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FloRugby's 2025 Top 100 Rugby Players In The World

10 Best Rugby Players In The World | FloRugby's Top 100

10 Best Rugby Players In The World | FloRugby's Top 100

Springboks, All Blacks, Les Blues and the Irish represented in the top 10. Here are the 10 best rugby players in the world.

Jul 4, 2025 by Philip Bendon
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These are the rugby players who shift momentum, silence crowds and win titles. 

The top 10 of the FloRugby Top 100 isn’t just about talent—it’s about impact. From World Cup finals to club championships, this group shows up when it matters most.

This year’s top 10 reflects both consistency and emergence. Multiple Rugby World Cup champions, recent European club stars, and a new face at the top highlight a global era where no single nation has a monopoly on talent. 

The list concludes with a new No. 1—one of the most influential and complete players of his generation, now redefining what leadership and performance look like in the modern game.

From the physical dominance of a Springbok enforcer to the creative spark of a French maestro, and from a South Pacific captain lifting a new franchise to unexpected heights to a pair of Irish forwards reshaping the spine of their national team, this top tier features legends at their peak—and new faces reaching historic heights.

With players representing clubs like Moana Pasifika, Leinster, Toulouse, Bordeaux Bègles, and Tokyo Sungoliath—and national sides including New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and France—the final 10 reflects the strongest regions in the sport, highlighting the enduring influence of the Southern Hemisphere and European rugby powers.

FloRugby’s Top 100 Players list is more than a ranking—it’s a lens into the sport’s biggest names and boldest stories. And fans in the U.S. can follow all of them, all year, live on FloRugby and the FloSports app.

10. Eben Etzebeth | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa Rugby

The embodiment of Springbok steel—relentless, unyielding, and ever-present. Now entering his 14th year of international rugby, towering lock Eben Etzebeth stands alone as South Africa’s most capped player, a two-time Rugby World Cup winner and a living legend of the game. While time has tempered some of his explosiveness with ball in hand, Etzebeth’s physical dominance, rugby IQ, and leadership remain undiminished. In tight contests, he’s often the Springboks’ difference-maker—producing key moments when the margins are razor-thin. 

Whether lifting the 2024 Challenge Cup with the Sharks or leading the Boks to Rugby Championship glory, his presence commands respect. Debuting in 2012, Etzebeth quickly established himself as the heartbeat of South Africa’s pack. His lineout mastery, brutal tackles, and trademark “die bus is vol boetie” moments have become folklore. At 33, he remains a colossus—both feared and admired—as he continues to shape the Springbok legacy.

9. Will Jordan | Crusaders | New Zealand All Blacks

Simply gliding over the field rather than running, Crusaders and All Blacks star Will Jordan is an elegant presence on the field, evoking memories of All Blacks past with his balance, timing, and lethal finishing. A generational fullback or wing, Jordan has scored 36 tries in just 41 test matches for New Zealand, boasting one of the highest strike rates in rugby history. While a stretch of injury setbacks threatened to stall his rise, his 2025 return to help guide the Crusaders to another Super Rugby title showed he's lost none of his edge.

A Christchurch Boys’ High School product, Jordan made his mark with Tasman before exploding onto the Super Rugby scene with the Crusaders. His 2020 All Blacks debut soon gave way to show-stopping performances, including a five-try blitz against Tonga in 2021. A World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2021, Jordan remains one of the sport’s purest attacking threats—an instinctive finisher who reads the game a phase ahead.

8. Caelan Doris | Leinster Rugby | Ireland Rugby

At the peak of his powers when a cruel shoulder injury ended his season and ruled him out of the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour, Leinster and Ireland captain Caelan Doris was dealt a devastating setback. Widely regarded as one of world rugby’s standout performers, the Leinster and Ireland number eight had cemented his status as a central figure in both squads, combining immense physicality with a deft playmaker’s touch. 

Since bursting onto the international scene in 2020, Doris has amassed 51 caps and played a pivotal role in Ireland’s back-to-back Six Nations triumphs, including the 2023 Grand Slam. He captained his country in 2024, earning a World Player of the Year nomination and selection in a second consecutive World Rugby Dream Team. While injury has temporarily halted his momentum, few doubt Doris will return stronger. Still just 27, the Mayo man remains integral to Ireland’s long-term ambitions, with leadership, consistency and world-class performances guaranteed when fit.

7. Damian Penaud | Union Bordeaux Begles | France

Electric, instinctive, and utterly unstoppable, Damian Penaud has redefined what it means to be a French winger. At 28, the Bordeaux Bègles flyer is at the peak of his powers—capping a stunning 2024/25 season by breaking the single-season Champions Cup try record with 14, including two in the final, as Bordeaux claimed their first European title. At international level, Penaud’s rise has been just as remarkable. With 38 tries in 56 Tests, he has already matched the legendary Serge Blanco’s tally—achieving it in 37 fewer matches. 

A two-time Six Nations champion and 2022 Grand Slam winner, he remains France’s most reliable attacking threat, known for his poacher’s instinct, deceptive power, and trademark inside step. From Clermont prodigy to European Player of the Year, Penaud’s journey has been marked by big moments and even bigger performances. Now firmly among the world’s elite, he’s writing a legacy in both blue and Bordeaux.

6. Jordie Barrett | Hurricanes | New Zealand All Blacks

Versatility, vision, and venomous bootwork—Jordie Barrett brings it all in abundance. Equally at home at fullback, centre, or fly-half, the youngest of the Barrett brothers has become a cornerstone of the All Blacks and one of the most complete players in world rugby. A URC champion with Leinster in 2025, his short stint in Dublin only enhanced his already stellar reputation, with a string of dominant performances and a nomination for European Player of the Year. 

First capped in 2017, Barrett has gone on to earn over 50 Test caps, scoring 22 tries along the way. Known for his long-range kicking, calm under the high ball, and increasingly sharp playmaking instincts, he's more than just a utility back—he’s a match-winner. With a rugby pedigree that includes brothers Beauden and Scott, Jordie has carved his own path. Now vice-captain of the All Blacks, he returns to New Zealand rugby reinvigorated and ready to lead.

5. Cheslin Kolbe | Tokyo Sungoliath | South Africa Rugby

Small in stature but colossal in impact, Cheslin Kolbe has long defied convention to become one of rugby’s most electrifying and decorated stars. Standing just 5'7", the Tokyo Sungoliath flyer has conquered every level of the game—from Olympic bronze with the Blitzboks to back-to-back Rugby World Cup titles with South Africa in 2019 and 2023. Since debuting in 2018, Kolbe has scored 18 tries in 40 Test matches, dazzling fans with his footwork, fearlessness, and finishing. 

Whether playing wing, fullback, fly-half, or even scrumhalf, he’s a nightmare to defend and a match-winner on the grandest stages—just ask England, who watched him sprint clear in the 2019 final. Kolbe’s club résumé is just as glittering, with Top 14, Champions Cup and Challenge Cup honours in France. Now one of the world’s highest-paid players, he continues to lead by example in Japan—still a magician, still a Springbok, and still unstoppable.

4. Dan Sheehan | Leinster Rugby | Ireland Rugby

Dynamic, destructive and destined for greatness, Dan Sheehan is redefining what it means to be a hooker in modern rugby. Towering at 6’3” and 118kg, the Leinster and Ireland star possesses the rare ability to blend brute force with searing pace and skill. Since his debut in 2021, Sheehan has become a central figure in Ireland’s pack—scoring 15 tries in 32 caps and delivering standout performances on the biggest stages, including a Grand Slam-clinching double against England in 2023. 

Whether crashing over from close range, slicing through defences from 50 metres out, or leading a scrum assault, Sheehan can do it all. In 2025, after returning from a long-term injury, he quickly reclaimed his starting jersey and even captained Ireland to a Triple Crown. Now on British & Irish Lions duty in Australia, he’s not just in the squad—he’s leading it. At 26, Sheehan’s trajectory points squarely at World Player of the Year contention.

3. Pieter-Steph Du Toit | Toyota Verblitz | South Africa Rugby

Forged by resilience and defined by dominance, Pieter-Steph du Toit stands as one of the most revered figures in modern rugby. The Springbok colossus has overcome a career’s worth of injuries to build a legacy unmatched in South African rugby. A two-time World Rugby Player of the Year (2019, 2024) and double Rugby World Cup winner, du Toit remains the beating heart of the Bok pack at 32, even while plying his trade in Japan with Toyota Verblitz. 

In the 2023 World Cup final, he produced a jaw-dropping 28-tackle performance to help topple the All Blacks and secure back-to-back titles. His 2024 season was just as impressive winning 9 of 10 tests and sealing another Rugby Championship title. Whether as a lock or flanker, his endurance, physicality, and unrelenting work rate have become hallmarks of the Springbok identity. Battle-worn but unbreakable, du Toit is already a legend—and still writing his story.

2. Antoine Dupont | Stade Toulousain | France Rugby

There’s no mistaking the feeling in world rugby when Antoine Dupont isn’t on the field. That much was clear when the France captain’s 2025 Six Nations was cut short by a devastating knee injury during a crunch clash in Dublin. Until that moment, he had been electric scoring twice against Italy and guiding Les Bleus to within touching distance of another title, which he still lifted, crutches and all, alongside Grégory Alldritt. 

Who's The Top Player In Rugby? They Know

Just months earlier, Dupont had completed an astonishing treble: Top 14 and Champions Cup titles with Toulouse, and Olympic gold with France 7s. He’s the only player in history to win World Rugby’s 15s and 7s Player of the Year. Yet the shadow of World Cup disappointment still lingers, and questions persist around his greatness beyond European borders. But few doubt it: fit and firing, Dupont is the gold standard, rugby’s generational genius, now fuelled by unfinished business. His return promises fireworks.

1. Ardie Savea | Moana Pasifika | New Zealand Rugby

Michael Jordan to the Bulls, Tom Brady to the Patriots, Ardie Savea to Moana.  Few players redefine a franchise the way Ardie Savea has with Moana Pasifika. Rather than take a comfortable return to the Hurricanes, the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year chose to honour his Samoan roots, becoming the emotional and tactical heartbeat of a rising Moana side. In 2025, he led the team to their first-ever playoff push, coming up agonisingly short of finals footy, anchoring the squad with 7 tries, 20 turnovers won, 130 tackles and 138 carries in just 876 minutes. At 31, Savea remains in peak form, blending explosive power with relentless work rate. 

Ardie Savea's Performance Against Springboks

A generational back row talent, his influence isn’t just statistical—it’s transformational. Already a Super Rugby champion, All Blacks captain, and Rugby World Cup finalist, Savea is expected to play a central role in Scott Robertson’s 2025 All Blacks setup, closing in on his 100th test cap. Moana may be a new chapter, but Savea’s legacy as one of the greats is already sealed.

FloRugby Top 100 Rugby Players In The World: The Full List

Here's the full list. 

  1. Ardie Savea | Moana Pasifika | New Zealand
  2. Antoine Dupont | Stade Toulousain | France
  3. Pieter-Steph du Toit | Toyota Verblitz | South Africa
  4. Dan Sheehan | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  5. Cheslin Kolbe | Tokyo Sungoliath | South Africa
  6. Jordie Barrett | Hurricanes | New Zealand
  7. Damian Penaud | Union Bordeaux Bègles | France
  8. Caelan Doris | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  9. Will Jordan | Crusaders | New Zealand
  10. Eben Etzebeth | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
  11. Tadhg Beirne | Munster Rugby | Ireland
  12. Louis Bielle-Biarrey | Union Bordeaux Bègles | France
  13. Sione Tuipulotu | Glasgow Warriors | Scotland
  14. Maro Itoje | Saracens | England
  15. Ox Nché | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
  16. Finn Russell | Bath Rugby | Scotland
  17. Tommaso Menoncello | Benetton | Italy
  18. Josh van der Flier | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  19. Jesse Kriel | Canon Eagles | South Africa
  20. Tom Curry | Sale Sharks | England
  21. Thomas Ramos | Stade Toulousain | France
  22. Scott Barrett | Crusaders | New Zealand
  23. Damian Willemse | DHL Stormers | South Africa
  24. Juan Cruz Mallía | Stade Toulousain | Argentina
  25. Joseph Sua’ali’i | Waratahs | Australia
  26. Damian de Allende | Saitama Wild Knights | South Africa
  27. James Lowe | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  28. Wallace Sititi | Chiefs | New Zealand
  29. Jamison Gibson-Park | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  30. Peato Mauvaka | Stade Toulousain | France
  31. Blair Kinghorn | Stade Toulousain | Scotland
  32. Handré Pollard | Leicester Tigers | South Africa
  33. Damian McKenzie | Chiefs | New Zealand
  34. RG Snyman | Leinster Rugby | South Africa
  35. Siya Kolisi | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
  36. Tyrel Lomax | Hurricanes | New Zealand
  37. Hugo Keenan | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  38. Kwagga Smith | Shizuoka Blue Revs | South Africa
  39. Grégory Alldritt | Stade Rochelais | France
  40. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu | DHL Stormers | South Africa
  41. Bundee Aki | Connacht Rugby | Ireland
  42. Romain Ntamack | Stade Toulousain | France
  43. Jack Conan | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  44. Kurt-Lee Arendse | Vodacom Bulls | South Africa
  45. Will Skelton | Stade Rochelais | Australia
  46. Malcolm Marx | Kubota Spears | South Africa
  47. Garry Ringrose | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  48. Ellis Genge | Bristol Bears | England
  49. Ange Capuozzo | Stade Toulousain | Italy
  50. Tommy Freeman | Northampton Saints | England
  51. Cam Roigard | Hurricanes | New Zealand
  52. Tomás Albornoz | Benetton | Argentina
  53. Fraser McReight | Queensland Reds | Australia
  54. Matthieu Jalibert | Union Bordeaux Bègles | France
  55. Andrew Porter | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  56. Huw Jones | Glasgow Warriors | Scotland
  57. François Cros | Stade Toulousain | France
  58. Marcos Kremer | ASM Clermont | Argentina
  59. Jac Morgan | Ospreys | Wales
  60. Juan Ignacio Brex | Benetton | Italy
  61. Tomos Williams | Gloucester Rugby | Wales
  62. Ben Tameifuna | Union Bordeaux Bègles | Tonga
  63. Grant Williams | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
  64. Angus Bell | Waratahs | Australia
  65. Tamaiti Williams | Crusaders | New Zealand
  66. Alex Mitchell | Northampton Saints | England
  67. Yoram Moefana | Union Bordeaux Bègles | France
  68. Beauden Barrett | Auckland Blues | New Zealand
  69. James Ryan | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  70. Franco Mostert | Honda Heat | South Africa
  71. Tadhg Furlong | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  72. Len Ikitau | Brumbies | Australia
  73. Thomas Du Toit | Bath Rugby | South Africa
  74. Tupou Vaa’i | Chiefs | New Zealand
  75. Pablo Matera | Mie Honda Heat | Argentina
  76. Mark Tele’a | Auckland Blues | New Zealand
  77. Ollie Chessum | Leicester Tigers | England
  78. Zander Fagerson | Glasgow Warriors | Scotland
  79. Mack Hansen | Connacht Rugby | Ireland
  80. Santiago Chocobares | Stade Toulousain | Argentina
  81. Darcy Graham | Edinburgh Rugby | Scotland
  82. Robert Valetini | Brumbies | Australia
  83. Cameron Hanekom | Vodacom Bulls | South Africa
  84. Thibaud Flament | Stade Toulousain | France
  85. Tom Wright | Brumbies | Australia
  86. Ben Earl | Saracens | England
  87. Marcus Smith | Harlequins | England
  88. Duhan van der Merwe | Edinburgh Rugby | Scotland
  89. Sevu Reece | Crusaders | New Zealand
  90. Julián Montoya | Pau | Argentina
  91. Fin Smith | Northampton Saints | England
  92. Paul Boudehent | Stade Rochelais | France
  93. Caleb Clarke | Auckland Blues | New Zealand
  94. Joe McCarthy | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
  95. Maxime Lucu | Union Bordeaux Bègles | France
  96. Will Stuart | Bath Rugby | England
  97. Santiago Carreras | Bath Rugby | Argentina
  98. Andre Esterhuizen | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
  99. Cyril Baille | Stade Toulousain | France
  100. Henry Pollock | Northampton Saints | England

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

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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

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