Dan Carter didn’t hesitate naming the best fly-half in rugby history

Saturday, 04 April 2026 at 18:35

bySteven Smith

Dan Carter has stirred the pot after stepping into a brutal ‘Winner Stays On’ showdown, where he was forced to rank some of the greatest fly-halves of the modern era.

In a chat with

Midi Olympique, the All Blacks legend was put on the spot—given head-to-head matchups between elite No.10s and told to pick his winner each time, with the victor rolling on to face the next contender.

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Farrell dominates early rounds

Carter kicked things off by choosing between Owen Farrell and Finn Russell — and the England skipper swept that one with ease. Farrell then dispatched the hugely gifted Matthieu Jalibert before facing what Carter felt was a far trickier task: Romain Ntamack. Still, the Saracens man edged the young French superstar.

‘Maybe in five or 10 years time’

“Oh my god, the future or the legend himself? It’s hard but I’m going to go on experience. What Owen Farrell has done in an England jersey is incredible.

“Maybe in five or 10 years, Ntamack will be in the same conversation.”

O’Gara ends Farrell’s run

Next up was an Irish legend. Farrell squared off against Ronan O’Gara — and that’s where his streak ended, though Carter admitted his decision wasn’t exactly neutral.

“I’ve got to go with my mate ROG, he would kill me,” Carter laughed. “He would be straight on the phone and ring me if I don’t choose him. He’s a points-scoring legend.”

O’Gara also triumphed in the all-Ireland showdown with Johnny Sexton.

“Geez, there’s a bit of rivalry there, but I have to go with my mate ROG again.”

Beauden Barrett sweeps past O’Gara

But the La Rochelle boss met his match when Beauden Barrett appeared on the other side of the bracket.

“Picking an All Black over an Ireland player, it’s not fair. Beaudy lives just down the road from me so he might come knocking on my door if I pick Ronan over Beauden, so I will go Beaudy.”

Barrett vs Larkham: a classic matchup

Barrett then faced an enormous challenge in Wallabies great Stephen Larkham, the heartbeat of Australia’s 1999 World Cup triumph. Still, Carter’s patriotism shone through.

“Stephen Larkham’s right there and I had a lot of good rivalries against Stephen Larkham. He was awesome.

“They both played 15 as well, so both really versatile and could play 10 or 15. It’s hard not to pick a New Zealander, I’m a pretty patriotic person, so I will go Beaudy.”

Does Carter pick himself?

When asked if he’d choose himself over Barrett, the famously humble Carter didn’t entertain it, leaving Barrett to move on to the final clash — a showdown with Jonny Wilkinson.

Wilkinson takes the crown

It didn’t take long for Carter to make the call.

“I would have to go Jonny. He was just someone I aspired to be like and someone I really respected, so Jonny Wilkinson,” he said.

“You deliberately put that last otherwise he would have been there most of the time! He was an awesome player.”

Carter

Whether through World Cup glory, club success, or post-retirement ventures, the richest rugby union players demonstrate that the sport can be financially rewarding — if not quite billionaire-level.

Here, we rank the Top 6 richest rugby union players in the world in 2025, ordered from 6 to 1, highlighting both their net worth in pounds (£) and the achievements that helped them earn it.

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6️⃣ Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

Estimated Net Worth: £12–14 million
Bio: Widely regarded as the greatest openside flanker of all time, McCaw captained the All Blacks to two Rugby World Cup victories (2011, 2015). Known for his leadership, work ethic, and tactical intelligence.

Key Points:

Two-time Rugby World Cup winner (2011, 2015)
Long All Blacks career with record appearances
Sponsorships with major brands (Adidas, aviation)
Post-retirement speaking engagements and business ventures

5️⃣ Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)

Estimated Net Worth: £13–15 million
Bio: Ireland’s most capped player and one of the finest centres in rugby history. O’Driscoll led Ireland and the British & Irish Lions to numerous successes and transitioned into media work after retirement.

Key Points:

Ireland and British & Irish Lions captain
Successful broadcasting career (punditry with BT Sport)
Brand ambassador for multiple companies
Post-retirement business roles

4️⃣ Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)

Estimated Net Worth: £15–17 million
Bio: A dual-code rugby superstar, Williams excelled in both rugby union and rugby league. He also pursued professional boxing, leveraging his sporting success into global endorsements.

Key Points:

Dual-code rugby international
Professional boxing career
Multiple domestic and international rugby titles
Endorsements with global brands

3️⃣ Mike Tindall (England)

Estimated Net Worth: £16–18 million
Bio: Former England centre and 2003 Rugby World Cup winner. Tindall has become a media personality and entrepreneur after retirement.

Key Points:

2003 Rugby World Cup winner with England
Television appearances and reality TV
Brand endorsements and ambassador roles
Family business ventures with Zara Phillips

2️⃣ Dan Carter (New Zealand)

Estimated Net Worth: £17–19 million
Bio: One of the greatest fly-halves ever, Carter starred for the All Blacks and in club rugby in France and Japan. Known for his precision kicking and playmaking.

Key Points:

All Blacks legend and World Cup winner
Record-breaking club contracts in France and Japan
Endorsements and ambassadorial roles
Post-retirement rugby-related ventures

1️⃣ Jonny Wilkinson (England) ?

Estimated Net Worth: £18–22 million
Bio: Legendary England fly-half, famous for the drop goal that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Wilkinson has leveraged his fame for lucrative contracts, endorsements, and media opportunities.

Key Points: