Newly-crowned HKRU Cup of Nations champions Russia have moved up to 18th in the World Rugby Rankings on the back of their title-winning campaign in Hong Kong.

Convincing wins over Zimbabwe and host nation Hong Kong on top of their round one success over Portugal – saw Russia gain 1.98 rating points as well as the prized silverware.

Canada and Uruguay slip one place apiece to 19th and 20th as a result of the Bears’ success, while fellow RWC 2015 participants Namibia fall two places to 22nd.

Spain now occupy 21st position following a 54-10 win against Chile in Torrelavega. Los Condores head coach Paul Healy had no complaints about the result. “Spain were much superior today. We committed too many errors.”

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Chile lost 0.42 of a point as a result of the heavy defeat in northern Spain but remain in 24th place, one below Hong Kong, who lost just over a point during the course of their Cup of Nations campaign.

Portugal’s 36-11 win over Zimbabwe in the Cup of Nations third place play-off came with a 1.08 points boost, moving them above Kenya, Belgium and Ukraine in the rankings to 26th.

In the only other game to take place at the weekend, the Czech Republic kept up the pressure on Switzerland at the top of the European Nations Cup Division 2A with a 20-13 win over Malta at the Hibernians Stadium in Kordin.

Thanks to second-row Martin Wognitsch’s last-gasp score, the Czechs are now just one point behind the Swiss in the 2A table – and one place below them in the rankings at 36th.

Malta drop three places to 49th with the Cook Islands, Croatia and Uganda the beneficiaries.