Wellington - Wales have dropped to eighth place on the International Rugby Board's latest world rankings list, despite finishing fourth at the Rugby World Cup which ended in New Zealand on Sunday.
World champions New Zealand hold the No 1 ranking while France, beaten 8-7 in Sunday's final, are ranked third behind Australia who took the bronze medal.
In the only other movements among the top-eight sides, beaten quarter-finalists Ireland and Argentina both move up one place to sixth and seventh places respectively.
Wales fell from sixth to eighth under the rankings points exchange system, having lost to France and Australia in their last two World Cup games.
Latest Top 20 rankings:
1. New Zealand – 91.43
2. Australia – 87.42
3. France – 84.70
4. South Africa – 84.34
5. England – 81.58
6. Ireland – 80.65
7. Argentina – 80.28
8. Wales – 80.18
9. Tonga – 76.63
10. Scotland – 76.20
11. Samoa – 75.81
12. Italy – 73.99
13. Canada – 72.92
14. Georgia – 71.09
15. Japan – 70.45
16. Fiji – 68.78
17. USA – 65.63
18. Romania – 63.98
19. Namibia – 61.24
20. Portugal – 60.67