100 greatest rugby players of all-time have been named

The Independent has released it’s greatest 100 players in World Cup history, ranked according to our team of expert rugby writers.

It will come as no surprise to learn that the Pienaar, Wilkinson, and McCaw all feature high up the list.

Players from Georgia, Samoa, Argentina and beyond are also all included, and as the global expansion of rugby union continues, this list should get more diverse as the years go by.

Check out their full ranking below:

100 greatest rugby players (Rugby World Cup’s)
#100 – Michale Leitch (Japan)
#99 – Lewis Moody (England)
#98 – Ben Franks (New Zealand)
#97 – Diego Dominguez (Italy)
#96 – Toutai Kefu (Australia)
#95 – Va’aiga Tuigamala (Western Samoa/ New Zealand)
#94 – Sebastien Chabal (France)
#93 – Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)
#92 – Mickey Skinner (England)
#91 – Stephen Donald (New Zealand)
#90 – Takudza Ngwenya (USA)
#89 – Thierry Lacroix (France)
#88 – Karne Hesketh (Japan)
#87 – Andrew Sheridan (England)
#86 – Josh Lewsey (England)
#85 – Will Genia (Australia)
#84 – Will Greenwood (England)
#83 – Gavin Hastings (Scotland)
#82 – David Pocock (Australia)
#81 – Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa)
#80 – Israel Dagg (New Zealand)
#79 – Wayne Shelford (New Zealand)
#78 – Jeremy Guscott (England)
#77 – Serge Betsen (France)
#76 – Brian Lima (Samoa)
#75 – Tony Daly (Australia)
#74 – Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
#73 – Brad Thorn (New Zealand)
#72 – Jannie de Beer (South Africa)
#71 – Fourie du Preez (South Africa)
#70 – Mils Muliaina (New Zealand)
#69 – Thierry Dusautoir (France)
#68 – Owen Franks (New Zealand)
#67 – Mike Tindall (England)
#66 – Keven Mealamu (New Zealand)
#65 – Glen Osbourne (New Zealand)
#64 – Rory Underwood (England)
#63 – Josh Kronfeld (New Zealand)
#62 – Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
#61 – Willie Ofahengaue (Australia)
#60 – Dan Crowley (Australia)
#59 – Emile Ntamack (France)
#58 – Shane Williams (Wales)
#57 – Daniel Herbert (Australia)
#56 – Nick Farr-Jones (Australia)
#55 – Jason Leonard (England)
#54 – Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)
#53 – Ben Kay (England)
#52 – Neil Back (England)
#51 – Abdelatif Benazzi (France)
#50 – Andrew Merhtens (New Zealand)
#49 – Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji)
#48 – Phil Vickery (England)
#47 – Sam Warburton (Wales)
#46 – Joe Roff (Australia)
#45 – Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)
#44 – Juan Martin Hernandez (Argentina)
#43 – Matt Burke (Australia)
#42 – Ayumu Gorumaru (Japan)
#41 – Matt Giteau (Australia)
#40 – Phil Kearns (Australia)
#39 – George Smith (Australia)
#38 – Ruben Kruger (South Africa)
#37 – Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)
#36 – Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
#35 – Percy Montgomery (South Africa)
#34 – Jason Little (Australia)
#33 – Bakkies Botha (South Africa)
#32 – Christophe Lamaison (France)
#31 – Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
#30 – Schalk Burger (South Africa)
#29 – Joel Stransky (South Africa)
#28 – Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
#27 – John Smit (South Africa)
#26 – Victor Matfield (South Africa)
#25 – Richard Hill (England)
#24 – Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand)
#23 – Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)
#22 – Serge Blanco (France)
#21 – Kieran Read (New Zealand)
#20 – Os du Randt (South Africa)
#19 – Stephen Larkham (Australia)
#18 – Francois Pienaar (South Africa)
#17 – Chester Williams (South Africa)
#16 – George Gregan (Australia)
#15 – Jason Robinson (England)
#14 – John Kirwan (New Zealand)
#13 – David Campese (Australia)
#12 – Michael Lynagh (Australia)
#11 – Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
#10 – Tim Horan (Australia)
#9 – Bryan Habana (South Africa)
#8 – Martin Johnson (England)
#7 – Michael Jones (New Zealand)
#6 – John Eales (Australia)
#5 – Sean Fitzpatrick (New Zealand)
#4 – Jonny Wilkinson (England)
#3 – Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
#2 – Dan Carter (New Zealand)
#1 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

list doesn't go back very far,does it?

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Originally Posted by brokendown gunfighter

list doesn't go back very far,does it?

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To be fair - it does say Rugby World Cups.

You can just squeeze them into a pretty handy XV...

1 #75 – Tony Daly (Australia)
2 #40 – Phil Kearns (Australia)
3 #60 – Dan Crowley (Australia)
4 #96 – Toutai Kefu (Australia)
5 #6 – John Eales (Australia)
6 #39 – George Smith (Australia)
7 #82 – David Pocock (Australia)
8 #61 – Willie Ofahengaue (Australia)
9 #16 – George Gregan (Australia)
10 #12 – Michael Lynagh (Australia)
11 #13 – David Campese (Australia)
12 #10 – Tim Horan (Australia)
13 #34 – Jason Little (Australia)
14 #46 – Joe Roff (Australia)
15 #43 – Matt Burke (Australia)

16 #19 – Stephen Larkham (Australia)
17 #41 – Matt Giteau (Australia)
18 #56 – Nick Farr-Jones (Australia)
19 #57 – Daniel Herbert (Australia)
20 #85 – Will Genia (Australia)

And yet no Ella brothers either!

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Originally Posted by boof1050

And yet no Ella brothers either!

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100 greatest rugby players (Rugby World Cup’s)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by brokendown gunfighter

list doesn't go back very far,does it?

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That’s what I was thinking. I was remembering all my old heroes and realised I’d forgotten their names!

Fitzpatrick at 5???

Stephen Donald? No Freddy Michalak? Gus Pichot?
Mario Ledesma? Probably more weird ones. But just someone's opinion......