Rugby Union Legends
International rugby legends and World Cup heroes.
The All-Time Greatest Rugby Union Players
Ranked by career honours, records and our FSP GOAT Score.
All Rugby Union Athletes
Browse 152 of the greatest rugby union players of all time.
New Zealander
Aaron Smith
Scrum-half
Aaron Smith is a New Zealand scrum-half regarded as one of the greatest number 9s in rugby history…
Welsh
Alun Wyn Jones
Lock
Alun Wyn Jones is a Welsh lock and former Wales/Lions captain who became the most-capped player in…
French
Antoine Dupont
Scrum-half
Antoine Dupont is a French scrum-half widely regarded as the world's best rugby player, captaining…
New Zealander
Ardie Savea
Flanker
Ardie Savea is a New Zealand loose forward known for his dynamic ball-carrying and defense, named…
Welsh
Barry John
Fly-half
Barry John, nicknamed "The King," was a Welsh fly-half whose brilliance led the British & Irish…
New Zealander
Beauden Barrett
Fullback
Beauden Barrett is a New Zealand back who won consecutive World Rugby Player of the Year awards and…
English
Ben Youngs
Scrum-half
Ben Youngs is England's record-cap scrum-half, forming a long-standing half-back partnership and…
Irish
Brian O'Driscoll
Centre
Brian O'Driscoll is regarded as one of the greatest centres in rugby history, Ireland's record…
New Zealander
Brodie Retallick
Lock
Brodie Retallick is a New Zealand lock and two-time Rugby World Cup winner, named World Rugby…
South African
Bryan Habana
Wing
Bryan Habana is South Africa's all-time leading try-scorer and a 2007 Rugby World Cup winner, once…
Irish
Bundee Aki
Centre
Bundee Aki is a New Zealand-born Ireland international centre known for his physical, direct…
South African
Cheslin Kolbe
Wing/Back
Cheslin Kolbe is a South African wing celebrated for his footwork and pace, winning back-to-back…
New Zealander
Christian Cullen
Fullback
Christian Cullen was an All Blacks fullback renowned for his try-scoring instincts, once one of the…
New Zealander
Codie Taylor
Hooker
Codie Taylor is a New Zealand hooker and mainstay of the All Blacks front row, part of the 2015…
New Zealander
Colin Meads
Lock
Colin Meads, nicknamed "Pinetree," was an All Blacks lock regarded as one of rugby's greatest ever…
New Zealander
Conrad Smith
Centre
Conrad Smith was a New Zealand centre who partnered Ma'a Nonu in a famed midfield combination,…
English
Courtney Lawes
Lock
Courtney Lawes is an English forward known for his versatility and big hits, capped over 100 times…
South African
Damian de Allende
Centre
Damian de Allende is a South African centre renowned for his physical defense and go-forward…
French
Damian Penaud
Winger
Damian Penaud is a French winger who holds the national record for international tries scored.
New Zealander
Dan Carter
Fly-half
Dan Carter is widely regarded as one of the greatest fly-halves ever, the all-time leading points…
English
Dan Cole
Prop
Dan Cole is a mainstay of the England front row, one of the country's most capped props and a…
New Zealander
Dane Coles
Hooker
Dane Coles was one of the most dynamic hookers in world rugby, known for his ball-handling and…
South African
Danie Gerber
Centre
Danie Gerber is widely regarded as South Africa's greatest-ever centre, his international career…
Australian
David Campese
Wing/Fullback
David Campese was an Australian wing who held the world record for Test tries and starred in the…
English
David Duckham
Winger
David Duckham was an England and Lions wing celebrated for his try-scoring exploits on the…
Australian
David Pocock
Flanker
David Pocock was one of the world's premier openside flankers, renowned for his breakdown work with…
Scottish
Doddie Weir
Lock
Doddie Weir was a Scotland international lock who became a prominent campaigner and fundraiser for…
South African
Duane Vermeulen
Number 8
Duane Vermeulen is a powerful Springbok number 8 who was named Man of the Match in the 2019 Rugby…
Scottish
Duhan van der Merwe
Winger
Duhan van der Merwe is Scotland's all-time leading try-scorer, a powerful winger who has toured…
South African
Eben Etzebeth
Lock
Eben Etzebeth is South Africa's most-capped international player and a two-time Rugby World Cup…
English
Ellis Genge
Prop
Ellis Genge is an England prop known for his ball-carrying dynamism, who captained England and…
British
Emily Scarratt
Centre/Full-back
Emily Scarratt is England's record points scorer in women's rugby, a five-time World Cup…
South African
Faf de Klerk
Scrum-half
Faf de Klerk is a South African scrum-half known for his tenacious defense, winning back-to-back…
New Zealander
Fiao'o Faamausili
Hooker
Fiao'o Faamausili is a former Black Ferns hooker and captain who won four Women's Rugby World Cup…
Scottish
Finn Russell
Fly-half
Finn Russell is Scotland's playmaking fly-half known for his flair, who was named Lions Player of…
English
Fran Cotton
Prop
Fran Cotton was an England prop and three-time British & Irish Lions tourist who later managed the…
South African
Francois Pienaar
Flanker
François Pienaar captained South Africa to victory in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, an iconic moment in…
English
Freddie Steward
Fullback
Freddie Steward is an England fullback known for his aerial ability, who has become a regular…
Welsh
Gareth Edwards
Scrum-Half
Gareth Edwards is widely regarded as the greatest rugby union player of all time, a scrum-half who…
Welsh
Gareth Thomas
Wing/Centre/Fullback
Gareth Thomas was the first Welsh player to earn 100 international caps and later became a…
Scottish
Gavin Hastings
Fullback
Gavin Hastings was a prolific goal-kicking fullback who captained both Scotland and the British &…
English
George Ford
Fly-half
George Ford is a highly capped England fly-half and one of the nation's all-time leading points…
Australian
George Gregan
Scrum-half
George Gregan was Australia's long-time scrum-half and captain, holding the world record for…
Australian
George Smith
Flanker
George Smith was an Australian flanker celebrated as one of the finest breakdown specialists in…
Welsh
Gerald Davies
Winger
Gerald Davies was one of the most electric wings of his era, playing in every Test of the…
Welsh
Graham Price
Prop
Graham Price was a Welsh tighthead prop and member of Pontypool's famous front row, who set a Lions…
Scottish
Gregor Townsend
Fly-half / Centre
Gregor Townsend was an inventive Scotland fly-half and 1997 Lions tourist, who went on to become…
French
Gregory Alldritt
Number 8
Grégory Alldritt is a powerful French number eight named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2023.
Scottish
Hamish Watson
Flanker
Hamish Watson is a Scotland flanker known for his tenacious tackling, named Six Nations Player of…
South African
Handré Pollard
Fly-half
Handré Pollard is a Springbok fly-half who has been the difference-maker in two Rugby World Cup…
Irish
Hugo Keenan
Fullback
Hugo Keenan is an Ireland fullback who scored the decisive late try that sealed the British & Irish…
Irish
James Lowe
Winger
James Lowe is a New Zealand-born winger who qualified for Ireland on residency and became a…
Australian
James O'Connor
Fly-half / Centre
James O'Connor is a versatile Wallabies back who debuted as a teenager and became one of…
English
Jamie George
Hooker
Jamie George is England's premier hooker of his generation, reaching 100 caps and touring with the…
English
Jason Leonard
Prop
Jason Leonard, nicknamed "The Fun Bus," was England's most-capped forward and a member of the…
New Zealander
Jeff Wilson
Winger / Fullback
Jeff Wilson, nicknamed "Goldie," was a prolific All Blacks wing/fullback and rare dual…
Irish
Jenny Murphy
Centre
Ireland's most celebrated women's rugby player of the modern era — a centre of exceptional pace and…
British
Jeremy Guscott
Centre
Jeremy Guscott was an elegant England and Lions centre who kicked the series-clinching drop goal…
Australian
John Eales
Lock/Captain
John Eales was an Australian lock and captain who led the Wallabies to Rugby World Cup victories in…
South African
John Smit
Hooker/Prop
John Smit captained South Africa to victory at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and was one of the…
New Zealander
Jonah Lomu
Wing
Jonah Lomu was a powerful New Zealand winger who became rugby's first global superstar, terrorizing…
Welsh
Jonathan Davies
Centre
Jonathan Davies is a Welsh centre and three-time Lions tourist who was named Player of the Series…
Irish
Jonathan Sexton
Fly-half
Jonathan Sexton is Ireland's record cap-holder and points scorer at fly-half, named World Rugby…
English
Jonny Wilkinson
Fly-half
Jonny Wilkinson is an English fly-half immortalized for kicking the winning drop goal in the 2003…
South African
Joost van der Westhuizen
Scrum-half
Joost van der Westhuizen was a legendary Springbok scrum-half and 1995 Rugby World Cup winner who…
Welsh
Josh Adams
Winger
Josh Adams is a Welsh winger who was the joint top try-scorer at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
New Zealander
Josh Kronfeld
Flanker
Josh Kronfeld was a standout All Blacks openside flanker during the mid-to-late 1990s, part of the…
Welsh
JPR Williams
Fullback
JPR Williams was one of the greatest fullbacks in rugby history, a key figure in Wales' and the…
Irish
Keith Wood
Hooker
Keith Wood was an Irish hooker and Lions captain named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2001,…
Welsh
Ken Owens
Hooker
Ken Owens is a Welsh hooker who captained his country and toured with the British & Irish Lions in…
New Zealander
Kieran Read
Number 8
Kieran Read was an All Blacks captain and number eight who won back-to-back Rugby World Cups and…
English
Kyle Sinckler
Prop
Kyle Sinckler is an England prop known for his athleticism and ball skills, a two-time British &…
Welsh
Leigh Halfpenny
Fullback
Leigh Halfpenny is a Welsh fullback and prolific goal-kicker, named Player of the Series on the…
Welsh
Louis Rees-Zammit
Winger
Louis Rees-Zammit was a fast-rising Welsh winger who left rugby union in 2024 to pursue a career in…
South African
Lukhanyo Am
Centre
Lukhanyo Am is a Springbok centre renowned for his all-round play, a two-time Rugby World Cup…
New Zealander
Ma'a Nonu
Centre
Ma'a Nonu is a New Zealand centre who formed one of rugby's great midfield partnerships with Conrad…
British
Maggie Alphonsi
Flanker
Maggie Alphonsi was a dominant England flanker known as 'Maggie the Machine' who helped England win…
South African
Malcolm Marx
Hooker
Malcolm Marx is a South African hooker regarded as one of the best in the world, key to the…
English
Marcus Smith
Fly-half
Marcus Smith is an England fly-half known for his attacking flair, having played a starring role…
Australian
Marika Koroibete
Winger
Marika Koroibete is a hard-running winger who switched from rugby league to become one of…
Australian
Mark Ella
Fly-half
Mark Ella was a gifted Australian fly-half who captained the Wallabies and scored a try in every…
English
Maro Itoje
Lock/Flanker
Maro Itoje is one of the world's premier second-row forwards, a British & Irish Lions captain and…
English
Martin Johnson
Lock
Martin Johnson was a formidable lock who captained England to the 2003 Rugby World Cup title and…
English
Matt Dawson
Scrum-half
Matt Dawson was England's first-choice scrum-half through the early 2000s, famed for his…
Welsh
Mervyn Davies
Number 8
Mervyn Davies was a towering Welsh number eight central to Wales's 1970s dominance until a brain…
Australian
Michael Hooper
Flanker
Michael Hooper is a tireless open-side flanker who captained Australia more than any other player…
New Zealander
Michael Jones
Flanker
Michael Jones was a devastating openside flanker for the All Blacks, scoring the first-ever Rugby…
English
Mike Catt
Fly-half / Centre
Mike Catt was a versatile utility back for England, coming off the bench to help seal the 2003…
South African
Naas Botha
Fly-half
Naas Botha was regarded as one of the finest fly-halves of his generation, though South Africa's…
English
Neil Back
Flanker
Neil Back was a tenacious, undersized openside flanker who overcame early doubts about his size to…
British
Nolli Waterman
Wing
England's most prolific try scorer in women's rugby — a wing of electric pace whose 43 tries in 57…
South African
Os du Randt
Prop
Os du Randt was a powerful Springbok prop who won the Rugby World Cup in both 1995 and 2007, the…
English
Owen Farrell
Fly-half
Owen Farrell is a prolific goal-kicking fly-half/centre who captained England and became the…
Irish
Paul O'Connell
Lock
Paul O'Connell was one of the most respected leaders in world rugby, captaining Ireland and touring…
Irish
Peter O'Mahony
Flanker
Peter O'Mahony is a combative Irish back-rower and long-time Munster captain who has been a…
Welsh
Phil Bennett
Fly-half
Phil Bennett was a mercurial Welsh fly-half central to Wales's dominant 1970s teams and captained…
Australian
Phil Kearns
Hooker
Phil Kearns was a formidable Australian hooker who won two Rugby World Cups with the Wallabies in…
English
Phil Vickery
Prop
Phil Vickery was a mainstay of the England front row for over a decade, winning the World Cup in…
French
Philippe Sella
Centre
Philippe Sella was one of the finest centres in rugby history, holding the French Test caps record…
South African
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Flanker
Pieter-Steph du Toit is a versatile lock/flanker who has twice been named World Rugby's Player of…
New Zealander
Portia Woodman
Wing
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is a prolific Black Ferns winger who became New Zealand rugby's all-time…
Australian
Quade Cooper
Fly-half
Quade Cooper is a New Zealand-born Australian fly-half celebrated for his unpredictable attacking…
New Zealander
Richie McCaw
Openside Flanker
Richie McCaw is widely regarded as the greatest openside flanker ever, captaining the All Blacks to…
English
Rob Andrew
Fly-half
Rob Andrew was England's first-choice fly-half through the late 1980s and early 1990s, famous for…
British
Rochelle Clark
Prop
Rochelle Clark was a mainstay of the England front row for over a decade and became the most capped…
French
Romain Ntamack
Fly-half
Romain Ntamack is a France fly-half, son of former international Emile Ntamack, who has been a key…
Irish
Ronan O'Gara
Fly-half
Ronan O'Gara was Ireland's long-time first-choice fly-half and finished his career as the country's…
Scottish
Rory Darge
Flanker
Rory Darge is a Scottish openside flanker who has risen to captain his country after establishing…
English
Rory Underwood
Winger
Rory Underwood was England's record try scorer for many years, forming a devastating finishing…
New Zealander
Sam Cane
Flanker
Sam Cane is a hard-tackling All Blacks flanker who captained New Zealand at the 2023 Rugby World…
English
Sam Underhill
Flanker
Sam Underhill is an England openside flanker renowned for his relentless tackling and defensive…
Australian
Samu Kerevi
Centre
Samu Kerevi is a powerful ball-carrying centre who has been a key attacking weapon for the…
British
Sarah Hunter
Flanker/Number 8
Sarah Hunter was a long-serving England number eight and captain who became the most capped rugby…
New Zealander
Sean Fitzpatrick
Hooker
Sean Fitzpatrick was a dominant All Blacks hooker and captain who set a world record for…
Fijian
Semi Radradra
Centre
Semi Radradra is a hugely powerful Fijian back who has excelled in both rugby league and rugby…
Italian
Sergio Parisse
Number 8
Sergio Parisse was a world-class number eight and Italy's talismanic captain for over a decade,…
Welsh
Shane Williams
Winger
Shane Williams was an electrifying Welsh winger who became his country's record try scorer and was…
South African
Siya Kolisi
Flanker
Siya Kolisi made history as the first black captain of South Africa and led the Springboks to Rugby…
New Zealander
Stacey Fluhler
Wing/Centre
Stacey Fluhler (nee Waaka) is a versatile Black Ferns back who has won Olympic gold in sevens and…
Australian
Stephen Larkham
Fly-half
Stephen Larkham was a creative Wallabies fly-half who helped Australia win the 1999 Rugby World Cup…
Scottish
Stuart Hogg
Fullback
Stuart Hogg is an attacking fullback who became Scotland's most-capped player and all-time leading…
Irish
Tadhg Furlong
Prop
Tadhg Furlong is regarded as one of the best tighthead props in world rugby, a mainstay of…
New Zealander
Tana Umaga
Centre
Tana Umaga was a powerful All Blacks centre who captained New Zealand and was at the centre of the…
French
Thierry Dusautoir
Flanker
Thierry Dusautoir was a relentless French flanker who captained Les Bleus to the 2011 World Cup…
Australian
Tim Horan
Centre
Tim Horan was a brilliant Wallabies centre who won two Rugby World Cups and was named IRB World…
New Zealander
TJ Perenara
Scrum-half
TJ Perenara is a dynamic All Blacks scrum-half who was part of New Zealand's 2015 Rugby World Cup…
English
Tom Curry
Flanker
Tom Curry is an aggressive, high-work-rate England flanker who has been a mainstay of the national…
Irish
Tommy Bowe
Winger
Tommy Bowe was a prolific Ireland winger who was the leading try scorer on the British & Irish…
New Zealander
Tony Woodcock
Prop
Tony Woodcock was a stalwart All Blacks loosehead prop who famously scored the only try of the 2011…
South African
Victor Matfield
Lock
Victor Matfield was a masterful lineout technician who became the most capped lock in rugby history…
English
Will Carling
Centre
Will Carling became England's youngest-ever captain at 22 and led the side for a then-record 59…
Irish
Willie John McBride
Lock
Willie John McBride was an Irish lock who became a Lions legend, captaining the famous unbeaten…
New Zealander
Zinzan Brooke
Number 8
Zinzan Brooke was an unusually skillful All Blacks number eight, celebrated for kicking drop goals…
Welsh
George North
Wing / Centre
George North is a powerful Welsh wing/centre who became his country's leading try scorer and one of…
New Zealander
Mils Muliaina
Fullback
Mils Muliaina was a reliable All Blacks fullback who won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 during a long…
Australian
Joe Roff
Wing / Fullback
Joe Roff was a prolific Wallabies wing/fullback who became Australia's leading Test try scorer and…
Australian
Jason Little
Centre
Jason Little formed one of rugby's great centre partnerships with Tim Horan and won two Rugby World…
South African
Percy Montgomery
Fullback
Percy Montgomery was a prolific goal-kicking fullback who became South Africa's all-time leading…
South African
Jean de Villiers
Centre
Jean de Villiers was one of South Africa's most-capped players, a two-time World Cup squad member…
Australian
Will Genia
Scrum-half
Will Genia was a sharp, quick-passing scrum-half who became Australia's most capped player in his…
Australian
Israel Folau
Fullback / Wing
Israel Folau was a spectacular try-scoring fullback for the Wallabies before his career ended in…
Australian
Bernard Foley
Fly-half
Bernard Foley was Australia's long-time first-choice fly-half, helping the Wallabies reach the 2015…
Irish
Gordon D'Arcy
Centre
Gordon D'Arcy was a skillful Ireland centre who formed a long-standing midfield partnership with…
Irish
Shane Horgan
Wing / Centre
Shane Horgan was a versatile Ireland back who scored crucial tries during Ireland's successful Six…
English
Martin Corry
Number Eight / Flanker
Martin Corry was a versatile England back-rower who won the 2003 Rugby World Cup and later…
English
Lawrence Dallaglio
Number Eight / Flanker
Lawrence Dallaglio was a powerful England number eight and one of the finest back-row forwards of…
English
Richard Hill
Flanker
Richard Hill was the understated but vital component of England's famous back-row trio alongside…
French
Philippe Saint-André
Wing
Philippe Saint-Andre was a prolific France winger, famous for finishing 'The Try from the End of…
French
Didier Camberabero
Fly-half
Didier Camberabero was a versatile French playmaker who kicked and ran with equal skill for Les…
French
Serge Blanco
Fullback
Serge Blanco was one of the most iconic fullbacks in rugby history, an audacious counter-attacker…
French
Jean-Pierre Rives
Flanker
Jean-Pierre Rives was a fearless French flanker and long-time captain, instantly recognisable for…
French
Pascal Papé
Lock
Pascal Pape was a combative French lock who captained his country and played in two Rugby World Cup…
Rugby Union Nations
British
58
athletes
New Zealander
27
athletes
South African
20
athletes
Australian
19
athletes
Irish
15
athletes
French
11
athletes
Fijian
1
athletes
Italian
1
athletes