Israel now enjoy their highest ever position since the IRB World Rankings were launched in October 2003 following a seven-place climb to 72nd on the back of a 19-17 victory in their European Nations Cup encounter with Luxembourg.
The Division 3C champions had to endure a nervous last couple of minutes after Loic Herve's try cut the deficit to just two points at the Stade Josy Barthel in Luxembourg, but the victory continues Israel's rise up the rankings.
Israel, who were one of four nations to rise 10 places across last year, have climbed above Zambia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, Botswana, Barbados, Solomon Islands, Peru and Norway. Luxembourg remain 94th, albeit closer to bottom side Finland.
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Norway, themselves, have slipped two places to 80th on the back of a 34-17 defeat to Hungary in their European Nations Cup Division 3B encounter in Esztergom, a result which elevates their conquerors three places to 62nd.
The weekend's other European Nations Cup match saw Sweden spring a surprise by beating Croatia - who seven days earlier had handed Division 2B champions the Netherlands their first loss in the two-year competition - 17-14 in Enkoping.
Croatia's loss means they slip back two places to 41st, losing the gain made on the back of the Netherlands victory. Sweden's win meanwhile takes them above China and Papua New Guinea into 50th position.
The Cayman Islands are the biggest losers of the last seven days, a 26-15 loss to Bermuda on home soil in Georgetown on Sunday resulting in a seven-place slide to 69th. Bermuda's win sees them swap places with the Cook Islands to take over 55th.
Mixed fortunes in Asia
Hong Kong were another to suffer a large fall in the latest IRB World Rankings, their surprise 16-9 loss to Arabian Gulf in the HSBC Asian 5 Nations on Friday resulting in a five place drop to 38th.
The defeat not only all but negates the gain Hong Kong made by beating Korea in the opening Top 5 match the previous weekend, but also deals their hopes of securing second place to keep alive their RWC 2011 hopes a big blow.
The Arabian Gulf's victory in Bahrain has only lifted them one place to 44th - taking them above Sri Lanka - but means they are now within a single rating point of the three sides directly above them in Kenya, Uganda and Croatia.
The weekend's other Asian 5 Nations match saw defending champions Japan beat hosts Korea 71-13 in Gyeonsang with wing Kosuke Endo scoring five tries in the emphatic victory.
Japan are the highest placed of the Asian nations in the IRB World Rankings at 13th and as a result of the 12 places and 14.86 points separating them from Korea, the victory had no impact on either side's rating.
