The Best Rugby Players In The World No. 24-11: Legends, Phenoms & Mainstays
The Best Rugby Players In The World No. 24-11: Legends, Phenoms & Mainstays
The British and Irish Lions captain, a 22-year-old French wunderkind and one of the greatest Scots to ever lace'em up make the list.
As the 2025 FloRugby Top 100 Players list enters its final stages, the countdown has shifted from rising stars to the game’s most consistent and impactful figures.
Nos. 49-25, released July 3, spotlighted players such as Ange Capuozzo, Damian McKenzie and Peato Mauvaka—athletes who blend skill with influence for club and country.
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Now, with Nos. 24-11 unveiled July 4, the list features global captains, elite finishers and generational playmakers.
Argentina’s Juan Cruz Mallía (No. 24) and South Africa’s Damian Willemse (No. 23) highlight the backline versatility shaping test rugby.
Meanwhile, stalwarts such as Maro Itoje (No. 14) and Tadhg Beirne (No. 11) continue to anchor forward packs with elite consistency.
Young talents, such as Tommaso Menoncello and Louis Bielle-Biarrey showcase the next wave already competing at world-class levels.
With only 10 names remaining, the Top 100 reaches its conclusion July 4, just as the 2025 summer international season begins, streaming live on FloRugby.
24. Juan Cruz Mallia | Stade Toulousain | Argentina Rugby
Following in the footsteps of Argentine greats like Hugo Porta and Juan Martín Hernández, Juan Cruz Mallía has carved out a reputation as one of the most influential backs in world rugby.
Whether in a World Cup quarterfinal or a Champions Cup final, he consistently produces moments that tilt the field.
With an innate ability to read play phases ahead and a knack for striking when it matters most, Mallía has become a cornerstone for both club and country.
At Toulouse, he has scored 31 tries in 71 appearances, including a decisive effort in their 2021 European final triumph.
His blend of composure and creativity unlocks defenses and elevates those around him.
For Argentina, he has notched over 40 caps and featured prominently in multiple Rugby Championships and World Cups.
A proven winner and a player of rare instincts, Mallía’s impact often goes beyond the stat sheet—he changes games.
Watch Argentina Rugby on FloRugby
23. Damian Willemse | DHL Stormers | South Africa Rugby
Silky, sharp and endlessly versatile, Damian Willemse brings a unique spark to the Springbok back line.
Whether slotting in at fullback, fly-half or center, the Stormers star reads the game like few others—his instinctive play matched by elite athleticism and calm under pressure.
Still only 27, he already boasts two Rugby World Cup winner’s medals, making him the youngest player to do so in the sport’s history.
Having first burst onto the scene straight out of Paul Roos Gymnasium, Willemse has matured into a mainstay for both club and country.
His adaptability allows the Boks to flex their bench strategy, and his ability to unlock defenses makes him a threat from anywhere.
Off the field, Willemse is as purposeful as he is on it, championing environmental causes and social upliftment in his native Strand.
With a ceiling still rising, a third World Cup crown might just be within reach by 2027.
Watch the South Africa Springboks on FloRugby
22. Scott Barrett | Crusaders | New Zealand All Blacks
Resilient, relentless and quietly world-class, New Zealand captain Scott Barrett has carved out a legacy all his own—despite sharing a surname with two of rugby’s biggest stars.
Since debuting for the All Blacks in 2016, the physical Crusaders lock has amassed over 80 test caps, built a reputation as one of the game’s best in the tight exchanges and led with a calm authority that belies the chaos around him.
In 2024, Barrett was named All Blacks skipper, tasked with guiding a new era under fresh leadership—a rare shift in New Zealand rugby.
His unflashy, yet fearsome, style, particularly in the dark arts of breakdown and maul, makes him a cornerstone of both club and country.
A Super Rugby stalwart and Rugby World Cup veteran, Barrett has been ever-present through New Zealand’s recent highs and lows.
At 31, he remains the engine room heartbeat of a team always chasing perfection.
Watch the New Zealand All Blacks on FloRugby
21. Thomas Ramos | Stade Toulousain | France Rugby
When the stakes are highest, France’s go-to man from the tee has ice in his veins.
Thomas Ramos has built his reputation on clutch moments—his technique flawless, his nerve unshakable.
A central figure in Toulouse’s domestic dominance and France’s international resurgence, the fullback is one of the most reliable point-scorers in the global game.
Already a four-time Top 14 champion and two-time Champions Cup winner, Ramos added his name to history in 2025 by surpassing Frédéric Michalak as France’s all-time leading scorer.
FOR THE WIN! Thomas Ramos delivers with a penalty kick for Stade Toulousain!#STvsUBB #Top14 pic.twitter.com/ngB25F3FBU
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) June 28, 2025
He’s also topped the Six Nations points charts for three consecutive years and was a key figure in France’s 2022 Grand Slam and 2025 Championship win.
At 29, Ramos still has his sights set on the one title missing from his résumé—a Rugby World Cup. If France are to rebound from its 2023 heartbreak, the ever-composed marksman almost certainly will be at the heart of it.
Watch France Rugby on FloRugby
20. Tom Curry | Sale Sharks | England Rugby
Tom Curry has forged one of the most complete back-row résumés in modern rugby—all before his 28th birthday.
Emerging alongside twin brother, Ben, at Sale Sharks, Curry’s relentless physicality and leadership have set him apart.
A veteran of 62 England caps, a World Cup finalist and a two-time British & Irish Lion, he’s achieved what most players dream of while battling through a string of serious injuries.
Fearless and uncompromising, Curry became England’s youngest captain in decades during the 2022 Six Nations and has worn the jersey with distinction ever since.
His ability to dominate the breakdown, lead the defensive line and carry with venom makes him indispensable.
After missing most of 2024 through injury and undergoing stem-cell therapy, Curry returned in 2025—starting alongside his brother for England for the first time.
A quiet leader and warrior by trade, Curry’s career already demands hall of fame consideration, with more chapters still to be written.
Watch England Rugby on FloRugby
19. Jesse Kriel | Canon Eagles | South Africa Rugby
If ever there were a player who embodied resilience, it’s South Africa’s Jesse Kriel.
Once touted as the future of Springboks rugby alongside his twin brother, Dan, Kriel burst onto the international scene three years after finishing school at Maritzburg College.
Now with over 80 caps to his name, the versatile center has lived through the full spectrum of elite rugby—peaking with two Rugby World Cup wins and weathering setbacks, including losing his starting jersey to Lukhanyo Am.
Kriel’s ability to persevere has defined his career.
Test match Rugby 😍🇿🇦 @Springboks pic.twitter.com/roKEymHqgc
— Jesse Kriel (@JesseKriel15) June 23, 2024
Overlooked and underrated by some, he stepped seamlessly into the starting XV at the 2023 World Cup following Am’s injury and never relinquished the shirt.
Ten years into his test career, he continues to deliver consistently at the highest level for both South Africa and Japan’s Canon Eagles.
Quietly dependable and fiercely committed, Kriel is the kind of player every championship side needs, but not every fan fully appreciates.
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18. Josh van der Flier | Leinster Rugby | Ireland Rugby
Josh van der Flier doesn’t chase headlines—he just keeps delivering world-class performances.
Quietly brilliant and relentlessly effective, the Leinster flanker long has been one of the most complete players in the sport.
Now 32, van der Flier is defying age, still putting in marathon shifts and evolving his game in ways few expected.
Once pigeonholed as a workrate specialist, he has transformed into a dynamic carrier while never compromising the defensive effort and accuracy that first made him elite.
Josh van der Flier bulldozes his way in for another try! #LEIvBUL pic.twitter.com/4Tt8VGLRuN
— FloRugby (@FloRugby) June 14, 2025
His accolades tell the story: a Heineken Cup, three Six Nations titles, a Grand Slam and the 2022 World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year.
Yet he remains one of the game’s most understated stars.
His selection for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour is the latest chapter in a career built on humility, faith and fierce determination.
In 2025, Van der Flier might just be playing the best rugby of his life.
Watch Leinster Rugby on FloRugby
17. Tommaso Menoncello | Benetton | Italy Rugby
Rewriting what’s possible in an Italian rugby jersey, 22-year-old Benetton star Tommaso Menoncello has emerged as a world-class center and a genuine game-breaker, combining elite physicality with a sharp eye for opportunity.
Whether carving through midfield traffic or shutting down attackers, his impact is unmistakable.
The youngest try-scorer in Six Nations history and 2024’s Player of the Championship, Menoncello forms a lethal partnership with Ignacio Brex, giving Italy one of the most formidable center pairings in the tournament.
His ability to switch seamlessly between inside and outside center has elevated the Azzurri attack to new heights.
Already courted by Europe’s top clubs, with La Rochelle reportedly circling, Menoncello’s rise shows no signs of slowing.
A local hero in Treviso who still lives at home with his parents, he plays like a superstar but remains grounded. If his current trajectory continues, he could become Italy’s greatest player of all time.
Watch Italy Rugby on FloRugby
16. Finn Russell | Bath Rugby | Scotland Rugby
Long regarded as rugby’s great entertainer, Finn Russell has transformed in recent seasons, adding steel to his sparkle.
Once seen as a mercurial talent on a misfiring Scotland team, the fly-half has matured into a world-class general, capable of dictating the biggest games with clarity, poise and vision.
Since joining Bath Rugby, Russell has thrived behind a dominant pack—guiding the club to an extraordinary Premiership, Challenge Cup and Champions Cup treble in 2025.
Internationally, the 32-year-old has become the heartbeat of Scottish rugby and now captains the national side.
Though often dealt a tough hand against more powerful opponents, Russell has conjured game-changing moments with his unmatched creativity and daring moves.
With over 80 Scotland caps and two British & Irish Lions tours under his belt, he heads into his third tour as the leading contender for the Lions’ No. 10 jersey.
From stonemason to superstar, Russell’s story keeps getting better.
Watch Scotland Rugby on FloRugby
15. Ox Nché | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
The cornerstone of South Africa’s fearsome scrum, world-class loosehead prop Ox Nche’s dominance in the set-piece has been fundamental to the Springboks' recent success.
Known for his blend of raw power and technical mastery, the Hollywoodbets Sharks star has developed into arguably the best scrummager in the modern game.
Early in his career, Nché quietly honed his craft through Varsity Cup, junior internationals and domestic rugby, before emerging as a force on the world stage.
😍 Ox Nché… His URC Top 100 card upgrade incoming 🚀
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) April 18, 2025
Dominant scrums? ✔️
Offloads? ✔️
Now… kicks?! 👟💥@Vodacom #URC | #EDIvSHA pic.twitter.com/MjqD3mmore
Since earning his Springboks debut, he has been instrumental in anchoring South Africa's pack, providing a stable platform for their power-driven game plan.
Now with nearly 40 caps, his impact stretches beyond brute strength – his mobility, work rate and humility have earned him admiration globally.
As South Africa’s first-choice No. 1, Nché has cemented his legacy in Bok folklore, while continuing to write new chapters in green and gold.
Watch the Hollywoodbets Sharks on FloRugby
14. Maro Itoje | Saracens | England
A commanding presence since his teenage years, Maro Itoje has evolved from precocious prodigy to one of the game’s most influential leaders.
Now England captain and a three-time British & Irish Lion, the Saracens stalwart has carved out a career defined by poise, physical dominance and unmatched work rate.
At just 30, he’s approaching his 100th England cap while still operating at the peak of his powers.
An ever-present force in Saracens’ golden era—with five Premiership titles and three win in the Champions Cup—Itojealso has been the heartbeat of England's pack for nearly a decade.
Known for his smarts as much as his steel, he remains the gold standard at lock and was named Lions captain for the 2025 tour to Australia.
On the field, he’s a relentless engine; off it, an articulate leader with a global vision.
With his best rugby arguably still ahead, Itoje is building a legacy few modern players can match.
Watch Saracens F.C. on FloRugby
13. Sione Tuipulotu | Glasgow Warriors | Scotland
From Super Rugby afterthought to Scotland’s captain and a British & Irish Lion, Sione Tuipulotu’s journey is one of persistence, pride and passion.
Born in Melbourne and overlooked by Australian selectors, he embraced his Scottish heritage—via his Greenock-born grandmother—and debuted for Scotland in 2021.
Since then, he’s become a cornerstone of the national side, combining power, vision and a sharp rugby brain to thrive in the No.12 jersey.
A key cog in Scotland’s dynamic back line, Tuipulotu’s midfield partnership with Finn Russell has transformed the team into a genuine contender against rugby’s elite.
His form with the Glasgow Warriors has matched his international rise, earning him the captaincy of the national side in 2024 and a maiden Lions call-up in 2025, where he became Lion #863.
Whether setting up teammates or crashing over himself—like in the Hopetoun Cup win over Australia—Tuipulotu brings leadership, skill and relentless energy to every shirt he wears.
Watch the Glasgow Warriors on FloRugby
12. Louis Bielle Biarrey | Union Bordeaux Begles | France
Defenders barely have time to blink before Louis Bielle-Biarrey is gone.
The Bordeaux and France flyer has made the rugby world sit up with his electrifying pace, razor-sharp footwork and lethal finishing ability.
Just 22, Bielle-Biarrey scorched his way through the 2024-2025 season with an astonishing 33 tries in 29 games across club and international rugby.
Already crowned a European champion with Bordeaux and a Six Nations winner (and Player of the Tournament) with France, he’s become one of the sport’s most feared attacking threats.
What sets him apart isn’t just speed, but composure.
His performances in high-pressure moments—like his semifinal brace against Toulouse or record-setting eight tries in a single Six Nations campaign—speak to a player beyond his years.
From his early days in Seyssins to lighting up stadiums across Europe, Bielle-Biarrey already is being whispered about as a future great. If he continues at this pace, it won’t just be whispers for long.
Watch Union Bordeaux Begles on FloRugby
11. Tadhg Beirne | Munster Rugby | Ireland Rugby
Tadhg Beirne’s journey from castoff to cornerstone is one of the great redemption arcs in modern rugby.
Released by Leinster early in his career, the versatile lock refused to fade, instead rebuilding his game at the Scarlets—where he became a Pro12 champion and the league’s Players’ Player of the Year.
That form earned him a move to Munster, where he now captains the province and remains a talisman in red.
Beirne’s international career has followed a similarly upward curve.
Since debuting for Ireland in 2018, he has been a relentless force—disruptive at the breakdown, fearless in the tackle and intelligent in open play.
A key figure in Ireland’s back-to-back Six Nations titles and 2023 Grand Slam, he’s also a two-time British & Irish Lion.
Now 33, Beirne shows no signs of slowing.
Twice named to World Rugby’s Dream Team of the Year, his late bloom has become a lasting legacy.
Watch Munster Rugby on FloRugby
Where To Watch Summer Rugby Internationals
In the USA, FloRugby will broadcast some of the best international rugby fixtures of 2025.
South Africa, England, New Zealand and France will play matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app.
International Rugby Fixtures 2025 On FloRugby
July 4
July 5
- 3:05 a.m. ET: New Zealand All Blacks vs. France
- 11:10 a.m. ET: South Africa vs. Italy
- 3:40 p.m. ET: Argentina vs. England
July 12
- 12:30 a.m. ET: NZ Black Ferns vs. Wallaroos
- 3:05 a.m. ET: New Zealand All Blacks vs. France
- 11:10 a.m. ET: South Africa vs. Italy
- 3:40 p.m. ET: Argentina vs. England
July 18
July 19
- 3:05 a.m. ET: New Zealand All Blacks vs. France
- 11:10 a.m. ET: South Africa vs. Georgia
- 3:40 p.m. ET: Argentina vs. Uruguay
Aug. 16
Aug. 23
Sept. 5
Sept. 6
Sept. 13
Sept. 27
Oct. 4
Nov. 1
Nov. 8
Nov. 15
Nov. 22
How To Watch International Rugby In USA
FloRugby broadcasts dozens of international rugby matches throughout the year, including the summer rugby internationals from June to November.
How To Watch The Rugby Championship 2025
In the United States, rugby fans can watch 2025 The Rugby Championship on FloRugby and the FloSports App.
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
The URC will stream all its matches on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.