Respected rugby scribe Brendan Gallagher has continued his fascinating series in which he ranks players from down the years. This time it’s the toughest players to play the game
We’ll have our own look through his top 10, but to read the full article head over and subscribe to the UK’s best-selling rugby publication, on-sale every Sunday.
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10. Jean-Francois Imbernon (France)
Between 1971 and 1984, the powerhouse laid down the physical markers for French rugby, both in their domestic game and in the international arena.
9. Willie John McBride (Ireland)
McBride, known as the “Gentle Giant,” wasn’t the biggest man, but he had the heart of a lion. The Irish legend was one of the most respected players of his era, and an absolute gentleman to boot. But you didn’t mess with him. Play fair, keep it on the pitch, but, come on, fight clean.
8. David Leslie (Scotland)
The tough man played for Scotland 32 times between 1975 and 1985. He usually played at number eight, but occasionally at flanker.
7. Patricio Albacete (Argentina)
He was one of the greatest second-rowers of his generation. When he played for Argentina between 2003 and 2015, he wreaked havoc.
6. Colin Meads (New Zealand)
A legendary enforcer who played on despite picking up a broken arm during a game. Aside from being one of the very best locks the game will ever see, he was a gargantuan, inspirational figure that implored those around him to raise their games.
5. Michel Palmie (France)
Palmie’s sad clown face and enormous broken nose gave him the air of a club-house character rather than a rugby player, but he was one of the most callous and nasty players of a tough and dirty era.
4. Bobby Windsor (Wales)
This here was one of the absolute hardest bastards to ever lace up boots. Bobby Windsor, known affectionately as “The Iron Duke,” was one tough sonuva. The Pontypool, Wales, and Lions legend gave everything he had for the cause, and much more, to boot.
3. Martin Johnson (England)
The former England captain was as tough as they come, once having to leave the field to have a cut to his eye tended to before returning to the field moments later.
2. Ruben Kruger (South Africa)
Kruger was South Africa's Player of the Year in 1995, when he helped lead the team to a World Cup victory which helped bring together whites and blacks as the country emerged from the divisions of the apartheid era. He died following a long battle with brain cancer in 2010.
1. Jacques Burger (Namibia)
His wild hair and misshapen nose bear testament to his hammering away at the breakdown coalface as a player who could perform with distinction across all three back-row positions.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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