The Top 20 Players In The 2025 Rugby Championship: World Cup Winners Galore
The Top 20 Players In The 2025 Rugby Championship: World Cup Winners Galore
Explore the top 20 players lighting up the 2025 Rugby Championship, from legends like Ardie Savea to breakout stars redefining southern hemisphere rugby.
As the 2025 Rugby Championship unfolds, the spotlight turns to the players who continue to shape and elevate the sport across the Southern Hemisphere’s fiercest rivals.
From seasoned icons to breakout stars, this year’s top 20 list is a tribute to rugby’s evolving balance of power, precision and personality.
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Leading off the countdown at No. 20 is South Africa’s Kwagga Smith, the dynamic flanker whose relentless energy and Swiss-army-knife versatility make him an indispensable figure in the Springboks machine.
Nicknamed after the extinct zebra species, Smith has transitioned from Olympic sevens glory to a dual Rugby World Cup champion in XVs.
His speed in broken play, durability in contact and adaptability across multiple positions speak volumes of a player who thrives in chaos—and brings structure to it.
This list dives deep into the backbone of The Rugby Championship, profiling the game-changers, leaders and rising stars from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Argentina.
With legacies on the line and future greatness emerging, these 20 players define the present and shape the next chapter of the Southern Hemisphere rugby’s storied saga.
20. Kwagga Smith - Shizuoka Blue Revs And South Africa
Nicknamed after the extinct zebra species for his relentless energy, Kwagga Smith is one of rugby’s most unique and valuable assets.
Renowned for his versatility, Smith can slot in seamlessly across the back row and even cover center or wing—qualities that made him a cornerstone of South Africa’s famed 6-2 and 7-1 bench splits.
Plucked from the sevens circuit by Rassie Erasmus, Smith went from an Olympic medalist to a two-time Rugby World Cup champion in the XVs format.
His tenacity at the breakdown, pace in the open field and uncanny ability to punch above his weight have made him a vital cog in the Springboks machine.
With over 50 caps for the national side and test tries against Tier 1 heavyweights such as New Zealand and Australia, Smith continues to be one of the most dynamic players in world rugby.
A true utility forward, his value to South Africa cannot be overstated.
19. Tyrel Lomax – Hurricanes And New Zealand
New Zealand’s cornerstone at scrum time, Tyrel Lomax has evolved into one of the most formidable frontrowers in the world game.
Towering at 6-foot-4 and tipping the scales at 130kg, the Canberra-born powerhouse is a relentless presence both at set-piece and in open play.
A former Australia U20 representative, Lomax made the bold move across the Tasman with the clear ambition of wearing the black jersey—a goal he realized in 2018.
Now with 44 test caps, he’s entrenched as Scott Robertson’s first-choice tighthead.
His immense work rate, physical dominance and brutal accuracy at the breakdown have turned him into an irreplaceable figure in New Zealand’s pack.
Having established himself with the Highlanders, and now the Hurricanes, Lomax's rise has been steep and sustained.
A two-time Rugby World Cup finalist and 2024 Māori Player of the Year, the son of league legend, John Lomax, is forging a legacy of his own in the 15-man code.
18. Siya Kolisi – Hollywoodbets Sharks And South Africa
A trailblazer, leader and symbol of unity, Siya Kolisi is one of the most iconic figures in world rugby.
Born in Zwide township, Port Elizabeth, Kolisi’s journey from humble beginnings to global stardom has inspired millions.
He made his professional debut with Western Province in 2011, before starring for the Stormers, where he later became captain.
In 2018, he became the first Black captain of the Springboks, rewriting South African rugby history.
Kolisi led South Africa to back-to-back Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2023, joining Richie McCaw as the only men to lift the trophy twice as captain.
He also captained the Boks to a British & Irish Lions series win in 2021 and multiple Rugby Championship titles.
Currently playing for the Hollywoodbets Sharks after a brief stint with Racing 92, Kolisi is as impactful off the field, through the Kolisi Foundation, as he is on it, championing social justice, education and equality in South Africa.
17. RG Snyman – Leinster Rugby And South Africa
Rugby’s ultimate physical anomaly, RG Snyman is a one-of-a-kind athlete who looks like he was built in a lab for this game.
At 6-foot-9 and 136kg, with the handling skills of a back and a world-class offload game, he’s a cheat code in tight and open play alike.
A double World Cup winner with South Africa, Snyman’s influence off the bench was so profound it helped define the Springboks’ legendary ‘Bomb Squad.’
After injury-plagued, but triumphant, years at Munster, his headline-making switch to Leinster raised eyebrows but delivered immediate results—culminating in URC glory in 2025.
When fit, few locks can match his athleticism, spatial awareness or sheer presence.
Snyman combines menace with flair, and whether he’s truck-and-trailing through traffic or flinging miracle offloads under pressure, he plays the game with rare imagination.
Now firmly re-established on the world stage, ‘The Viking’ remains one of rugby’s most awe-inspiring—and impossible-to-ignore—figures.
16. Damian McKenzie – Chiefs And New Zealand
Entering his 10th season of test rugby finally entrusted as the All Blacks’ first-choice fly-half, Damian McKenzi is receiving the long-overdue reward for one of the game’s most mercurial talents.
Long typecast as a bench spark or utility option, the 62-cap Chiefs playmaker now has the reins to shape New Zealand’s future under Scott Robertson.
Lightning quick and fearless, McKenzie is a high-risk, high-reward operator who thrives when backed to dictate.
His attacking instincts, audacious offloads and metronomic boot have lit up Super Rugby, where he stands as the Chiefs’ all-time leading scorer.
Yet at test level, his brilliance often has been stifled—until now.
After a standout 2024 season where he led test rugby in total points and kicked clutch goals in wins over Ireland and England, McKenzie’s credentials as a true No.10 are cemented.
At 29, the time is now for the smiling assassin to convert promise into legacy and lead the All Blacks into a new era.
15. Handre Pollard – Leicester Tigers And South Africa
South African rugby’s most composed and decorated playmaker of all time.
Two-time Rugby World Cup champion Handre Pollard has been the Springboks’ steady hand at fly-half for over a decade.
Renowned for his calm under pressure and pinpoint goal-kicking, he was the leading points scorer at RWC 2019 and kicked all of South Africa’s points in the tense 12-11 victory over New Zealand in the 2023 final.
With over 770 international points, he ranks second on South Africa’s all-time scoring list.
Pollard began his professional career with the Blue Bulls, before stints with Montpellier, NTT Docomo and Leicester Tigers, where he helped guide the team in the English Premiership.
In 2025, he will return to the Bulls for a new chapter in the URC.
A former junior world champion and World Rugby Junior Player of the Year, Pollard long has been a difference-maker, blending tactical control, physicality and unshakable temperament on rugby’s biggest stages.
14. Wallace Sititi – Chiefs And New Zealand
A breakout star in every sense, Wallace Sititi’s rise in 2024 was nothing short of meteoric.
Named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year and the All Blacks’ own Player of the Year, the 22-year-old loose forward slotted into international rugby with the poise and physicality of a seasoned veteran.
For All Blacks fans, his hard-nosed ball-carrying and natural feel for space evoked memories of Michael Jones—high praise, but deserved.
While Ardie Savea remained the side’s dynamic talisman, it was Sititi’s tireless work in tight that allowed the All Blacks to unlock greater balance under Scott Robertson’s new regime.
Whether it was carrying into heavy traffic or linking with the backs like a natural playmaker, Sititi elevated the pack with each performance.
Born in Samoa and raised across three countries, his diverse rugby upbringing shaped a player with both power and polish.
If 2024 was the beginning, New Zealand’s future looks incredibly bright.
13. Damian De Allende - Saitama Wild Knights And South Africa
In a Springboks jersey filled with showstoppers, Damian de Allende does the gritty work that wins big matches.
The 33-year-old inside center has carved out a reputation as one of South Africa’s most trusted warriors—relentless on both sides of the ball and unafraid to shoulder the heavy traffic.
Whether it’s hammering through the gainline, shutting down opposition attacks or putting in a quiet offload to spark something greater, de Allende consistently puts team success before personal accolades.
Twice a Rugby World Cup winner and with over 85 test caps to his name, he has embodied the physical, uncompromising style that defines Springboks rugby.
Though rarely in the headlines, he’s often at the heart of South Africa’s biggest moments.
From Munster to Japan and back, his club stints have only sharpened his craft.
In an era of razzle-dazzle backs, de Allende is the backbone—tough, selfless and endlessly dependable.
12. Joseph Sua’ali’i – Waratahs And Australia
Sometimes a player emerges whose impact transcends codes, and Joseph Sua’ali’i quickly is proving to be just that.
After electrifying the NRL as a teenager, the 21-year-old made a seamless, headline-grabbing leap to rugby union.
In his Wallabies debut at Twickenham, he didn’t just announce himself—he dominated, earning player-of-the-match honors and slicing through England’s defense with power and poise.
A generational talent with rare vision and footwork, Sua’ali’i combines the physical presence of a traditional strike runner with the decision-making of a seasoned playmaker.
His versatility—whether at fullback, wing or center—makes him a tactical weapon for both the Waratahs and Australia.
Comparisons to Israel Folau are inevitable, but Sua’ali’i’s ability to connect and create space for teammates gives him a unique edge.
For a union starved of global superstars, his arrival couldn't be more timely.
If he stays on this trajectory, he could be the face of Australian rugby for the next decade.
11. Juan Cruz Mallia – Stade Toulousain And Argentina
Following in the footsteps of Argentine greats such as 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.
10. Damian Willemse – DHL Stormers And South Africa
Silky, sharp and endlessly versatile, Damian Willemse brings a unique spark to the Springboks 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.
9. Scott Barrett – Crusaders And New Zealand
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.
8. Jesse Kriel – Canon Eagles And South Africa
If ever there was 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, 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.
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.
7. Ox Nché – Hollywoodbets Sharks And 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.
Since earning his Springboks debut, he has been instrumental in anchoring South Africa's pack, providing a stable platform for the team's 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 Boks folklore, while continuing to write new chapters in green and gold.
6. Eben Etzebeth – Hollywoodbets Sharks and Springboks
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 line-out 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 Springboks legacy.
5. Will Jordan – Crusaders And New Zealand
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.
4. Jordie Barrett – Hurricanes And New Zealand
Versatility, vision, and venomous boot work—Jordie Barrett brings it all in abundance.
Equally at home at fullback, center, 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.
3. Cheslin Kolbe - Tokyo Sungoliath And South Africa
Small in stature but colossal in impact, Cheslin Kolbe long has defied convention to become one of rugby’s most electrifying and decorated stars.
Standing just 5-foot-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, which watched him sprint clear in the 2019 final.
Kolbe’s club résumé is just as glittering, with Top 14, Champions Cup and Challenge Cup honors 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.
2. Pieter-Steph Du Toit - Toyota Verblitz And South Africa
Forged by resilience and defined by dominance, Pieter-Steph du Toit stands as one of the most revered figures in modern rugby.
The Springboks 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 Springboks' identity.
Battle-worn but unbreakable, du Toit already is a legend—and still writing his story.
1. Ardie Savea – Moana Pasifika And New Zealand
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 honor his Samoan roots, becoming the emotional and tactical heartbeat of a rising Moana side.
In 2025, he led the team to their first playoff push, anchoring the squad with seven 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.
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 already is sealed.
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