. The Women’s Eagles are now in eighth place, and the Azzurre are just behind them in ninth, even though they gained 0.09 points for their 24-8 victory over Japan in Piacenza over the weekend.
After defeating the Black Ferns 24–12 at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham, England maintains its 7.58-point lead over New Zealand at the top of the rankings.
