100 greatest rugby players of all-time have been named – Jonny Wilkinson fourth

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:

Get your tickets to the 2024 Six Nations matches at viagogo, the world’s leading ticket marketplace

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)

CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO

---