3. Graham Price (Wales)
A member of the feared Pontypool front-row known as the Viet Gwent, alongside hooker Bobby Windsor and loose head Charlie Faulkner, and all three played during one of Wales’ most successful eras.
But it was Price who was the bedrock of the great Welsh pack of the 1970s. He won 41 caps for his country and his 12 consecutive Test starts for the Lions remains a record for a prop forward.
Price had a fearsome reputation as a thinking scrummager but was also ahead of his time with his mobility, scoring a stunning try against France in Paris during his debut in 1975 after sprinting 80m in support of winger JJ Williams before scooping up the ball and plunging over the line.
4. Martin Johnson (England)
Iconic England legend Johnson is widely regarded as one of the greatest locks to have ever played the game.
He famously led England to glory at the 2003 Rugby World Cup and also captained the British & Irish Lions in 1997 and 2001 – the first player to have ever led the elite tourists twice.
In a glittering career, Johnson was also part of two Grand Slam-winning England sides in 1995 and again as the Skipper in 2003.
Did you know: Johnson was awarded an OBE by The Queen in 1997 but later honoured with a CBE in the aftermath of England’s Rugby World Cup triumph in 2003.
Honourable mentions: Victor Matfield (South Africa), Paul O’Connell (Ireland), Colin Meads (New Zealand)
5. John Eales (Australia)
Perfect is a hard word to describe someone as but John Eales was not far off.
He had pretty much every skill the modern-day rugby play requires and was a born match winner. A true Australian sporting legend, Eales won two World Cups and played 86 times for his country, 55 times as captain.
Rarely for a forward, he was also a goal-kicker, with his most memorable strike being a sideline penalty goal in the final minutes of a 2000 test to win the Bledisloe Cup against New Zealand.
Did you know: He also played first-grade cricket for Queensland University in the Brisbane QCA cricket competition.