Paraguay receive World Rugby Men's Rankings boost

The updated World Rugby Men's Rankings reveal a three-place gain for Paraguay, who have now moved into the world's top 40 thanks to last week's 49-18 win over Colombia in the Qualifier Sudamericano 2025 Phase 1/2 play-off.

With the win, Paraguay have confirmed their place in the Sudamericano 2025 tournament, which serves as the final stage of the region's qualifying process for Men's Rugby World Cup 2027.

Paraguay will join Uruguay, Chile and Brazil as teams chase the one ticket available to the region directly through regional qualifying. 

After a tight opening which saw the teams locked at 3-3 with 26 minutes gone, Paraguay hit their stride to lead 22-11 at the break.

A second-half brace of tries from number eight Gonzalo Camusio then took the game beyond Colombia as Paraguay fell just short of putting 50 points on Los Tucanes for the second year in a row.

Wing Juan González, flanker Ariel Núñez and scrum-half Gonzalo Bareiro had crossed for Paraguay in the first half, while Camusio's tries came either side of an effort from second-row Ignacio Martínez.

Fly-half Joaquín Mussi converted four of the tries and kicked a couple of penalties in a win which sends Paraguay up to 38th place in the rankings.

Full-back Alejandro Guisao scored just before half-time for Colombia, for whom centre Jhojan Ortíz scored the remainder of their points through two penalties and a converted try of his own.

Colombia had gone into the match a place above Paraguay but they are now eight places worse off having fallen to 46th. 

Meanwhile, Finland remain in 78th place despite a record 81-10 win against Norway in the Rugby Europe Men's Conference 2024-25, which included a hat-trick for number eight Curtis Pollard.