South Africa's loss to Argentina in the Rugby Championship has allowed Ireland to leapfrog the Springboks and secure the top position once again.
This achievement marks another highlight in a remarkable period of success for Andy Farrell’s side, which has been one of the most dominant sides in international rugby over the last few years. Ireland's ascent back to the pinnacle of the world rankings comes after a hugely successful 2023 and 2024 season. Not only did they win back-to-back Guinness Men’s Six Nations titles, but they also had an impressive summer tour, culminating in a drawn series with the Springboks (who Ireland also beat at last year's Rugby World Cup).
Ireland's continued consistency at the highest level has been a hallmark of Farrell's reign, but they first claimed the number one spot in September 2019 under then head coach Joe Schmidt (whose Australia have dropped to tenth in the rankings).
As World Rugby explains it, their rankings "are calculated using a 'Points Exchange' system, where sides gain or lose points based on the match result. Other criteria include the relative strength of each team, the margin of victory, and an allowance for home advantage."
The team has a chance to back up their current status as world number one during an exciting Autumn Nations Series campaign this November, when they face New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji and Australia at the Aviva Stadium.
The Irish provinces began their URC campaigns in winning fashion over the weekend, with the only loss coming in Connacht's defeat to Munster.
