FloRugby’s Top 100 now reaches a group filled with international captains, Rugby World Cup winners and players capable of shaping the biggest matches in the sport.
Availability became one of the clearest separators in this range. Eben Etzebeth, Hugo Keenan, Jac Morgan and Fabian Holland all lost significant time, while Cam Roigard, Damian Penaud and Fraser McReight strengthened their cases through major performances, leadership and championship-level impact.
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Here is a closer look at Nos. 40-31 in FloRugby’s Top 100 Rugby Players.
40. Jack Conan | No. 8 | Ireland | Leinster Rugby | URC
A commanding presence in the back row, Conan remains one of Ireland Rugby's most dependable big-match forwards. Illness ruled him out against England Rugby during the 2026 Six Nations, but he responded with a player-of-the-match performance against Wales Rugby, making a team-high 15 carries, and earned selection in the Championship’s official team of the tournament. He also added two tries, six clean breaks and three assists in Europe.
At 34, Conan’s role may be more selective, but his influence remains elite when the stakes rise.
39. Fraser McReight | Flanker | Australia | Queensland Reds | Super Rugby
One of the Southern Hemisphere’s premier openside flankers, McReight, 27, continues to combine breakdown speed with an exceptional feel for the game.
His 2025-26 season brought a first Australia Rugby captaincy, sole captaincy of the Queensland Reds Rugby and his 100th appearance for the club during the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs. He may not be the biggest back-row forward in the world, but his repeat efforts, link play and ability to improve the players around him explain why he belongs this high.
38. Damian Penaud | Wing | France | Union Bordeaux-Bègles | Top 14
Few finishers in world rugby possess Penaud’s instinct for the try line. He became France’s all-time leading try scorer while helping Union Bordeaux Begles win a second consecutive Investec Champions Cup.
Penaud, 29, also started 18 Top 14 matches and remained one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking players before a spring concussion and another injury during the Nations Championship interrupted his finish. His anticipation, support lines and finishing still make him one of the sport’s most feared wings.
37. Fabian Holland | Lock | New Zealand | Highlanders | Super Rugby
Towering in stature and remarkably athletic for a second row, Holland, 23, announced himself as one of New Zealand All Blacks Rugby brightest young forwards.
He was named World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year after quickly becoming an important All Blacks lineout option and averaging 11 tackles per Rugby Championship appearance. A dislocated shoulder and surgery then wiped out his entire 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season and July Tests. The talent already looks worthy of a much higher ranking; the lost year is the only reason for caution.
36. Maro Itoje | Lock | England | Saracens | Gallagher PREM
Few locks have defined the modern era quite like Itoje. The 31-year-old captained England, reached 100 Test caps and continued to carry an enormous leadership burden after leading the British & Irish Lions in 2025.
At club level, he remained highly productive for Saracens, recording 128 tackles and 14 turnovers across 10 appearances. No. 36 reflects Saracens’ uneven collective season more than any meaningful decline in Itoje’s lineout work, defensive pressure or ability to disrupt major matches.
35. Jac Morgan | Flanker | Wales | Gloucester Rugby | Gallagher PREM
Few players represent their country with more commitment than Morgan, 26. The Wales and former Ospreys captain missed more than four months after dislocating his shoulder, but his return immediately restored energy and defensive bite to the back row.
His first British & Irish Lions tour reinforced his reputation as a Test-level forward, while his move to Gloucester Rugby gives him a fresh platform entering 2026-27. Injury interruption, rather than ability, is what keeps Morgan outside the Top 30.
34. Julien Marchand | Hooker | France | Toulouse | Top 14
Technically outstanding at the set piece and relentless around the field, Marchand, 31 remains one of rugby’s premier hookers. An early calf injury slowed the start of his campaign, but he still scored six tries in 14 Top 14 appearances and helped Stade Toulousain retain the French championship.
His value extends well beyond throwing accuracy through his breakdown work, carrying and leadership in pressure matches. The extraordinary depth at hooker is the only reason he does not sit even higher.
33. Hugo Keenan | Fullback | Ireland | Leinster Rugby | URC
Dependable under the high ball and almost never out of position, Keenan, 30, remains one of rugby’s safest fullbacks. He started all three Tests during the British & Irish Lions’ victorious 2025 tour and scored the series-clinching try, but hip surgery and a fractured thumb wiped out much of his 2025-26 campaign.
Even in only six URC appearances, he produced three tries and three assists during Leinster’s title season. His ranking reflects availability far more than ability.
32. Cam Roigard | Scrum-Half | New Zealand | Hurricanes | Super Rugby
Explosive around the breakdown and fearless in attack, Roigard, 25, has rapidly established himself as one of rugby’s most dangerous scrum-halves. He scored twice in New Zealand’s 2025 Bledisloe victory over Australia, earned selection in World Rugby’s Dream Team and then helped drive the Hurricanes Rugby to the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific title.
His support running, speed from the base and try creation already look world-class. No. 32 mostly reflects how recently he reached this level.
31. Eben Etzebeth | Lock | South Africa | Sharks | URC
A two-time Rugby World Cup winner andSouth Africa Rugby most-capped player, Etzebeth, 34, has long been the benchmark for international locks. His 2025-26 season, however, was defined more by absence than dominance.
A 12-match suspension was followed by a hip injury shortly after his return to the Sharks, limiting him to only a handful of club appearances. His proven Test-class ceiling keeps him among rugby’s elite, but discipline and availability prevent a return to the Top 20.
Philip Bendon contributed to this report.
Who's Next On The List? Stay Tuned
The next 10 players drop at 9a.m. ET on Aug. 26.
Missed The Rest Of the List??
- Wallace Sititi, Handré Pollard Headline FloRugby's Top 100 Rugby Players: Nos. 50-41
- Ange Capuozzo, Josh van der Flier Lead FloRugby's Top 100 Rugby Players: Nos. 60-51
- Jack Willis Headlines FloRugby's Top 100 Rugby Players Rankings: Nos. 70-61
- Andrew Porter Headlines FloRugby's Top 100 Rugby Players Rankings: Nos. 80-71
- Grant Williams, Garry Ringrose Headline FloRugby's Top 100 Rugby Players: Nos. 90-81
- Nos. 100-91 Begin The Countdown To Rugby's Best
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