The World Rugby Nations Cup 2026 continued in entertaining fashion on Saturday as Georgia flexed their muscles by comprehensively beating Canada in Tbilisi and Spain edged out Uruguay in an enthralling match in Madrid.
It was a fourth straight win for Georgia and maintained their 100% record in this year's tournament while Portugal clinched their third win from four games by defeating Chile in Lisbon and Samoa turned on the style with a big victory over Zimbabwe in the first-ever meeting between the sides.
The fourth round concludes in Bourg-en-Bresse in France on Sunday when Hong Kong China meet unbeaten USA.
GEORGIA 59-14 CANADA: Georgia enjoy home comforts to maintain 100% record
Georgia made home advantage pay by racking up a fourth straight World Rugby 2026 Nations Cup win after edging out old adversaries Canada with a bonus-point victory in Tbilisi.
Both sides fought gamely throughout and the hosts trailed just 24-14 at the break but ultimately the Lelos ran out emphatic winners in the Georgian capital.
Victorious captain Davit Niniashvili said: “I’m proud of my team and I want to say thank you to all our supporters who were here today. It’s a big motivation for us and we’ll be ready for Tonga next week.”
Canada skipper Lucas Rumball reflected: “Georgia really showed us what it means to have a strong kicking game.
“They put us under pressure and capitalised on our errors – mine included. We did some good things in the first half but we need to be better.”
Winger Dachi Papunashvili put the hosts ahead with a smart finish in the left corner as he pounced on a teasing grubber kick from Niniashvili.
But the response from Canada saw them hit back through centre Ben Lesage, who took Jesse Kilgour’s neat short pass and dived over the line.
Canada then lost winger Nic Benn to a 19th-minute yellow card for a deliberate knock-on and Georgia immediately capitalised when Akaki Tabutsadze finished clinically in the right corner.
It was his 53rd try of a distinguished 64-match test career for the all-time leading try-scorer in Georgian rugby history.
Second-row Izzak Kelly replied for Canada with their second but Georgia scored twice more before the break to wrap up the bonus point.
Niniashvili touched down in the 30th minute before Luka Tabatadze scored on the stroke of half-time as the Lelos established a 24-14 interval lead.
After the break, Rumball was shown a yellow card and Georgia were subsequently awarded a penalty try before Beka Gigashvili, Tornike Kakhoidze and Tabutsadze added further scores.
Canada replacement Liam James was hurt in a tackle late on following a collision with Georgia forward Mikheili Shioshvili and was taken off on a stretcher.
PORTUGAL 36-15 CHILE: Os Lobos produce attacking masterclass to defeat Chile
Portugal served up a superb display to clinch their third win from four games after running out comfortable victors over Chile at Estadio do Restelo in Lisbon.
Os Lobos were made to work for their success but ultimately their quality told and
Portugal skipper Jose Madeira said: “It meant a lot to play in front of our supporters.
“Chile are a good side who caused us problems, but we’re looking to get better and better against Samoa next week.”
Chile captain Santiago Videla said: “We knew Portugal are a very good side.
“We knew our roles and responsibilities but we need to see where we can get better for next week [against Spain].”
It was Chile who struck first when Matias Garafulic collected Felipe Mendez's delightful offload and raced over in the left corner.
Yet Portugal quickly gained a foothold on proceedings and hit back two minutes later when Manuel Cardoso Pinto seized on scrum-half Samuel Marques’ perfectly-executed grubber kick to score.
Pinto and centre Rodrigo Marta, who is the Top 14’s second-top try-scorer with Pau, both earned their 50th caps for Portugal.
Raimundo Martinez scored Chile's second but David Wallis’ touchdown sent Portugal in at the break with a slender 17-15 lead before Raffaele Storti with a brace and Andre Cunha added further tries after the break.
SPAIN 18-12 URUGUAY: Los Leones edge out Uruguay in dramatic encounter in Madrid
Spain produced a performance full of grit and determination to narrowly beat Uruguay in the Spanish capital and claim their second win of the tournament.
Buoyed by a partisan home crowd at the Estadio Nacional Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Los Leones had enough to eke out a hard-earned victory.
Highly-rated Uruguay centre Justo Ferrario caught the eye with two tries for Los Teros but Spain were not to be denied as they took the victory with scores from Alejandro Laforga and Gauthier Minguillon.
Spain have never lost to Uruguay on home soil and, although that proud record was tested, ultimately they had enough.
After Uruguay number eight Manuel Diana embarked on a marauding run through the middle, his progress was halted but Ferrario collected possession on the edge of Spain’s 22-metre line.
The promising 20-year-old showed outstanding speed and footwork to weave his way through Los Leones’ defence and mark just his second international appearance with a superb try.
A fast-paced encounter saw Spain began to create openings of their own and it was no surprise when they breached Uruguay’s defence in the 22nd minute.
Their try came when winger Laforga collected a brilliant long pass from fly-half Bautista Guemes to go over in the left corner.
Ferrario scored his second in the 69th minute to put Uruguay on course for victory but Minguillon struck with five minutes remaining to seal a famous win.
That left Uruguay without a win after four games heading into the fifth round of fixtures next week when Spain host Chile in Madrid and Uruguay take on Zimbabwe in Ealing, west London.
ZIMBABWE 7-43 SAMOA: Samoa turn on the style to win emphatically in Wakefield
Samoa showed their class against Zimbabwe to claim their second win of the tournament in the first-ever meeting between the sides.
In front of a lively crowd at the DIY Kitchens Stadium in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, it was the Samoans who largely dominated proceedings during a formidable display.
Yet the Sables' spirits never sagged and the scored a late consolation try through Dale Lemon.
Zimbabwe captain Hilton Mudariki said: “Credit to Samoa because they showed their class today.
“It shows we’ve got a lot to work on, but our fans were amazing so we’ll just keep building.”
Samoa established a commanding 19-0 half-time lead and winger Latrell Ah Kiong scored twice and Peter Umaga-Jensen also touched down.
Samoa named a powerful side with former All Blacks Josh Ioane and Shaun Stevenson making debuts along with AJ Lam and Chris Gabriel.
Samoa led in the seventh minute with an exquisite finish from Ah Kiong who showed outstanding strength and dexterity to touch down acrobatically in the right corner.
It was just reward for the vibrant start of a physically Samoan outfit who quickly went in search of further tries.
Their second arrived when Ah Kiong doubled his tally with another spectacular finish to cap a fine passing sequence which saw the ball go through several pairs of hands before the winger scored in the right corner.
Zimbabwe showed some impressive defensive resilience but they were undone again when Lalomilo Lalomilo intercepted an errant pass and unselfishly offloaded to centre partner Umaga-Jensen to score.
Hooker Richie Asiata was sinbinned but Samoa 19-0 ahead at the break and they cut loose in the second half.
Ben Nee-Nee, Ah Kiong with his hat-trick score and Miracle Faiilagi all scored for Samoa with Lemon touching down for Zimbabwe.
ROMANIA 38-43 TONGA: Tonga edged out Oaks in enthralling battle (Friday)
Tonga edged out hosts Romania at the Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf in Bucharest on Friday in the highest-scoring match between the two rivals.
Both sides scored six tries apiece but Tonga’s success gave them a fourth win over the Oaks in seven meetings and marked their second victory from four rounds of the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup.
Tonga captain Fetuli Paea enthused: “Full credit to our boys. They dominated the middle and it's always tough against Romania in front of their crowd, but we got the win.”
Romania second-row Adrian Motoc reflected: “It was a tough game. We started well but after that we couldn’t get out of our 22. Congrats to Tonga on their win and congrats to us too because, even though we lost, we gave everything.”
The President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, met the teams ahead of kick-off and the Oaks were fast out of the blocks, Marius Simionescu showing some delightful footwork to weave his way over the line for the opening try.
Tonga fashioned a swift response through second-row Veikoso Poloniati, who dived over in the left corner after good work from winger Anzelo Tuitavuki.
The Tongans struck twice more in quick succession midway through the first half as full-back Taniela Filimone scythed through Romania’s rearguard before he turned provider for winger John Tapueluelu to cross in the right corner.
Yet Romania steadied themselves and hit back with two tries before the break as prop Iulian Hartig broke away from a rolling maul to score before hooker Tudor Butnariu did likewise. A scrum penalty from Patrick Pellegrini, who claimed an all-important 13 points with the boot, sent Tonga in at the break with a slender 22-17 lead and en-route to a first win in Romania since 2017.
Shortly after the interval, Pellegrini’s perfectly-weighted chip was caught and grounded by Anzelo Tuitavuki for Tonga’s fourth try to secure a bonus point. But Romania then scored a fourth try – and third from a maul – through second-row Logan Weidner as the try-fest continued.
Debutant Efitusi Maafu scored Tonga’s fifth try but again Romania responded, prop Gheorghe Gajion – a late call up to the bench after Jean Pierre Smith replaced Cosmin Manole – crossed for Romania. Tomaakino Taufa gave Tonga some breathing space with their sixth try but Gajion claimed his second and Romania’s sixth to set up a tense finale as the visitors held on.
