The Best Rugby Player Born In Every Year From 1970-1999
Rugby NewsThursday, 06 December 2018 at 13:52
See who's number one in the year you were born! Who have we missed out? Comment below with your suggestions!
1970: Martin Johnson (England)
A player who led by example and the kind of man you would always want alongside you in the trenches when the chips are down. Would never ask someone to do something he wouldn’t do himself. Johnson will always be remembered as the man presented with the 2003 World Cup, which England won in Sydney. As well as being an inspirational leader, the Leicester lock was also a formidable player in his own right. A rock like presence in the tight, whose rugby motto was if in doubt, go forward.
1971: Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
One of the game’s great competitors on the field, the former Springboks scrum-half has carried that attitude into his off-field battles since hanging up his boots. You only have to watch the legendary Living With Lions video from the South African tour of 1997 to understand just how highly he was rated by the opposition and what a threat he was seen as. Aggressive and fearless, he was arguably the finest running scrum-half the game has ever seen, scoring 38 tries in 89 Tests, a remarkable tally for a No 9.
1972: Lawrence Dallaglio (England)
Went from being a schoolboy chorister to one of the most formidable physical presences in the game of rugby. Had it all in his prime - pace, power, aggression, pride and a steely mind-set. A Lions series winner, a World Cup winner and a trophy magnet with Wasps.
1973: George Gregan (Australia)
A talkative figure on the field, was responsible for one of the great on-field jibes, taunting the All Blacks with the words “Four more years” during the dying moments of Australia’s 2003 World Cup semi-final victory. Born in Zambia, this complete scrum-half won a whopping 139 caps.
1974: Jason Robinson (England)
Known as Billy Whizz, this former rugby league star proved a hugely successful convert to Union. A lethal runner from full-back or wing, he was a nightmare to mark in one-on-one situations. Had a knack of scoring memorable tries on the big stage.
1975: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)
Has one man ever done more to popularise the game of rugby than Jonah? When he burst onto the scene at the 1995 World Cup, it was like a meteor landing from outer space. We had never seen anything like him before and his incredible feats grabbed the attention of folk who had never previously been interested in the sport.
The physical impact Lomu had on the 1995 World Cup was beyond the effect of any other player in the history of the game. He scored seven tries in 1995, including four in an unforgettable one-man demolition job of England in the semi.
Lomu went one better in 1999 to finish with a record 15 tournament tries, before going on to show his dignity with his brave fight against debilitating kidney disease.
1976: Christian Cullen (New Zealand)
Just about the most exciting player in the world game for a few years in the late 1990s. Nicknamed the Paekakariki Express, he had a remarkable strike rate, scoring 46 tries in just 58 Tests for New Zealand, with his elusive running and pace from full-back ripping sides apart.
1977: Shane Williams (Wales)
Everyone remembers his side-stepping magic and wing wizardry, but it’s easy to forget just how hard Shane Williams worked in order to be able to hold his own physically on the international stage. Having burst onto the scene in exciting fashion, he spent two years in the Test wilderness amid concerns over his size.
Named world player of the year in 2008, he ended up with 60 Test tries, leaving him fourth on the all-time list behind behind Daisuke Ohata, David Campese and Bryan Habana. He was The Great Entertainer.
1978: John Smit (South Africa)
One of the great captains of the professional era. Led South Africa a record 83 times in 111 Tests, guiding them to victory at the 2007 World Cup, a series triumph over the Lions in 2009 and two Tri-Nations titles. A teak hard performer in his own right, mainly at hooker, but also at prop.
1979: Jonny Wilkinson (England)
In some ways, you could argue Wilkinson has been the epitome of the professional era. He has set new standards in terms of dedication and an almost obsessive pursuit of perfection. He’s also been one of the great match winners of the era and one of the game’s greatest ever accumulators of points.
In fact, only Dan Carter has scored more in Test rugby, with Wilkinson having garnered 1,246 during his 97 caps for England and the Lions. His finest hour, of course, came in 2003, when he slotted the drop goal that won the World Cup.
The fact he landed it with his weaker right foot speaks volumes for his hours and hours of diligent practice. Bowed out on a high, earning two more trophies with Toulon.
1980: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
He earned a world-record 148 caps for the All Blacks, winning 131 of those games and captaining his country 111 times. Perhaps my favourite stat is he'd has played in 32 per cent of New Zealand’s Test match victories since 1903 at the time of retirement!
1981: Thierry Dusautoir (France)
Produced one of the individual performances of modern times when he made an eye-popping 38 tackles and scored a try in France’s 2007 World Cup win over New Zealand. World player of year in 2011. Played his last game for France against New Zealand in Cardiff in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
1982: Dan Carter (New Zealand)
Dan the man. The greatest back of the professional era, his record speaks for itself. Way out in front as the leading points scorer in international rugby history, with 1,598 points from his 112 caps. Throw in a further 1,708 points for the Crusaders and the fly-half’s impact on the game cannot be emphasised enough.
1983: Bryan Habana (South Africa)
Anyone who races cheetahs in his spare time is likely to be reasonably rapid and the Jo’burg-born speedster has scorched his way to 67 Test tries - second on the all-time list - including a record-equalling eight to help the ‘Boks win the 2007 World Cup. Further trophy triumphs followed with Toulon before recent retirement.
1984: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia)
1985: Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
The main man behind Ireland's international success in recent seasons and Leinster's stranglehold on the European Champions Cup and Guinness PRO14 double in 2018. Puts his body on the line time and time again for the Irish and Leinster cause and as well as 76 caps in the famous green jersey, the 33-year-old has played six times for the Lions on their 2013 and '17 tours.
1986: Jamie Roberts (Wales)
1987: Danny Cipriani (England)
1988: Sam Warburton (Wales)
1989: Conor Murray (Ireland)
1990: CJ Stander (Ireland)
1991: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
1992: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
1993: Jack Nowell (England)
1994: Maro Itoje (England)
1995: Damian McKenzie (New Zealand)
1996: Jacob Stockdale (Ireland)
1997: Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)
1998: Tom Curry (England)
1999: Marcus Smith (England)
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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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