#1. John Eales (Australia)
Esteemed Australian rugby union star celebrated for his exceptional leadership and unmatched prowess as a lock forward. Eales’s illustrious career includes Rugby World Cup victories and numerous awards, solidifying his status as one of rugby’s greatest leaders.
Jeremy Guscott said: “No-one thought that such a lanky string-bean of a bloke could become one of the world’s best, and he was famously called “the arty farty student” by Wade Dooley. What he lacked in weight, he made up for by being a great athlete with a huge appetite for hard work – and, if that wasn’t enough, he also took over the goal kicking.”
DID YOU KNOW? In 1999, he became one of the first players to win multiple Rugby World Cups.