Who is the best rugby player of all time? It’s probably an impossible question to answer, but one that every rugby fan is asked. And one we all have our own opinion on.
Below is a list of 72 of the best rugby players ever to put on a pair of boots, with videos and pictures of some of their best and most memorable moments throughout the history of the game.
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The Best Scrum-Halves Of All Time
The number 9 jersey is one that represents many aspects of the game. It has given us some of the most skilful, determined, aggressive and downright talented rugby players of all time.
Gareth Edwards
Gareth Edwards has been called the ‘rugby player of the century’ – let alone the best scrum half – and scored this, the ‘greatest try of all time’.
He stands at the top of the pile and is considered by many as the best player ever to play rugby union. It’s only right that we start this list with him, then!
George Gregan
139 caps for the Wallabies – that’s some achievement.
He’s also known for reminding the All Blacks that they’d have to wait “Four more years” until the next World Cup after the Aussies knocked them out of the 2003 RWC.
Joost van der Westhuizen
Joost van der Westhuizen was one of the most courageous, talented and tough scrum halves you’ll ever see on a rugby pitch.
He was a RWC winner and was probably best known for his defence against the formidable Jonah Lomu when he man-marked him in 1995 (see the video above).
Not long after his final rugby game, he sadly lost his battle with Motor Neuron Disease, at the premature age of 45.
He was a feisty, verbal character on the field and as dangerous around the fringes in attack.
Justin Marshall
Dynamic and powerful, Marshall was the ultimate opportunist in his day and a brilliant leader.
81 caps for the ABs and 140 points, can’t argue with that!
Fourie du Preez
Du Preez was a complete scrum-half, with an impressive all-round game including near-perfect tactical kicking and brilliant awareness.
He was one of the most influential players in both South Africa’s successful World Cup and Lions Test Series sides.
Antoine Dupont
This list wouldn’t be complete without the French magician, Antoine Dupont. He is a current player, but it’s clear to see how good a rugby player he is. Dupont is, quite simply, a wonderful rugby player. He even came back from a BROKEN FACE in the 2023 Rugby World Cup to lead his team out in the Quarter Final vs. the formidable South Africa, so he’s as tough as he is talented. He really is a genius and a pleasure to watch – I count myself lucky to be able to watch him in his prime.
Top 5 scrum-halves ever:
- Gareth Edwards
- Joost van der Westhuizen
- George Gregan
- Justin Marshall
- Fourie du Preez
The Best Fly-Halves Of All Time
Being named the best fly half ever might just be the best accolade a rugby player could receive, because who doesn’t want to grow up to be their country’s number 10?
Amidst the best outside halves ever are the following, and there are some seriously talented players in this list.
Dan Carter
As well as slotting one of the most sensational goal-kicks you’ve ever seen (above), Dan Carter is quite possibly the best back of the professional era.
He’s everything you’d want in a fly-half, and his record speaks for itself.
He overtook Jonny Wilkinson as the leading point scorer in international rugby history with 1,598 points from his 112 caps for the All Blacks.
Frustrated by injury during the first 2007 and 2011 World Cups, he ended his career on the top of his game with a Man of the Match display against Australia in the 2015 RWC final.
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Jonny Wilkinson
The ultimate perfectionist, it’s fair to say that Jonny Wilkinson changed the game.
He slotted the winning drop-goal to take England to their 2003 World Cup triumph – a moment that has been engraved in the history of the sport.
He landed that drop-goal with his weaker right foot as well, which justified the hours of practice he was so well-known for.
A real points machine, yes, but he could tackle, orchestrate the backline and had vision as good as anyone.
Jonathan ‘Jiffy’ Davies
If you listed the attributes for a perfect fly-half, you’d include speed, agility, game-management, and good goal-kicking, amongst others. Jiffy had all of these.
He had pure pace that’s rare to come by, but had all the skillset to match it. Having been successful in both rugby union and league, he became one of the most well-known players in the sport.
It’s totally irrelevant, but he also went viral a few years back after Wales beat England 30-3 to lift the 2013 Six Nations Championship – spot the Welshman!
Stephen Larkham
A tactical and technical genius, Larkham steadied the ship of one of the most successful Australian sides ever, playing outside his long-time half-back partner George Gregan.
Larkham successful slotted a 48-metre drop goal in extra time of the Aussies’ RWC Semi-Final match against South Africa despite having an injured knee; a moment which has gone down in rugby union history.
Michael Lynagh
Lynagh played for the Wallabies from 1984 to 1995, gaining 72 caps in total.
He was a great player and a phenomenal leader, being vice-captain when Australia won the World Cup in 1991, and retired as the world’s leading points scorer with 911 points.
Phil Bennett & Barry John
It’s impossible to go through ALL the best players from the amateur and professional eras, but it would be rude to write a ‘best ever’ list and not include Phil Bennett and Barry John – two legendary names in the game.
Royalty in the rugby world, especially John – known simply as “the King”. Both were simply sensational. Masters of the game.
The Best Fly-Halves Ever Include…
- Jonny Wilkinson
- Dan Carter
- Jonathan Davies
- Michael Lynagh
- Stephen Larkham
- Phil Bennett
The Best Centres of All Time in World Rugby
Now, that’s a difficult one.
You’ve got inside centres and outside centres, and then you’ve got totally different player types inside both positions.
At inside centre, you’ve got ball-players like Matt Giteau and then absolute power-houses like Scott Gibbs.
Here’s THAT try from THAT game against England at Wembley 1999…
You’ve also then got options like great leaders Tana Umaga and Jean de Villiers – two absolute warriors who put their body on the line for their country each time they pulled the jersey on.
Legendary names like the magical Philipe Sella (the first rugby player to reach 100 test caps) and two-time Rugby World Cup winner Tim Horan also come to mind.
There has been an endless list of genius outside centres in the last few years, none more so than Brian O’Driscoll, Jeremy Guscott, Conrad Smith, and Will Greenwood.
Frank Bunce emerges as one of the most popular names among a list of legendary 13s, having played internationally for both Western Samoa (RWC 1991) and New Zealand.
Bunce was a tough, fearsome centre and had many memorable battles against the likes of Scott Gibbs and Will Carling.
The best centres ever include…
- Jeremy Guscott
- Will Greenwood
- Conrad Smith
- Frank Bunce
- Brian O’Driscoll
- Tana Umaga
- Jean de Villiers
- Matt Giteau
- Ma’a Nonu
- Tim Horan
- Scott Gibbs
- Phillipe Sella
- Brian Lima
The Best Wingers of All Time
This is where the fun begins.
Wingers are the try-scorers, finishers, those with a killer-instinct and a hunger for the try line.
And they are the players who have an X-Factor about them, which means that they are remembered for many of the legendary moments in history.
Jonah Lomu
One of, if not THE most iconic rugby player of all time – Jonah Lomu.
He burst on to the scene in emphatic fashion and had a long-lasting impact on the way the sport was viewed from the outside.
His athleticism, power, speed, acceleration and raw strength was unlike anything anyone had ever seen before, especially for a winger.
All modern wingers – from Julian Savea to George North – site him as their inspiration because he really did pave the way for modern rugby as it is seen today.
He was the ultimate highlight-reel player, and his team-mates frequently refer to how they’d simply yell “give the ball to Jonah” whenever they needed to come up with a moment of magic. And he did just that almost every time he touched the ball.
Here’s another 6 minutes of Jonah Lomu being absolutely unstoppable, because one video just isn’t enough for the big man…
David Campese
A controversial character, Campo, but another legend of the game.
There’s no denying that he’s put his foot in it a good few times in the past, but on the field, this man was truly electric and personified everything that was expected of a Wallaby in the 80s and 90s.
His most famous attribute? The distinctive ‘goose-step’.
Shane Williams
How could you not include the little man on this list?
Against all the odds in a sport that had turned massively in favour of huge, man-mountains, Williams made a name for himself as one of the greatest wingers ever thanks to his creativity, blistering speed, and agility.
He scored 60 international tries and is Wales’ leading try scorer to this day. Here’s one of his best…
Bryan Habana
Bryan Habana had a serious set of wheels in his prime.
A pivotal part of the South African side than won the 2007 World Cup, equalling the single tournament record set by the great Jonah Lomu in 1999.
With 124 test caps and 67 international tries to his name, he certainly wasn’t a one-tournament wonder either.
Doug Howlett
49 tries in 62 tests for the All Blacks – quite the record!
He had pure gas and would finish any opportunity presented to him.
He, like Campo, had his fair share of controversy, but most rugby fans remember him simply for being an absolutely exhilarating winger to watch.
He retired as Munster’s record try scorer after the 2012-13 season, around five years after his final international test in 2007.
Had he not moved to the Northern Hemisphere, his record for the All Blacks surely would’ve been unbeatable.
Best rugby union wingers of all time:
- Bryan Habana
- Doug Howlett
- Shane Williams
- Jonah Lomu
- David Campese
- Joe Rokocoko
- Ieuan Evans
The Best Fullbacks Ever
Fullback is one of the most difficult positions in rugby union, with so many different elements to master – such as kicking, attacking, positioning, high ball catching, tackling, and so on.
Serge Blanco
The Pelé of Rugby, Serge Blanco is somewhat of a cult hero. He played fullback for Biarritz Olympique and gained 93 caps for the French national side – Les Bleus! He won two Grand Slams and is probably most famous for scoring the deciding try in the semi-final of the first ever Rugby World Cup in 1987.
JPR Williams
John Peter Rhys Williams MBE FRCS – more commonly known as JPR Williams – was a stand-out feature of the Golden Era of Welsh rugby in the 1970s. From Bridgend, the doctor was a real hard-man and earned 55 caps for Wales and 8 for the British and Irish Lions.
Jason Robinson
Jason Robinson played both rugby league and rugby Union for England during the 1990s and 2000s. He got 51 caps, played scintillating rugby every time he got the ball, and was actually the first ever black man to captain the England rugby union team.
Percy Montgomery
Percy Montgomery, known for his perfect goal kicking and long blonde hair, won 102 caps for South Africa. Upon retiring in 2008, Montgomery was the all-time record cap holder AND points scorer for the Springboks.
Christian Cullen
Christian Cullen – pure perfection! He is the ultimate fullback, showing excellence in both attack and defence. Any aspiring young fullbacks, watch Christian Cullen highlights if you want to improve your game. Known as the Paekakariki Express, Cullen won 60 caps for the All Blacks and retired as one of the most impressive attacking fullbacks ever.
Here are the top 5 best fullbacks in rugby Union history:
- Serge Blanco
- JPR Williams
- Jason Robinson
- Percy Montgomery
- Christian Cullen
The Best Props of All Time
- Jason Leonard
- Os du Randt
- Steve McDowell
- Gethin Jenkins
- Phil Vickery
- Jean-Pierre Garuet
- Patricio Noriega
- Adam Jones
- Martin Castrogiovanni
The Best Hookers Ever
- Keith Wood
- Sean Fitzpatrick
- John Smit
- Mario Ledesma
- Keven Mealamu
The Best Second Rows Ever
- Martin Johnson
- Alun Wyn Jones
- Paul O’Connell
- Victor Matfield
- Colin Meads
The Best Flankers Ever
- Richie McCaw
- Francois Pienaar
- Schalk Burger
- Martyn Williams
- Thierry Dusautoir
Notable mentions go out to the legend Jerry Collins, Sam Warburton, Richard Hill, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, George Smith, Neil Back and Jerome Kaino.
The Best Number 8s in Rugby Union History
- Zinzan Brooke
- Juan-Martin Fernandez-Lobbe
- Sergio Parisse
- Lawrence Dallaglio
- Taulupe Faletau
Notable mentions must go out to Wayne Shelford, Kieran Read, Jamie Heaslip and young Ardie Savea.
How We Chose The Best Rugby Union Players
To compile our list of the best rugby players ever to play the game, we began by gathering a list of all players included in other best-of lists created by rugby experts. We then calculated how many times that player was included player the various lists and used that to gather a top 10 for each position. Finally, we used some subjective decision-making skills to pick our top 5, because as any best-of list is, this list is subjective.
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Who Is The Greatest Rugby Union Player Of All Time?
Given the nature of how rugby has changed over time (especially since the professional and amateur era) and how different each position is.
In the professional era, it’s safe to say that Dan Carter and Richie McCaw are amongst the greatest rugby players of all time. More recently, it’s really difficult not to talk about Antoine Dupont despite his young age.
Some of the greatest rugby players of the amateur era include Gareth Edwards, Os Du Randt, Sean Fitzpatrick, WJ McBride, and Barry John.
I hope I’ve helped you pick out some names to consider, anyway! Have fun debating at the pub with friends, because no one really knows who the best rugby player of all time is.
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