Croatia and Slovenia improve their World Rugby Ranking with wins over the weekend.

Croatia have moved back into the top 50 of the World Rugby Rankings after completing the double over Israel in the European Nations Cup Division 2A with a 26-21 victory in Netanya. Scrum-half Jason Newton was the star of the show for Croatia with a 21-point haul.

The win earned the Croats 1.24 rating points, enough to move them up four places to 49th – eight higher than Israel who have yet to win a game in five attempts.

Croatia won 31-20 when the sides met in Split this time last year.

Slovenia join Croatia in moving up four places following their 33-17 win away to Serbia. The victory came with a 1.66 points reward and sees them maintain the pressure on Luxembourg at the top of Division 2C.

Meanwhile, Serbia drop to 81st in the world with Pakistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Zambia the beneficiaries.

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Sweden’s wait for an elusive first win in Division 1B continues after they slipped to a 25-7 loss – their eighth of the campaign – at home to Moldova. Second-row Titica Veaceslav bagged a brace of tries for the Moldovans who are challenging Ukraine and Belgium for promotion to Rugby Europe’s elite division.

Moldova remain unmoved in 32nd place in the rankings despite gaining 0.57 of a point as a result of the victory in Malmo.

Latvia won 31-3 away to Cyprus to make it two wins from two in Division 2B. The match did not affect the rankings, however, as Cyprus are not a full member union of World Rugby.

Colombia remain in command

Colombia can look forward to a South American A Championship promotion play-off decider against Brazil, in São Paulo on 12 December, after a 65-6 win over Ecuador gave them an unassailable lead at the top of the second tier competition, which is currently being staged in Lima, Peru.

Los Tucanes, who won all three of their B Championship games in 2014, remain in 47th position in the World Rugby Rankings as the win did not come with the added bonus of rankings points as Ecuador are not a member union of World Rugby.

They will now play Venezuela on Wednesday while host nation Peru take on Ecuador. The B Championship comes to a conclusion on Saturday 14 November.

Peru recovered from a 10-9 half-time deficit to beat Venezuela 24-10 in their opening game, sealing victory with two tries in the closing 15 minutes.

Despite gaining 0.28 of a point, Los Tumis actually drop one ranking place to 69th, Slovenia’s four-place rise having had a detrimental effect on their position.

Venezuela are replaced in 62nd by Luxembourg.