The best rugby players in the world: a list that creates more arguments than answers. That perhaps is half the fun of it.
Who is actually the best rugby player in the world right now? There are obvious contenders, but even then it is still hard to answer that 12-word question.
It sounds like a rather simple question; it isn’t. The difficulty is that there is no definitive answer. Test rugby matters, but so does club form.
A World Cup or Six Nations winner cannot dine out on his medals forever, and one spectacular season doesn't automatically make someone the greatest player on the planet.
So, who actually deserves a place among the elite right now? Below are the 10 best rugby players in the world right now.
10. Ox Nché (South Africa)
The first rating on the list goes to a player whose position is quite easy to overlook. That is, of course, until it comes to set-pieces, and that’s where the headlines arise. Nché is one of those players who, on some occasions, doesn’t get the plaudits he rightfully deserves.
He’s a formidable scrummager, a reputation that the loose-head carries with immense pride.
Not that long ago, he was included in World Rugby’s Dream Team; the game changer has most definitely established himself as a key part of Rassie Erasmus’ pack.
For a position that’s away from all the glamour, the 31-year-old deserves a spot on this list.
9. Cam Roigard (New Zealand)
A scrum-half is a quick thinker who puts their side on the front foot. New Zealand have found something special in Roigard.
He is not afraid when attacking, brings genuine pace to the All Blacks’ attack, and puts a number of teams under pressure with his smart thinking.
The 2026 Super Rugby Pacific winner with the Hurricanes is difficult to contain and is increasingly becoming a crucial player in this resurgent All Blacks team under head coach Dave Rennie.
He’s massive for them and looks set to remain a major figure for years to come.
8. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)
To this day, Kolbe seems to be one of those players who is pure box office, and he continues to deliver more often than not.
If you’re a defender facing the 32-year-old, it’s a difficult task because he can create chances from nothing. His attacking skills are ridiculous, and his pace is something else.
He’s great under the high ball as well, and that’s with all the new law changes coming into effect. He continues to shine in a Springboks side filled with world-class operators.
7. Finn Russell (Scotland)
One of the highest-paid players in World Rugby, Russell has earnt a place on the list. You talk Kolbe’s excellence; the 34-year-old has that in abundance too, with a wicked sense of entertainment.
He backs himself no matter the occasion, and if there is an offload that not many would have spotted or had the bravery to do, he has the courage to do so.
Like any other outside-half in the world, his kicking game is especially effective, as when either Scotland or his club side, Bath, are on the back foot defending, he can switch at any moment into an attacking threat.
He’s grown over the years; he’s turned into a fine player who’s reached his peak, but doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
6. Antoine Dupont (France)
Now this is where the conversation gets interesting, as for years now Dupont has been the obvious answer to the question that always comes up.
He was once the best player in the world, but slotting him at six does, in some respects, come at a push. At his best, whether for France or Toulouse, few players in the world could match the 29-year-old.
One of his biggest strengths, which keeps him high on this list, is his ability to create something from nothing in those crucial moments that can swing a match in an instant.
However, this list is about players producing their best right now, and that means Dupont has dropped to sixth.
5. Jack Willis (Toulouse)
Willis is a name that doesn't get thrown about as much as it should, and he's a player for whom international rugby would be even better than it is now.
It’s baffling and astonishing that Willis’s excellence isn't being shown on the international stage. The Toulouse player has been outstanding in the Top 14, claiming the league's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and matching a record previously held only by Dupont.
Another thing worth highlighting at this stage: he’s only 29, and the best is still to come. He was also named Player of the Match in the Top 14 final.
Willis has not played Test rugby since the 2023 World Cup because of England’s overseas selection policy, but that shouldn't overshadow how good he has been in France.
Relentless at the breakdown, powerful in defence, and seemingly incapable of stopping, Willis has earned his place in the top five, and it shouldn't come as a surprise to see him selected here.
4. Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
Savea, like so many players in this list, plays a huge part for their sides. He has a great deal of power to carry through contact, but if anything less, his intelligence to regather possession from the breakdown is one of his biggest strengths.
Despite not featuring for the whole series in South Africa and the Tests against the Springboks, Savea proved incredibly influential for the All Blacks and was a massive loss after suffering a shoulder injury.
As New Zealand continue to resurge on the international scene, Savea needs to be fit and firing, and that speaks volumes about how influential he is.
3. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France)
Heading back to the Top 14 and France, another player who continues to make headlines at just 23 is Bielle-Biarrey, who remains the best that the Northern Hemisphere has got to offer.
His admirable pace is one of his main selling points, but that’s not it for the Union Bordeaux Bègles player. He’s got a great attacking mindset, eyeing space before it opens up, and he rarely needs a second invitation when it does.
Once the hard work is done, he goes; there’s no wonder so many have him so high in these conversations.
He’s continuing his impressive form, and so far this season in attack he has made 59 metres with ball in hand, beating 6 defenders and scoring 2 tries in two matches.
2. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
The 34-year-old has been one of the best forwards in world rugby for years. Somehow, he keeps getting better. His career is progressing like a fine wine.
What stands out is his ability to maintain a high, consistent level throughout sometimes gruelling Test matches. He’s relentless.
And with that, when those special occasions arise, the Toyota Verblitz player always steps up and shines.
He was named World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year in 2024 for the second time, and currently holds our number two position.
1. Malcolm Marx (South Africa)
Marx remains our number one, and for good reason.
The Springbok hooker has been the flag bearer at his position for a long while, and he remains the benchmark. His arrows aren’t his only attribute; he’s a complete nuisance around the breakdown area and, from an attacking standpoint, gives Erasmus’s side more strength.
He’s not the most popular or loudest player on this list, but that doesn't matter; what does is what happens on the pitch. The 32-year-old continues to impress in a golden age of Springbok internationals.
Marx has continued to show, recently and throughout 2026, why he is the best rugby player in the world.
