International competition for 2018 is underway. Canada hosted Uruguay on Saturday in the opening fixture of the Americas Rugby Championship. The result of the match sees changes straight away in the Americas Rankings. The January 28 2018 rankings see Uruguay gaining points and Canada losing.
Uruguay entered the match with 65.53 ranking points. By winning 38-29 in Canada Los Teros have improved to now be ranked with 66.48 points. It represents a notable closing of the gap between 3rd and 2nd in the Americas.
Canada went into the match with 61.13 points. The loss sees the North Americans tumbling to 60.28 points. This represents a massive gap between 3rd and 4th in the Americas.
The Americas Rankings will be updated again next Sunday. They are to make into account two of the three matches being played. Uruguay host Canada in the return Rugby World Cup 2019 qualifying fixture in Montevideo. Across in Santiago will be Chile at home against Brazil.
Rankings are not to be on the line in Los Angeles, California. The USA play host to the Argentina XV, the official ‘A’ side from Argentina. With it not being Los Pumas rankings points are not to be on the line. However Brazil, Canada, Chile and Uruguay could all gain or lose points depending on their results.
It should be noted that Costa Rica continues to be ranked on 32.16 points. This is the case despite the country having gained World Rugby membership in November 2017. Upon gaining World Rugby membership unions enter the World Rankings and do so with a 30.00 ranking.