Canada moves to No. 13 in rugby rankings after wins over Fiji and Tonga

TORONTO – Canada has moved up one place to No. 13 in the IRB world rankings, after consecutive rugby wins over Fiji and Tonga last week.

Both Pacific Island nations fell one spot: Tonga to No. 12 and Fiji to No. 14 after their Pacific Nations Cup losses in Canada

Ireland moved up one spot to No. 8, dropping Argentina to No. 9. Italy jumped two places to No. 10 while Georgia improved one spot to No. 16.

Going the other way were Scotland (down one to No. 11) and the U.S. (down one to No. 17).

Scotland dropped out of the top 10 in the wake of a 27-17 loss to Samoa at a four-nation tournament in South Africa. The Samoans have now beaten all but New Zealand, South Africa, England and France in the world’s top 15.

Italy, a 44-10 loser to South Africa in the same tournament, took advantage of the slips by Scotland and Tonga to move up.

New Zealand remains first after stretching its 19-year unbeaten record at Eden Park to 31 matches with a 23-13 victory over France.

South Africa, Australia, England and Wales complete the top five.

Argentina and Ireland swapped places in eighth and ninth after the Pumas’ 32-3 loss to England.

The touring Irish, who edged the U.S. 15-12 in Houston, take on Canada at Toronto’s BMO Field on Saturday.