STILL KING OF THE HILL, STILL NOT SHARING THE VIEW: Springboks Tighten Their Chokehold on the World No 1 Ranking as England, Japan and Spain Scramble Up the Ladder Beneath Them

REAL FACTS: The latest World Rugby men’s rankings, released after Round 3 of the Nations Championship (week of 20 July 2026), show South Africa strengthening their hold on the No 1 spot, with England, Japan and Spain among the sides climbing. The Springboks remain the top-ranked team in the world heading into their Argentina Test on 8 August and the four-Test series against the All Blacks. (Source: Planet Rugby)

A grip that’s becoming a chokehold

Movement in the machine room below

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