World Rugby Top 5 Men's Players Series: Locks

These titans of the pitch are easy to spot, as they are head and shoulders taller than the rest of the squad, and are built like an all-action skyscraper.

Throughout rugby history, the locks have provided some of the greatest leaders on the pitch. From England's 2003 Rugby World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson to the all-time most capped men's Test match player, Wales and British Lions legend Alun Wyn Jones. The four and five jerseys have been donned by some of the sports' most fearsome competitors, that put their bodies on the line for their teammates time and again.

The legendary locks are not limited to the Northern Hemisphere, with the likes of New Zealand's Sam Whitelock bearing the standard of second row success for the All Blacks. John Eales is so highly regarded in Australian rugby folklore, that the Wallabies have bestowed the Best Australian Rugby Player of the Year with the John Eales medal at the end of each season. Eales' won the Rugby World Cup twice with Australia, and earned himself the nickname 'Nobody', because as they say, Nobody's perfect.

Whilst the legends of past locks forever hold the key to the rugby hall of fame, we have scanned the globe to pick the best five second rows currently plying their trade today. This is a continuation of the World Rugby Top 5 Players Series that was started in 2023, with the lists for props and hookers already live on Ruck.

So, here is a look at the best of rugby's locks, beginning with a fan favourite for those that support Steve Borthwick's England team.

To earn yourself a nickname like 'The Pearl', you seriously have to be a stand-out talent. Maro Itoje certainly backs up the value of which his monicker holds, as the Saracen commands the respect of his opposition across the globe. Itoje is a revered opponent the world over, with the hard to impress All Blacks hand-picking Itoje as England's top asset, ahead of the recent two match Test series this past Summer.

'The Pearl' began his career as a hidden gem in Camden, but after his initial discovery, Itoje earned himself a scholarship to the regal rugby institution, Harrow School. Itoje impressed all onlookers in his early career and was fast-tracked into the Saracens squad for a senior debut at the age of just 19-years-old. It would not take long for Itoje to earn his first piece of silverware with Sarries, as he collected his first of five Premiership winners medals in 2015, before adding his first of three Champions Cup titles the following season.

Despite his impressive statue and undeniable physical imprint upon the pitch, Itoje's brain is amongst his best assets. The second row's rugby knowledge led him to expose a loophole at the break-down, that allowed for players to kick the ball clear from a ruck and disrupt the flow of attack. Such intuition led to World Rugby changing the rule dubbed the 'Itoje Law', as in 2017, law 16:4 was added “A player must not kick the ball out of a ruck. Sanction: Penalty kick. The player can only hook it in a backwards motion.”

Itoje has enjoyed a bountiful career of success with Saracens, and carried his winning mentality on to his England appearances. To date, Itoje has played 78 times for his country, dating back to his debut against Italy in the 2016 Guinness Six Nations. Itoje was apart of the new Eddie Jones squad that won the Grand Slam in that very campaign, and he has since added the 2017 and 2020 Six Nations titles, and 2020 Autumn Nations Cup to his ever-growing trophy cabinet. Whilst they are not glistening gold, Itoje's 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cup silver and bronze medals are also commendable accomplishments on the Test match stage.

However, it is argued that Itoje's finest moments have come in the red of the British & Irish Lions, with the lock hoping to complete the trilogy of tour destinations next Summer in Australia. Amongst the leading contenders to captain Andy Farrell's squad next year, Itoje exploded onto the touring scene as a 19-year-old in New Zealand, and immediately put the All Blacks on notice in the eventually drawn series. Itoje would go on to be one of the star names of the Lions 2021 tour of South Africa, as he went toe-to-toe with the monstrous Springboks to be named Lions Player of the Series by his teammates and coaching staff.

Respected by his teammates and feared by all who face him, there have been few men in rugby history that compel such a formidable presence than that of Eben Etzebeth. The South African titan has clashed with the world's leading locks time and again, and more often than not, it is Etzebeth who stands tall from the clattering collision. At 6ft 8 there aren't many in World Rugby that can look down on the Sharks man, who has proven time and again why he deserves to stand at the peak of world rugby's mountain of locks.

Let's start off with his most impressive accomplishments, as Etzebeth it's the proud owner of two Rugby World Cup winners medals. A key member of both the 2019 and 2023 South Africa squads that went 'bokke to bokke' as World Champions, Etzebeth took up the number four jersey in the famous green and gold, as South Africa first defeated England in Tokyo, before battling past the All Blacks to retain their title four years later in Paris. Etzebeth is without a doubt a legend of the modern era, and the lock is only a few matches away from becoming certified Springboks royalty.

Despite being 32-years-old, Etzebeth is still amongst the first names on Rassie Erasmus' team sheet, and recently collected his 124th cap for his country. The lock continues to bare down on Victor Matfield's all-time record of 127 Springbok appearances, and should Etzebeth play in the remaining four matches of the 2024 Rugby Championship (twice against New Zealand and Argentina), then he will take up the honour as South Africa's record appearence holder. A truly remarkable career in the iconic green and gold, Etzebeth embodies what it means to be a hard-nosed workhorse in the Springboks engine room.

The second row has not reserved his top performances for the Test match stage, as Etzebeth has also accrued an assortment of club accomplishments following a globe-trotting career. Currently, Etzebeth plies his trade for the Hollywoodbets Sharks down in Durban and the lock was apart of the side that defeated Gloucester to win the 2023/24 EPCR Challenge Cup title, to became the first South African side to lift a piece of 'European' silverware. Prior to cutting his teeth with the Sharks, Etzebeth enjoyed a four year stint with Toloun, and a year long run with the DoComo Red Hurricanes in Japan.

Etzebeth traces his rugby roots back to Western Province, whom he played for whilst trying to break into the Stormers squad. The lock emerged onto the scene as Western Province claimed the Currie Cup in 2011, with Etzebeth promptly offered a professional career with the club the following year. It only took Etzebeth two seasons before he had progressed out of the Province for a full-time run in the former Super Rugby set-up. Undoubtedly a legend of his own generation, Etzebeth could well go down as an all-time Springbok great, whenever the stern-faced South African get's tired of flattening his opponents.

Whilst we discuss Etzebeth, an honourable mention is in store to his second row partner RG Snyman. Whilst we have not been able to squeeze the mohawk-sporting second row onto our five player shortlist, Snyman is certainly an impressive lock that will surely carry Etzebeth's torch onwards once the veteran hangs up his boots. With the confidence to move from fierce Irish rivals Munster to Leinster, and the ability to back it up each week in the URC, Snyman is an exciting lock that will very soon be regarded amongst the world's very best.

The bookies' favourite to take hold of the captain's armband for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour of Australia, James Ryan encapsulates what it means to be a leader of men within the modern professional rugby landscape. The Leinster man has the confidence and self assured skillset that commands respect from his peers, as when the quietly spoken lock speaks, the entire Irish province falls silent to listen.

Such leadership has caught the eye of Andy Farrell, as the Ireland head coach gets prepared to head up the Lions squad for his first run with the touring side. Whilst Ryan can certainly 'talk the talk' to generate a positive outcome from his Leinster and Ireland teammates, the lock's own on-field attributes are second to none.

Do you need a commanding threat to challenge at the breakdown - Ryan's iconic black scrum cap is more often than not flying amongst the loose boots. Need a hard-hitting tackler to lead the line speed - Ryan's defensive capabilities see him amongst the leading tacklers whenever he plays the full 80 minutes. Ireland are blessed with an incredible array of top second rows, with Ryan routinely pushed to his edge in training to ensure he gets into the starting XV come the weekend.

Ryan battles the likes of Tadhg Beirne - a honourable mention for this list in his own right, as well as Iain Henderson and Ryan Baird, both of which would likely be included on a long-listed 'top 15' of the world's best international locks. Whilst Ryan does sometimes take up the number 19 jersey for an explosive off-the-bench appearence, the Leinster stalwart is more often than not nailed on to the starting XV for Ireland's most important fixtures.

Alongside veteran Ireland leader Peter O'Mahony, Ryan was instrumental as the co-mouthpiece of the Irish forwards, as Andy Farrell's side achieved their first Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam since 2018, two years ago. Ryan has since emerged to take a lead of the forwards pack, with O'Mahony's future in the green jersey looking to be coming to an end. The upcoming British and Irish Lions tour could be a career defining series for the 28-year-old, as he looks to take up the mantle previously held by arguably the greatest lock of all-time, Alun Wyn Jones.

Ryan's Ireland career began in 2017, the very same year in which he made his senior team debut for Leinster. The rocket-charged call-up took place on that season's Summer tour, with former head coach Joe Schmidt giving the lock a run-out against the United States. Ryan had an immediate impact, as after coming off the bench he soon crossed over for a try against the Americans, in a score which set the tone for his impressive career for the team from the Emerald Isle. Ryan has held the co-captaincy with centre Garry Ringrose since Johnny Sexton's retirement in 2023, and could well emerge as the stand alone captain in the coming years.

We head back down to the Southern Hemisphere for the next addition to this list, with the newly appointed All Blacks captain taking the fourth spot on this Top 5. Scott Barrett has been given the honour of leading New Zealand, following the start of the Scott Robertson era, which came into effect after Ian Foster's stand-down post 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Taking over the reins from Sam Cane, Scott Barrett has since made 'Razor' proud, with an impressive transition from Crusaders skipper to All Blacks leader. The standard is incredibly high for New Zealand's locks, with the earlier mentioned accomplishments of Sam Whitelock setting the bar as the country's most capped player being no small shoes to fill. However, Barrett has proven his capability to rise to the challenge, with his brutal presence in contact quickly earning him the adulation of the hard to please All Blacks supporters.

Long before Barrett had been bestowed the honour of All Blacks captain, he had been earning the recognition as one of the world's best locks. His second row partnership with Sam Whitelock brought unprecedented success to the Crusaders, as the Christchurch side recorded a never-before-seen feat of seven consecutive Super Rugby titles. One of four Barrett brothers who have played professional rugby, and a third of the current All Blacks crop that include his siblings Beauden and Jordie, Scott Barrett has a brilliant support network backing him up when he leads out the iconic men in black.

Barrett has been involved in the All Blacks squad since 2016, and has witnessed first hand New Zealand's dominance of The Rugby Championship. Barrett has played in seven successful Rugby Championship campaigns, with the All Blacks only missing out on one tournament title in the past eight years. With 60 caps to his name, Barrett has been apart of New Zealand's two latest Rugby World Cup campaigns, which saw him take home bronze medals from Japan and silver from France last year.

Barrett has been at the focal point for many All Blacks legends, since he took up the role as skipper in the recent Summer series against England. Ian Jones, who hold's the honour of being the second most capped All Blacks lock (behind Sam Whitelock) certainly knows a thing or two about what it takes to excel in the role, and Jones expressed to Ruck whilst we were stationed in Auckland, about how the Crusader personifies the hard-working attitude of the everyday Kiwi public.

"(Scott Robertson) May elevate his game, he’s a hell of a player anyway. But the great thing about Scotty Barrett is as captain is he’s a classic New Zealander. New Zealand will get them behind him because he is hard working. He is kind of staunch, ruthless, he is just a quintessential New Zealander and New Zealanders love him. The team will love him, they’ll get behind him, he’s a hell of a player who will go the whole 80."

One of the few men in the world of rugby that can stand eye to eye with Springbok giant Eben Etzebeth, is the 6ft 8" French tower block Thibaud Flament. The 27-year-old skyscraper's story is amongst one of the most unusual of the modern era, as he went from playing fly half for Loughborough University's fifth team, to then starting at lock for France in just five years.

To add more intrigue to the mystique of Flament's early career, the Parisian born lock actually spent his childhood and teenage rugby career in Brussells, the capital city in the neighbouring nation of Belguim. First picking up a rugby ball at the age of eight and taking the 10 shirt for ASUB Waterloo's age grade system, Flament would progress up the ranks of the Belgian club before heading to the English midlands to pursue his academic career.

The story only gets more interesting from there, as whilst stationed at Loughborough, Flament had the mother of all growth spurts and changed his position from fly half to lock. With the potential beginning to grow in the eyes of the coaches, Flament was sent on an excursion to Argentina, where he was taught the ways of the locks at Club Newman. The season stint in Buenos Aires pulled the inner scrummager out of the former fly half, and Flament returned to finish his studies as the first choice second row, before earning a professional contract with Wasps.

Flament marked his debut for Wasps with a try, as he stormed over to score against Saracens in the opening round of the 2019/20 Premiership Rugby Cup. Adding further intrigue is the fact that Wasps initially tried out Flament upon the blindside flank, with the Coventry club fluctuating their use of the forward across the second and back rows. Flament's tenure with Wasps would be short lived, as having made a name for himself at the Ricoh Arena, he was promptly snapped up by French giants Toulouse, with Flament arriving back in the country of his birth ahead of the 2020/21 Top 14 season.

Silverware soon followed upon his arrival in Toulouse, as Flament starred for the French club in their fifth Champions Cup triumph. Coming off the bench to contribute in Toulouse's victory over first time finalists La Rochelle, Flament battled to win key breakdown penalties, with Romain Ntamack slotting the all important three-pointers off the tee, to seal a narrow 22-17 win.

Flament would be first called into the French national squad the following year, with Fabien Galthie sending the lock out for his Test match debut in the 2021 Autumn Internationals. Coincidentally, Flament's maiden cap came against Argentina, the country in which he discovered his true talents as a second row. Flament repaid the Pumas by crossing over for a try on his debut, and he has firmly been apart of the French set-up ever since his first involvement for Galthie's group.

Flament's finest accomplishment in his Test career so far has been the 2022 Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam, as France won their first tournament title since 2010. The lock has since led the way for the forwards in Toulose's consecutive triumphs in the league and in Europe, as his club achieved Top 14 glory in back to back domestic seasons, whilst completing the league and Champions Cup double in this past 2023/24 campaign.