Simbas slip in latest World Rugby rankings

Saturday’s 33-33 Rugby Africa Gold Cup draw against Uganda at the RFUEA Ground has seen the Simbas drop one place in the latest rankings released by World rugby on Monday afternoon.

Jerome Paarwater’s charges move from 25th to 26th with 58.17 ranking points while Uganda climbed five places to 40th. New Zealand is still on the summit of the global rankings.

In January 2017, the Simbas were ranked 24th after last year’s double wins over Hong Kong in a test match in Nairobi, but a loss at home to Germany and the draw with Uganda on Saturday now sees them drop further.

Uganda have now moved four places up to 40th.

Jerome Paarwater’s men will hope for better outings when they get into match day two and three of the Gold Cup from July 8, with home ties against Tunisia and Senegal before playing away to Zimbabwe and Namibia.

While Zimbabwe moved up one spot to 35th courtesy of their win over Senegal in the Gold Cup, Namibia remained perched at 21st while Senegal moved down six places to 45th.

South Africa remains the best African team having moved up to fifth on the rankings with the weekend’s 35-12 win over France.