The greatest rugby centres ever ranked from 7 to 1

From powerful ball-carriers capable of smashing through defensive lines to creative playmakers who could unlock a game with one pass, the very best centres have combined physicality, intelligence and game-changing attacking ability.

As RUCK prepares to partner with Ultimate Sevens for the inaugural championship launching this September, we are continuing our search for the greatest players to ever wear each position. This time, the focus is on the midfield.

The seven players below represent different eras, nations and styles of rugby, but each left an extraordinary mark on the game. Between them are Rugby World Cup victories, Grand Slams, international records and some of the most memorable moments in rugby history witnessed in a 12 or 13 jersey.

One of the most accomplished players of the amateur era, Mike Gibson represented Ireland 69 times between 1964 and 1979 and played on five British & Irish Lions tours. A wonderfully intelligent and versatile footballer, Gibson featured at centre, fly-half and full-back during a career that stretched across 15 international seasons.

He won one Five Nations titles with Ireland and was part of the Lions team that defeated New Zealand in 1971. Three years later, he helped the Lions complete their famous unbeaten tour of South Africa, with the Test series finishing 3-0 to the tourists, with one draw throughout the four-test series His longevity was remarkable, while his ability to read the game made him one of the defining midfield players of his generation.

Jesse Kriel’s international career has continued to grow with every passing season. The Springbok centre made his Test debut in 2015 and has developed into one of the most reliable midfield players in world rugby. He has won two Rugby World Cups with South Africa, lifting the Webb Ellis in 2019 and 2023, while his defensive leadership has become increasingly important to the Springboks.

Capable of playing at centre, wing and full-back, Kriel’s versatility has made him an invaluable member of the squad. His continued excellence means he may yet climb into this list in the years ahead.

Yannick Jauzion was one of the most elegant and intelligent centres of the professional era. The Toulouse star won 73 caps for France and helped Les Bleus win three Six Nations titles, all of them Grand Slams, in 2002, 2004 and 2010.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Jauzion possessed the size of a modern power centre but played with the vision and passing ability of a fly-half. His domestic career was equally successful, with Toulouse winning multiple French championships and the European Cup during his time at the club. Jauzion’s ability to combine physicality with creativity made him one of the most complete midfielders of his generation.

Few players have represented French rugby with greater consistency than Philippe Sella. The Agen legend won 111 caps for France between 1982 and 1995, becoming the first player in international rugby to reach the 100-Test milestone. He scored 30 tries for Les Bleus and played in three Rugby World Cups, including the memorable 1987 tournament when France reached the final.

Sella helped France win three Five Nations championships and was a key figure in the side’s Grand Slam victory in 1987. His intelligence, balance and ability to find space made him one of the finest outside centres of the amateur era.

Jean de Villiers’ career was defined by resilience. The Springbok centre overcame serious injuries throughout his international journey, including a devastating bicep injury at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, yet returned to become one of South Africa’s most respected captains.

He won 109 Test caps and scored 27 tries, captaining the Springboks in 37 internationals.

A member of South Africa’s 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, De Villiers combined sharp attacking instincts with excellent defensive organisation. He was equally comfortable playing at inside or outside centre and possessed the leadership qualities required to guide the Springboks through a period of transition.

His international career ended after a fractured jaw injury forced him from the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but his influence extended far beyond his statistics. De Villiers was a leader, a competitor and one of the most dependable midfielders South Africa has produced.

DID YOU KNOW? De Villiers played in four Rugby World Cups and became only the fifth South African to reach 100 Test appearances.

Danie Gerber’s international statistics are extraordinary. The Springbok centre scored 19 tries in only 24 Tests, producing a strike rate that remains remarkable for a midfield player. Blessed with pace, power and an exceptional ability to beat defenders, Gerber was capable of turning a half-chance into a long-range score.

His career was heavily affected by South Africa’s sporting isolation during the apartheid era. Gerber played his first Test in 1980 and his final international in 1992, but the Springboks played relatively few matches during much of that period.

Gerber was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2015 and remains widely regarded as one of the greatest centres never to have played at a Rugby World Cup. Had he been given the same international reach as players from later generations, his record could have been even more extraordinary.

DID YOU KNOW? Gerber scored four tries against England at Ellis Park in 1984.

Will Greenwood was one of the most intelligent attacking centres England has ever produced. The 2003 Rugby World Cup winner won 55 caps and scored an exceptional 31 Test tries. His understanding of space, ability to run precise lines and instinct for supporting breaks made him a constant threat close to the opposition try-line.

Greenwood was one of England’s standout players during their golden era under Sir Clive Woodward. He scored five tries at the 2003 Rugby World Cup, finishing as the tournament’s joint-leading try scorer, and crossed against Wales in the quarter-final before helping England defeat Australia in the final.

He won the Six Nations titles in 2000 and 2001 and featured on three British & Irish Lions tours, completing the trifecta of South Africa (1997), Australia (2001) and New Zealand (2005). Greenwood was not the biggest or most physically dominant centre, but his rugby intelligence was exceptional. He consistently appeared in the right place at the right time and had an ability to make complicated attacking situations look simple.

DID YOU KNOW? Greenwood scored five tries during England’s victorious 2003 Rugby World Cup campaign.

Conrad Smith was positional perfection. Known as “The Professor” because of his intelligence and analytical approach, Smith was one of the most technically accomplished outside centres rugby has ever seen.

He won 94 Test caps for New Zealand and was a central figure in the All Blacks teams that won consecutive Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015. Smith’s partnership with Ma’a Nonu became one of the greatest midfield combinations in international rugby. The pair started together 61 times and won 54 of those matches, combining Nonu’s power with Smith’s vision, distribution and defensive awareness.

Smith also finished his World Cup career with a perfect record, winning all 15 matches he played across the 2011 and 2015 tournaments. He was rarely the loudest player on the field, but his influence was enormous. Smith understood defensive systems, anticipated attacking patterns and consistently made the correct decision under pressure.

DID YOU KNOW? Smith scored a try with his first touch in an All Blacks jersey after making his Test debut against Italy in 2004.

Tim Horan was the complete centre. The Wallabies legend won 80 Test caps and scored 30 tries during an 11-year international career that included two Rugby World Cup victories. Horan lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in 1991 and 1999, becoming one of only a select group of players to win the tournament twice.

His first World Cup triumph came at just 21 years old, while his performances during Australia’s 1999 campaign confirmed his status as one of the finest midfielders in the world. Quick, powerful and exceptionally difficult to tackle, Horan combined a low centre of gravity with excellent footwork. He could create opportunities as a playmaker, finish tries himself and defend with relentless intensity.

His partnership with fellow Wallabies great Jason Little remains one of the strongest centre combinations the game has ever seen.

DID YOU KNOW? Horan was named World Rugby Player of the Year following the Wallabies' Rugby World Cup win in 1999.

Ma’a Nonu changed expectations of what an inside centre could be. Powerful enough to dominate the gainline but skilful enough to operate as a second playmaker, the dreadlocked jugger-naught became one of the most destructive midfield players in rugby history.

He won 103 Test caps for New Zealand and was a key figure in the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup victories in 2011 and 2015. His partnership with Conrad Smith brought unbeatable balance to the New Zealand midfield, as Nonu supplied the physical threat, while Smith provided the tactical intelligence, but the former was far more than a powerful runner. His passing, kicking and ability to put teammates into space improved significantly throughout his career.

Nonu also enjoyed a hugely successful club career, winning the 2014 Super Rugby title with the Blues before becoming a major figure at Toulon, towards the tail end of the Galacticos Era in South Eastern France. His longevity was equally remarkable, with Nonu continuing to play professional rugby well into his forties, and is currently under contract at the Hollywoodbets Sharks down in Durban.

DID YOU KNOW? Nonu arrives at the Sharks at 44-years-old, and holds the record of being the oldest try-scorer in Top 14 history whilst in his latest Toulon stint.

There could only be one player at the top. Brian O’Driscoll was the complete centre: a prolific try scorer, a world-class defender, an intelligent playmaker and one of rugby’s greatest leaders.

He won 133 caps for Ireland, captaining his country 83 times, and added eight Test appearances for the British & Irish Lions. O’Driscoll scored a record 46 Test tries for Ireland and remains the country’s all-time leading try scorer. His 26 tries in the Six Nations are also a competition record, underlining his extraordinary ability to deliver on rugby’s biggest stages. O'Driscoll also holds three Six Nations Player of the Championship awards, from his 2006, 2007 and 2009 campaigns - a record in the competition.

He helped Ireland win two Six Nations titles, including the famous Grand Slam of 2009, while his influence extended across four Rugby World Cups and three Lions tours. At club level, O'Driscoll enjoyed four league titles with Leinster along with a trio of Heineken Cup winners medals, and also the 2013 Challenge Cup.

What separated O’Driscoll from the rest was his complete understanding of the game. He could produce moments of individual brilliance, but he also made every player around him better. For consistency, longevity, leadership and pure talent, Brian O’Driscoll remains rugby’s greatest ever centre.

DID YOU KNOW? O’Driscoll is the highest-scoring centre in international Test rugby history and was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2016.