This is the other face of international rugby this summer. Created this year, the World Rugby Nations Cup brings together the best of the second-tier nations, and its second round again delivered on its promise: tries galore, a spectacular draw and a pecking order taking shape a year out from the 2027 World Cup. Here are the results and the talking points.
A brand-new competition, already a spectacle
Created this year, the World Rugby Nations Cup brings together twelve sides split into two pools of six and positions itself as a shop window for the second-tier nations. The concept is winning people over: in the first round alone, the teams had already scored 59 tries, with its share of upsets and wild finishes. It was in that attacking climate that this second round was played, broadcast on RugbyPass TV.
Georgia tighten their grip
Unsurprisingly, Georgia continue to look like the bosses of this category. The only side in their pool to win on the opening round, they did it again by beating Samoa 33-12, taking their record to two wins from two. A clear, professional win that confirms their status as the best second-tier nation and the now-narrowing gap with some of the historic Pacific nations. The previous five meetings between the two sides since 2003 had all been decided by ten points or fewer: this time, the margin says a great deal.
Portugal and Spain get back on track
The Iberian peninsula shone, and it needed to. Beaten on the buzzer by the United States (30-29) on their opening outing, Portugal responded in the best possible way with a comfortable win in Canada (38-14), driven by braces from Raffaele Storti and Tomas Appleton. At the same time Spain, held a week earlier by those same Canadians (42-42, the highest score ever recorded in a drawn test match according to World Rugby), saw off Tonga (32-19). Two responses that confirm the vitality of Iberian rugby.
Uruguay v Romania, the wild match of the round
The spectacle came from South America. In a completely unrestrained contest, Uruguay and Romania finished level at an extraordinary 36-36. Uruguay back Joaquin Myszka put on a show with a hat-trick, while Tevita Manumua answered with a brace for Romania. A benchmark match for illustrating the intensity and unpredictability of this competition, between two nations whose meetings have historically been tight.
The Americas take care of business, eyes on 2027
Finally, the United States controlled Zimbabwe (31-15) in the two nations’ first ever meeting, claiming in the process, according to the specialist press, their first ever win over that side. Chile, for their part, beat Hong Kong (38-17) with a brace from Raimundo Martinez, and top their pool with two wins. Two results that confirm the rise of rugby in the Americas. What is at stake goes beyond this tournament, too: Zimbabwe have already qualified for the 2027 World Cup, and several of these sides will meet again on the world stage in a year’s time. Which is to say every match doubles as a dress rehearsal.
The tables after two rounds
See you next week for another round of this Nations Cup, where every nation is trying to claw out a place in the world order, with the big date in 2027 firmly in view.
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