10 Best Full-backs in Rugby History: Blanco, Robinson, Williams & more

Ranking the 10 Best Full-backs in Rugby History

 7. Don Clarke (New Zealand)

Nicknamed “The Boot” Don Clarke is perhaps the best goal-kicking fullback of all time due to his impeccable accuracy.

Clarke in total won 31 test match caps for the All Blacks between 1956 and 1964.

When he hung up his boots, he had an impressive record of 781 points for New Zealand, a record that stood for almost a quarter of a century before it was beaten by Grant Fox.

Did you know: Clarke also played 27 first-class cricket matches as a right arm opening bowler.

 6. Gavin Hastings (Scotland)

A leader on and off the pitch Gavin Hastings was a jack-of-all-trades, specialising in both attack and defence.

The former Scotland Skipper led his country in 20 of his 61 caps, which included the narrow Rugby World Cup semi-final defeat against England in 1991.

Hastings also went on two Lions tours, captaining them in 1993. He then went onto try his hand at American Football.

Did you know: As a schoolboy Hastings became the first player to captain a Scottish students side to win in England.

 5. J.P.R Williams (Wales)

The Welshman was a spectacular all-around athlete and is regarded as one of the best Full-backs in Rugby History.

Making his Wales debut in 1969 he went on to become a key member of the dominant Welsh side of the 1970’s.

He won in total 55 caps for Wales, which included three Five Nation Grand Slams in 1971, 1976 and 1978.

Did you know: In January 2006, in a party of 16 Welsh men and women, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for charity, helping to raise more than £200,000 for the NSPCC’s ‘Full Stop’ Campaign.

4. Christian Cullen (New Zealand)

Christian Cullen’s record of 46 tries in 58 tests for the New Zealand national team remains one of the top 10 tallies for a player at the international level. It is also one of the most prolific ratios ever seen. T

he former All Black was one the early great running fullbacks, transforming the position into what it has become today.

Did you know: At the 1996 World Sevens competition in Hong Kong he scored 18 tries, including seven in one match.
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