World Rugby Women's Rankings preview: 19-20 September, 2025

World Rugby has published the ranking permutations for the semi-finals of Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 in England this weekend.

Permutation highlights:

• The semi-finals feature the top four sides in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings.
• New Zealand will replace Canada in second place if they emerge victorious from their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 semi-final in Bristol on Friday.
• Canada will drop another place to fourth if France end England’s record 31-test winning run at the same stadium a day later.
• England can only surrender the number one ranking they have held since November 2020 if they lose by more than 15 points.
• If this happens then either France or Canada will replace the Red Roses atop the rankings, Canada needing to win by more than 15 points to deny France the number one ranking for the first time.
• This scenario would see England equal their lowest-ever position of third and New Zealand drop to a new low of fourth.
• A 17th consecutive victory over France will not come with any rating point gain for England, a consequence of the 11.34 points difference between the teams.