The 10 Greatest Rugby Union Players of All Time
The Greatest Rugby Union Players in History - A Top 10 List
When it comes to choosing the greatest rugby players of all time, it’s never going to be easy to name just 10…
Jonny Wilkinson - an indisputable rugby great
We believe these 10 players, in no particular order, are the leading all-time greats of the game. Some big names haven’t made the cut - tell us who you would add in the comments!
1. Gareth Edwards
He won the Grand Slam with Wales three times
He scored a famous try for the Barbarians against New Zealand
He won 10 caps for the British and Irish Lions
We begin with Welsh scrum-half Gareth Edwards, who was the conductor of the wonderful Wales teams of the 1970s. Edwards is one of a small group of players to have won the Grand Slam with Wales three times.
He also picked up five Triple Crowns in a fantastic international career. Edwards possessed tremendous vision, and he could make things happen in any situation on the field.
Edwards was a creative genius when it came to setting up play for his teammates, capable of individual brilliance and match-winning moments. Thanks to his speed, both of foot and mind, Edwards could take matches away from the opposition and score memorable tries. His famous try for the Barbarians against New Zealand is a notable example.
Edwards won 10 caps for the British and Irish Lions, including the successful 1971 tour of New Zealand. This was the only time the Lions defeated New Zealand in a Test series.
2. Richie McCaw
He is the most capped international player in New Zealand rugby union history
He earned back-to-back World Cup wins in 2011 and 2015
He only lost 15 of 148 internationals
The 1971 Lions tour of New Zealand came a year before legendary All Black flanker, Richie McCaw, was born. McCaw is the most capped international in the history of New Zealand rugby union and the third most capped player in the world, playing 148 times for his country.
McCaw captained New Zealand in 110 of those 148 matches, which shows how quickly he established himself as a leader. McCaw redefined the position of open-side flanker during his career thanks to his superb ability at the breakdown.
Often pushing the laws of the sport to the limit, McCaw was relentless in his work rate and ability to stop the opposition and start attacks for his team. Playing for Canterbury and Crusaders at club level, McCaw excelled for New Zealand at the World Cup and led his country to back-to-back World Cup wins in 2011 and 2015.
McCaw only lost 15 of his 148 internationals. To hold a 78% win record over Australia from 37 matches tells its own story.
3. Brian O’Driscoll
He earned 141 international caps
He achieved a hat-trick against France during the 2000 Six Nations
He played for Ireland and the Lions
Brian O’Driscoll never tasted victory over a Richie McCaw New Zealand team - and failing to pick up a win over the All Blacks will always be a disappointment for the Irishman.
Nonetheless, O’Driscoll will be remembered as one of the greatest rugby players of all time, and certainly the best Irish rugby player of all time, too. Playing at centre, O’Driscoll amassed 141 international caps in his career, 133 of which came from playing for Ireland. The remaining 8 caps were for the Lions.
O’Driscoll announced himself to international rugby with a hat-trick against France during the 2000 Six Nations in Paris. That led Ireland to their first win in 28 years.
O’Driscoll was a joy to watch with the ball in hand, and he could easily work a gap to burst through the tightest defence. Despite being only 5 feet 9 inches tall, O’Driscoll was not afraid of contact. He produced try-saving tackles on more than one occasion, using his speed to catch players who had broken through the Irish defence.
O’Driscoll will always be remembered for the timing of his runs from centre, quick sidesteps and precise passing, making him arguably the greatest 13 in rugby history.
4. Dan Carter
He holds the record for the highest number of points in international rugby union
He was known for his precise ball striking and tactical awareness
He scored 1598 points for the All Blacks
O’Driscoll may be the 10th highest try scorer in the history of international rugby union, but when it comes to scoring points at Test Match level, no one comes close to Dan Carter. The former New Zealand fly-half holds the record for the highest number of points in international rugby union.
Carter scored 1598 points for the All Blacks in a career that spanned over a decade. The closest player to Carter in the list of all-time top point scorers is over 200 points behind. This highlights not only the skill but also the consistency of Carter with the boot.
Carter’s goal-kicking was immaculate, and teams knew that if they conceded a penalty anywhere inside their own half of the field against New Zealand, they were in trouble.
Carter was extremely cool under pressure. This was confirmed when he wore a heart rate monitor in a match. His pulse stayed steady, even when taking on pressure kicks. He was known for his precise ball striking, but he also boasted keen tactical awareness and an incredible playmaking ability.
5. Jonny Wilkinson
He won the World Cup for England in 2003
He holds the record for the most points, penalty goals and drop goals in World Cup history
He is known for his kicking prowess and defensive skills
From one fly-half to another - Dan Carter actually admitted to looking up to Jonny Wilkinson when he was trying to forge his own rugby union career. Wilkinson was best known for his kicking routines, which laid the foundation for a World Cup-winning career at the international level for England.
There is no bigger pressure in sport than being presented with an opportunity to win the World Cup for your country. Wilkinson found himself in that position in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia.
With the match in extra time, the ball was passed back to Wilkinson, who was standing outside the 2022, and with little in the way of back-lift, he sent the ball between the posts to win the World Cup for his country.
This was no fluke, as Wilkinson worked incredibly hard on his kicking, including drop goals. No player has scored more points, penalty goals and drop goals in World Cup history.
In addition to his kicking prowess, Wilkinson was formidable in defence. He became known for his defensive tackles. Wilkinson could easily send a player backwards with his powerful tackling, preventing the opposition from breaking through the gain line and getting his own team on the front foot.
6. Martin Johnson
Johnson played rugby for 16 years
He won the 2003 World Cup as captain of England
He won the Grand Slam twice
Martin Johnson’s international career briefly overlapped with Wilkinson’s in the early 2000s. Johnson was a fearsome lock whose mere presence in the opposition team was enough to give England an advantage before a ball had even been kicked.
You only need to look through the honours Johnson achieved during his 16-year playing career to understand the impact he had. Johnson won the Six Nations Championship five times, the Grand Slam twice and the World Cup in 2003 as captain of England.
Johnson appeared in three Lions tours and is one of only two men to have been captain on two Lions tours. This is a real testament to his leadership skills. Johnson was known for his towering presence on the field. He had a physicality few other players could match.
Whether it was claiming the ball at a lineout or using his strength to bully the opposition, simply having Johnson on their side made England an extremely intimidating team to face.
You won’t find Johnson’s name at the top of any rugby statistics, but ask any player what it was like to have him in their team, and the answer will show you why he is one of the greatest rugby union players of all time.
7. Jonah Lomu
He started out at the 1995 World Cup
He was known for his speed, agility and size on the field
He became a cultural icon in the 90s
If there was one man who could match Johnson in terms of pure aura on the rugby field, it was Jonah Lomu. The New Zealand winger burst onto the scene at the 1995 World Cup, with fans and players amazed at Lomu’s speed and agility for such a big man. Lomu was 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighed 19 stone 10 pounds.
In terms of his size, Lomu should have been a forward, so to see him out on the wing was incredible. It is no exaggeration to suggest Lomu completely redefined the wing position. He proved that wingers didn’t have to be small and light to excel at the highest level.
Lomu showed the damage a heavyweight winger could do during the 1995 World Cup semi-final against England when, rather than making a sidestep, he simply ran through Mike Catt.
For another of his four tries in that match, Lomu brushed aside Tony Underwood, leaving him on the turf before crossing the line. The match was almost farcical in the way that Lomu left England’s backs in his wake.
His popularity saw him become a cultural icon of the 1990s. Illness had a major impact on his career, yet Lomu is still regarded as one of the greatest players of all time!
8. Francois Pienaar
Pienaar played for South Africa
He was known for his size, strength and ball-winning skills
He won the World Cup for South Africa in 1995
Despite Lomu’s undeniable brilliance at the 1995 World Cup, glory slipped from his grasp as New Zealand lost to the hosts, South Africa, during the final. The South African team was led by Francois Pienaar.
Coming into the tournament, they were only the ninth seed, which underlines what an incredible achievement it was for them to lift the Webb Ellis Cup.
The trophy ceremony was an extraordinary moment for the entire country. Nelson Mandela presented Pienaar with the trophy, wearing the number six shirt. There was no doubting Pienaar’s presence on the field as a flanker. His size and strength, combined with a high work rate and ball-winning skills, made him one of the sport’s top players.
However, what stood out most was Pienaar’s leadership qualities and the way he united his teammates to lead them to glory. Such was the profound nature of South Africa’s success at the 1995 World Cup. Pienaar was looked upon as a symbol of hope for South Africa, and his influence off the field was immense.
Looking for more? Check out our interview with The Rugby Export, Jack Parsons.
9. Zinzan Brooke
Brooke was known for his ball-handling skills
He produced a surprising 48-metre drop goal at the 1995 World Cup
He had a rare skill set for a number eight
Zinzan Brooke revolutionised the number eight position during his career. The New Zealand international possessed skills that would have made many international backs jealous. The way Brooke ran with the ball in hand was a pure joy to watch!
Rather than simply use his 6-feet-3-inches frame to make ground, Brooke would be happy to sidestep his opponent and had the ball-handling skills of an accomplished fly-half. In addition to his ability with the ball in hand, Brooke was equally at home when it came to kicking, and this came to the fore in the 1995 World Cup semi-final against England.
Brooke stunned fans and the England team by producing a 48-metre drop goal. It was one of three drop goals in his international career. Brooke’s rare skill set for a number eight is what makes him one of the best players in the history of rugby union.
10. David Campese
He won 101 caps for Australia
He is known for his iconic ‘goose-step’
He is the third in all-time international try scoring
Winning 101 caps for Australia during a hugely successful international career, David Campese had incredible vision. His ability to assess an upcoming situation before anyone else is what allowed him to score and create so many tries for the Wallabies.
Campese was never afraid to try something new, and his now-famous ‘goose-step’ is a fine example of an innovative move created by the winger to avoid being tackled.
Campese was also lauded for his running lines. He would appear at an unexpected angle and either make a break into space or make a quality pass to dumbfound the opposition.
At the time of writing, Campese is third in the all-time international try-scoring list. Bryan Habana is just one place above him. He may have 3 more tries than Campese, but he also played in 23 more Tests.
The beauty of Campese was that he didn’t just rely on speed; there was great inventiveness to his wing play. That’s what seals his place in the top 10 greatest rugby players of all time.