Radio Times name their '10 best' rugby players in the world

Sunday, 31 January 2021 at 18:21

byRugby Rucker

Ahead of the 2021 Six Nations, the Radio Times have ranked their 10 best rugby players in the world.

Huge names, such as England back-rowers Sam Underhill and Tom Curry missing out, with fans baffled by George North's inclusion.

Below is RadioTimes list of the best rugby players in the world in 2021. Do you agree with their somewhat strange selection?

10. George North (Wales)

DID YOU KNOW? In June 2019, North married his long-term partner, the Olympic cyclist Becky James

9. Owen Farrell (England)

DID YOU KNOW? Farrell held the record of youngest player ever to appear in English professional rugby union after playing for Saracens 11 days after his 17th birthday, in a 26–17 home defeat against Llanelli Scarlets in the EDF Energy Cup on 5 October 2008, until this record was broken in November 2009 by George Ford of Leicester Tigers

8. Pablo Matera (Argentina)

DID YOU KNOW? Matera has been a regular starter for Argentina since his debut in 2013, having played over 50 tests for his national team

7. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)

DID YOU KNOW? Barrett holds the world record for consecutive wins since his first test (19 wins from 19 tests)

6. Pieter steph du Toit (South Africa)

DID YOU KNOW? After winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup with South Africa, he was awarded the 2019 Men's World Rugby Player of the Yea

5. Maro Itoje (England)

DID YOU KNOW? So far in his rugby career, he has won four English Premiership titles with Saracens, three European Rugby Champions Cup titles, and three Six Nations Championship titles

4. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)

DID YOU KNOW? Smith became the most-capped scrum-half in New Zealand's history in the 2018 season

3. Antoine Dupont (France)

DID YOU KNOW? Dupont was born in Lannemezan but grew up in the nearby village of Castelnau-Magnoac where he started rugby for Magnoac FC at the age of 4 years old