Rugby | World Rugby Men's Rankings preview: 21-22 June, 2024

World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for the men's internationals, Asia Rugby Men's Championship and Rugby Americas North Men's Championship matches this weekend.

Permutation highlights:

• South Africa cannot improve their rating at the top of the rankings with victory over Wales this weekend due to the 17.28-point differential between the teams.
• Wales will move above Australia into ninth if they avoid defeat at Twickenham, with a two-place gain possible if their victory margin is more than 15 points.
• The Springboks cannot surrender top spot even with such a defeat but their cushion over Ireland in second would be cut by three points to 0.85.
• England cannot improve on fifth place with victory over Japan in Tokyo as they can only gain a maximum of 0.22 rating points.
• Japan will hang onto 12th by the slimmest of margins – 0.02 rating points – if they lose by more than 15 points to England.
• However, a first test victory over England at the fifth attempt will only be enough to move the Brave Blossoms above Fiji in the rankings if the margin is more than 15 points.
• Hong Kong China will remained unmoved in 24th if they beat Korea to win the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024 title as there are no points on offer due to the 8.20 rating point difference between the teams before home weighting is factored in.
• However, defeat would see Hong Kong China fall at least one place in the rankings, three if the margin is by more than 15 points.
• With a win Korea will regain the three places they lost following the defeat by United Arab Emirates a fortnight ago, returning to 30th place.
• In the other Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024 encounter, Malaysia could climb as many as four places to 45th if they beat United Arab Emirates by more than 15 points in Dubai.
• Having moved up to their best-ever position of 57th a fortnight ago on the back of beating Korea, the United Arab Emirates can climb another five places in victory and become the higher-ranked of the two nations.
• Trinidad and Tobago will move back into the world’s top 50 if they come away from Guyana with a win in the Rugby Americas North Men’s Championship 2024.
• The hosts will gain at least one place – possibly more depending on the scoreline and other results – if they back up their recent win over Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain.

VIEW WORLD RUGBY MEN'S RANKINGS >>

Match officials: 

• Luc Ramos (France) will referee Japan and England for the first time when the sides meet in Tokyo on Saturday. It will also be the first time the Frenchman takes charge of a team in the top 10 of the World Rugby Men's Rankings.
• Chris Busby (Ireland) will be in the middle for South Africa v Wales at Twickenham, taking charge of both teams for the first time and his first test featuring two teams in the top 10 of the World Rugby Men's Rankings. 
• Morgan White (Hong Kong China) will referee United Arab Emirates for the second time when they take on Malaysia in the Asia Rugby Men's Championship on Friday, having been in the middle for their 95-0 defeat of Pakistan in Division I last year.
• Takehito Namekawa (Japan) takes charge of the final Asia Rugby Men's Championship 2024 fixture between Hong Kong China v Korea on Saturday, having been an assistant referee for this fixture in 2023.