Why Ardie Savea Is The Best Rugby Player In The World In 2025
Why Ardie Savea Is The Best Rugby Player In The World In 2025
Ardie Savea overtook Antoine Dupont as the game's best player. FloRugby analysis Philip Bendon explains why.
Ranking the 100 best rugby players in the world isn't easy.
For nearly a year-- since the first list published in 2024-- FloRugby writer Philip Bendon painstakingly poured over the tape to compile the top players throughout the globe.
And at the end of the day, he couldn't put anyone ahead of New Zealand All Blacks star Ardie Savea, the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year who begins his international season on July 5 against France.
"As ever when selecting a player list, a level of subjectivity factors in," Bendon said. "Now thirteen years into his professional career, Ardie Savea is at a level of influence on a par with the great Richie McCaw."
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The All Blacks starting the season against France has some significance as the Summer Test season begins at 3 a.m. ET for New Zealand. The first player to ever be rank No. 1 in the FloRugby Top 100 was Antoine Dupont, perhaps the greatest French rugby player ever.
Why the change?
Well, for starters it's not because Dupont suffered a torn ACL in the Six Nations and will miss significant time, including the series with All Blacks. It's also because Dupont was likely to never play against the All Blacks even if he was healthy, according to Bendon.
"Antoine Dupont’s greatness is undeniable," Bendon said. "But the caveat of him never playing in the Southern Hemisphere outside of a brief appearance against the Springboks during his debut in 2017 is an asterisk that looms large."
Savea has no issues. In fact, he is on the verge of a giant mileston.
"Closing in on 100 test caps, Savea could well end up close to or surpassing McCaw’s 148 test caps," Bendon said. "His impact for the All Blacks as a key player who arrived just after the golden generation of McCaw, Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and company has been immeasurable."
Savea has the accolades to go along with his No. 1 ranking.
"He is a former World Player Of The Year, has a silver and bronze medal Rugby World Cup medal, Six Rugby Championship titles and a Super Rugby title to his name," Bendon said."
Ardie Savea One Of The Most Skilled Rugby Players Ever
Savea, 32, isn't the massive force some of the other top 10 players like Eben Etzebeth, Caelan Doris and Pieter-Steph Du Toit are. He's 6-foot-1 and about 240 pounds. But he can do things players larger and smaller just can't do.
"His ball playing ability as a backrow is elite," Bendon said, "his work rate around the park is immense and continually comes up with match winning moments."
Bendon explained what make the All Blacks a special player, and it's similar to what teammates say of other great athletes, like Lebron James in basketball and Tom Brady in football. Just ask Savea's Moana Pasifika teammates. Savea elevated one of the most struggling clubs in professional rugby and made them respectful, even pulling off an upset of the Crusaders, who won the Super Rugby Pacific title.
In that sense, he's one of the most successful rugby transfers ever.
"A sign of a truly great player is can he elevate those around him through his actions and in this sense, Savea was truly head and shoulders above any other player this season," Bendon said. "Taking a Moana side who finished 11th in 2024 to within a win of the knockout stages was quite possibly the most impactful transfer of all time.
"Yet, for all of his accolades Savea remains one of the most respected figures in the game both as a player and a person."
How Close Was Someone Else From Topping Ardie Savea, Antoine Dupont
Savea was No. 3 in 2024 and leaped over Doris and Dupont. The French star remains in the top two and to be fair, could be back at No. 1 if he shows he's healthy in the Six Nations.
Bendon said fans could argue that any of the top five could be No. 1.
"Fans can certainly scramble the top five into any order and it would be hard to argue," he said. "The Springbok duo of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cheslin Kolbe are generational talents who have massive impact on the international stage. Dan Sheehan is a physical freak at hooker unlike any we have seen and could well be a future Ireland captain."
FloRugby Top 100 Rugby Players In The World: The Full List
Here's the full list.
- Ardie Savea | Moana Pasifika | New Zealand
- Antoine Dupont | Stade Toulousain | France
- Pieter-Steph du Toit | Toyota Verblitz | South Africa
- Dan Sheehan | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Cheslin Kolbe | Tokyo Sungoliath | South Africa
- Jordie Barrett | Hurricanes | New Zealand
- Damian Penaud | Union Bordeaux Bègles | France
- Caelan Doris | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Will Jordan | Crusaders | New Zealand
- Eben Etzebeth | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
- Tadhg Beirne | Munster Rugby | Ireland
- Louis Bielle-Biarrey | Union Bordeaux Bègles | France
- Sione Tuipulotu | Glasgow Warriors | Scotland
- Maro Itoje | Saracens | England
- Ox Nché | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
- Finn Russell | Bath Rugby | Scotland
- Tommaso Menoncello | Benetton | Italy
- Josh van der Flier | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Jesse Kriel | Canon Eagles | South Africa
- Tom Curry | Sale Sharks | England
- Thomas Ramos | Stade Toulousain | France
- Scott Barrett | Crusaders | New Zealand
- Damian Willemse | DHL Stormers | South Africa
- Juan Cruz Mallía | Stade Toulousain | Argentina
- Joseph Sua’ali’i | Waratahs | Australia
- Damian de Allende | Saitama Wild Knights | South Africa
- James Lowe | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Wallace Sititi | Chiefs | New Zealand
- Jamison Gibson-Park | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Peato Mauvaka | Stade Toulousain | France
- Blair Kinghorn | Stade Toulousain | Scotland
- Handré Pollard | Leicester Tigers | South Africa
- Damian McKenzie | Chiefs | New Zealand
- RG Snyman | Leinster Rugby | South Africa
- Siya Kolisi | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
- Tyrel Lomax | Hurricanes | New Zealand
- Hugo Keenan | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Kwagga Smith | Shizuoka Blue Revs | South Africa
- Grégory Alldritt | Stade Rochelais | France
- Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu | DHL Stormers | South Africa
- Bundee Aki | Connacht Rugby | Ireland
- Romain Ntamack | Stade Toulousain | France
- Jack Conan | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Kurt-Lee Arendse | Vodacom Bulls | South Africa
- Will Skelton | Stade Rochelais | Australia
- Malcolm Marx | Kubota Spears | South Africa
- Garry Ringrose | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Ellis Genge | Bristol Bears | England
- Ange Capuozzo | Stade Toulousain | Italy
- Tommy Freeman | Northampton Saints | England
- Cam Roigard | Hurricanes | New Zealand
- Tomás Albornoz | Benetton | Argentina
- Fraser McReight | Queensland Reds | Australia
- Matthieu Jalibert | Union Bordeaux Bègles | France
- Andrew Porter | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Huw Jones | Glasgow Warriors | Scotland
- François Cros | Stade Toulousain | France
- Marcos Kremer | ASM Clermont | Argentina
- Jac Morgan | Ospreys | Wales
- Juan Ignacio Brex | Benetton | Italy
- Tomos Williams | Gloucester Rugby | Wales
- Ben Tameifuna | Union Bordeaux Bègles | Tonga
- Grant Williams | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
- Angus Bell | Waratahs | Australia
- Tamaiti Williams | Crusaders | New Zealand
- Alex Mitchell | Northampton Saints | England
- Yoram Moefana | Union Bordeaux Bègles | France
- Beauden Barrett | Auckland Blues | New Zealand
- James Ryan | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Franco Mostert | Honda Heat | South Africa
- Tadhg Furlong | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Len Ikitau | Brumbies | Australia
- Thomas Du Toit | Bath Rugby | South Africa
- Tupou Vaa’i | Chiefs | New Zealand
- Pablo Matera | Mie Honda Heat | Argentina
- Mark Tele’a | Auckland Blues | New Zealand
- Ollie Chessum | Leicester Tigers | England
- Zander Fagerson | Glasgow Warriors | Scotland
- Mack Hansen | Connacht Rugby | Ireland
- Santiago Chocobares | Stade Toulousain | Argentina
- Darcy Graham | Edinburgh Rugby | Scotland
- Robert Valetini | Brumbies | Australia
- Cameron Hanekom | Vodacom Bulls | South Africa
- Thibaud Flament | Stade Toulousain | France
- Tom Wright | Brumbies | Australia
- Ben Earl | Saracens | England
- Marcus Smith | Harlequins | England
- Duhan van der Merwe | Edinburgh Rugby | Scotland
- Sevu Reece | Crusaders | New Zealand
- Julián Montoya | Pau | Argentina
- Fin Smith | Northampton Saints | England
- Paul Boudehent | Stade Rochelais | France
- Caleb Clarke | Auckland Blues | New Zealand
- Joe McCarthy | Leinster Rugby | Ireland
- Maxime Lucu | Union Bordeaux Bègles | France
- Will Stuart | Bath Rugby | England
- Santiago Carreras | Bath Rugby | Argentina
- Andre Esterhuizen | Hollywoodbets Sharks | South Africa
- Cyril Baille | Stade Toulousain | France
- 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
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.