Fittingly, the two champions will meet at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi next Saturday and both will be eager to make it six wins from six in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup before being presented with their trophies.
Samoa did all they could with an impressive 36-5 victory over Portugal in Lisbon, but USA's 53-24 victory in Romania meant they maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the Americas and Pacific pool and cannot be caught with one round to play next weekend.
This match also proved decisive in confirming Georgia as Pool A winners, the Lelos' bonus-point, 55-31 victory over Tonga meant that no matter what Spain did against Chile later in Madrid they would be at least six points off top spot. As it happened, Spain lost 25-20 to Chile so remain third in the Europe, Asia and Africa pool, 10 points behind champions Georgia.
There were also wins for Canada and Uruguay, the latter edging a tight battle with Zimbabwe 20-15 to claim their first win of the tournament. Canada needed an impressive second half to turn a 10-point deficit into a 38-17 victory over Hong Kong China in France.
The World Rugby Nations Cup 2026 concludes next weekend when Romania host Canada in the opening game on Friday, before a day later Hong Kong China return home to face Tonga, Spain host Samoa, Portugal tackle their Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 opponents Uruguay and Zimbabwe meet Chile in France.
ROMANIA 24-53 USA: Eagles soar to title success after hard-earned win in Bucharest
USA showed their class to be confirmed as Pool A champions with a comprehensive bonus-point win over Romania at the Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest.
The Men's Eagles knew a win would be enough to clinch top spot in the Americas and Pacific pool. They did just that by running in seven tries against their hosts in the Romanian capital to maintain their 100 per cent record with a fifth straight win and secure a record win over the Oaks.
Scott Lawrence’s side led 22-10 at the break following scores from Noah Brown, Rufus McLean and Perry Mayo before Jason Damm, Nathan Den Hoedt, Tavite Lopeti and McLean added second-half tries.
Jubilant captain Damm said: “It came down to us working really hard within our game model. We saw the results of that and, when it’s going well, it looks amazing.”
Romania showed plenty of spirit against their visitors and first-half scores from Taylor Gontineac and captain Cristi Boboc – plus a second-half penalty try and Adrian Emanuel Mitu’s late score – secured them a losing bonus point.
Second-row Adrian Motoc said: “We conceded too many points and didn’t present ourselves as we’d like to. We scored at the end but it didn’t matter because we conceded over 50 points at home so it was a really bad night.”
Brown and McLean struck to put USA in control before Gontineac crossed the line for Romania. Influential full-back Mayo added a third try for the Men's Eagles before Boboc's score meant Romania trailed 22-10 at the interval.
Damm and Den Hoedt reasserted the visitors' superiority before Lopeti and McLean again touched down either side of a penalty try for the hosts which resulted in Nafi Ma’afu being sin-binned. Romania fought to the end and were rewarded with a try from Mitu.
GEORGIA 55-31 TONGA: Lelos celebrate landmark test with title glory
History was made in Tbilisi as Georgia marked their 300th international match with a fifth straight win in the World Rugby Nations Cup 2026 to become crowned Pool B champions with a round to spare.
It was 12 September, 1989 when the Shevardens, representing independent Georgia, played their first international in a 16-3 win over Zimbabwe in Kutaisi.
Legendary players who featured in that game – Bartlome Khamashuridze, Aleksander Khvedelidze, David Ghudushauri, Gela Pirtskhalava, Malkhaz Cheishvili – were in attendance at Avchala Stadium to see the current side overcome Tonga.
The bonus-point success – Georgia’s biggest-ever win over Tonga – was rapturously received by the home crowd as the Lelos outscored their opponents by eight tries to five.
Georgia captain Davit Niniashvili said: “It feels good. We prepared for this and knew Tonga are big boys. The second half was good and when we have this support behind us, it gives us even more energy so I hope they will keep coming to support us.”
His Tonga counterpart Ben Tameifuna said: “You can't give easy ball to a team like Georgia, especially with the set-piece they have. I’m definitely proud of the team and I feel like we are definitely heading in the right direction. But congratulations to Georgia.”
Tameifuna put Tonga ahead with a close-range score but they lost Patrick Pellegrini to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on and Georgia scored twice in six minutes through Vano Karkadze. The hooker’s first was an easy close-range finish and he repeated the trick for his second try with a similar effort before scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze added a third home score.
Tonga cut the hosts’ lead when flanker Semisi Paea claimed their second try following a superb maul as Georgia took a 22-14 advantage into the break.
Shortly after the restart, Georgia lost Akaki Tabutsadze to a yellow card before John Tapueluelu collected a stunning offload from full-back Taniela Filimone and scampered over in the right corner.
Georgia then claimed their bonus-point try when Niniashvili darted over from close range before Tabutsadze finished clinically for his 55th try in 63 internationals.
Beka Saginadze, Tabutsadze again and replacement Gela Aprasidze underlined Georgia’s dominance but Tonga scored again through Veikoso Poloniati and Lotu Inisi. The 'Ikale Tahi also had Fetuli Paea sin-binned late on.
HONG KONG CHINA 17-38 CANADA: Canada produce second-half masterclass to clinch bonus-point win
Canada showed their class by coming from behind to claim an ultimately comfortable bonus-point victory over Hong Kong China.
Stephen Meehan’s men trailed 17-7 early in the second half but moved through the gears in style and ran out worthy victors at Chambéry Savoie Stadium in Chambéry, France.
After their second win of the tournament, Canada captain Ben LeSage said: “We work really hard to earn victories and in the second half I think we showed the type of rugby we want to play. I’m really proud of the guys.”
Hong Kong China skipper Joshua Hrstich said: “Canada are a quality side, but we shot ourselves in the foot. It’s a massive opportunity to learn and I want to thank everyone in this rugby-mad region of France which has made us feel so welcome.”
Canada lost centre Isaac Olson to a yellow card in the 22nd minute for a high challenge on Hong Kong China winger Harry Sayers. The Asian side capitalised almost immediately, scoring through flanker Jack Bartlett who took Marcus Ramage’s deft offload and crashed over the line.
After Olson returned to the field, Canada fashioned a try of their own five minutes before the break through Nic Benn. The winger went over from close range and Hong Kong China lost prop Faizal Solomona to a yellow card.
Hong Kong China led 10-7 at half-time and scored again two minutes after the break through Paul Altier to leave Canada trailing 17-7.
They then lost captain Hrstich to the sin-bin and Canada were awarded a penalty try before further scores from Spencer Jones, Andrew Quattrin, Sam Miller and Takoda McMullin saw Meehan’s team home.
PORTUGAL 5-36 SAMOA: Samoa register emphatic win over Portugal
Samoa showed their class to comfortably dispatch Portugal in an impressive bonus-point victory at Estadio do Restelo in Lisbon.
Still bubbling from their 43-7 win over Zimbabwe seven days earlier, the visitors surged into a commanding 24-0 lead over Os Lobos in the Portuguese capital.
Tries from Peter Umaga-Jensen, captain Theo McFarland, Niko Jones and Latrell Ah Kiong put them in total control at the break in the first-ever test match between the sides. And although Portugal hit back through Domingos Cabral, Samoa added further late scores through McFarland and Miracle Faiilagi.
Long-serving Portugal centre Tomás Appleton, who made his international debut against Namibia in 2014, earned his 90th cap after being picked to continue in midfield.
Samoa kept with the same side who beat Zimbabwe so impressively last weekend and they led in the sixth minute when Umaga-Jensen brilliantly burst through midfield to score. Captain McFarland added a second with a pick-and-go try before Jones got in on the act with a similar close-range effort.
Ah Kiong, who scored a hat-trick against Zimbabwe seven days previously, added Samoa’s fourth when he raced clear from halfway after intercepting an errant Portugal pass.
Portugal hit back through Cabral in the 61st minute but McFarland’s second try and Faiilagi’s late score set the seal on a on a fine win for Samoa to keep them second in Pool A behind USA.
ZIMBABWE 15-20 URUGUAY: Los Teros edge out battling Zimbabwe in west London
Uruguay edged an enthralling encounter to overcome spirited Zimbabwe and claim their first win of the World Rugby Nations Cup 2026.
A hugely-entertaining first half at the Trailfinders Sports Ground saw both sides score two tries apiece, but two second-half penalties from fly-half Icaro Amarillo gave Los Teros the win before a sold-out crowd in Ealing, London.
Victorious captain Manuel Leindekar revealed: “We changed our attitude in the second half and our defence was really good. We’re just really happy to get a win for Los Teros.”
After a fifth straight loss for the Sables, captain Tino Mavesere said: “There were a few mistakes here and there but it was an honourable fight from the boys – right to the end. Yes, we’ve had a few losses but we’re going to keep taking the positives and the fans have come out in their numbers, which has been awesome.”
Uruguay centre Juan Manuel Alonso opened the scoring with a seventh-minute try which saw him finish off a delightful handling sequence from close range.
Prop Mateo Sanguinetti provided the final pass but Zimbabwe steadied themselves and hit back with two tries in six minutes midway through the first half.
Flanker and Mavesere touched down in the 20th minute with a crafty close-range score and Godfrey Muzanargwo then scored a brilliant try in the left corner five minutes later.
Uruguay then registered their second try when Juan Gonzalez dived over in the right corner but the Sables took a 15-14 lead into the break – only for Amarillo’s two penalties to prove decisive.
SPAIN 20-25 CHILE: Garafulic seizes centre stage to boot Chile to close-fought win in Madrid
Matias Garafulic was Chile’s hero with the boot as he kicked 20 points to hand his side victory over Spain at a rain-soaked Estadio Ontime Butarque in Madrid.
In a hard-fought affair in the Spanish capital, the visitors dug deep to eke out the win and were grateful to their full-back’s composure from the tee as Chile ended a 27-year wait for a victory on Spanish soil.
Garafulic converted Manuel Bustamante’s 23rd-minute try and also landed six penalties in a match-winning contribution.
Spain scored tries either side of half-time through captain Alvaro Garcia Albo and Joel Merkler, but Chile were not to be denied as they claimed a third win from five games in the inaugural Nations Cup.
At times it was an ill-disciplined affair and Bustamante struck in the left corner after Spain had Raphael Nieto as sin-binned for a high tackle.
Spain struck through Garcia Albo as half-time approached but Chile took a 16-7 lead into the break. The hosts scored again through Merkler but Garafulic kept the scoreboard ticking over for the visitors during a second half which saw home scrum-half Estanislao Bay and Chile flanker Ernesto Tchimino shown yellow cards.
Spain host Samoa in Malaga in their final game next weekend while Chile take on Zimbabwe at Stade Chanzy in Angoulême, France.
