LIST: The 5 toughest rugby players of the professional era - Ruck

LIST: The 5 toughest rugby players of the professional era

Everyone loves to see a hard bastard representing their team – and England, New Zealand and South Africa have all benefited from some of the best during the professional era.

They’re something of a dying breed, but the 1990s and 2000s were a breeding ground for tough tackles and bust-ups aplenty.

It certainly isn’t a definitive list, but here are some of the most famous and most brutal hard men to play in the professional era of rugby union.

#5. Jerry Collins (New Zealand)

He intimidated with his ferocious tackling and fearsome ball-carrying. If you want evidence of just how hard as nails Collins was, just ask Colin Charvis, who was knocked out cold by one of his tackles in a New Zealand v Wales game.

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