Malta are the biggest movers in the latest IRB world rankings with a five-place climb to no.50 following last weekend's 16-13 victory at home over the higher-ranked Latvia in a European Nations Cup Division 2B encounter at the Hibs Ground.

That success improved the national team's rating points by 1.19 to 45.72. The new position also equals the highest ever the Maltese had previously occupied on a number of occasions between 2004 and 2006.

Malta's new ranking means that Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Lithuania and Switzerland all drop one position, while Latvia themselves fall three to 45th with Kenya, Ivory Coast and Croatia all moving up one as a consequence of their defeat.

The other nation on the rise after a European Nations Cup victory is Hungary.

They are now 66th following a 32-6 defeat of Bulgaria away in Mezdra, a victory that also takes them to the top of Division 3B, ahead of Lithuania.

Colombia, Slovenia and Bermuda all fall one place as a result of Hungary's victory. Bulgaria drop one position to 92nd and swap places with Vanuatu.

The weekend's only other European Nations Cup match did not result in a positional change, although Moldova did close to within 0.03 points of 26th ranked Germany following their 15-13 defeat of the Netherlands, in Amsterdam (46th).

Moldova actually face Germany this weekend in Heidelberg.

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