From World Cup-winning captains to record-breaking point scorers and players who redefined their positions, the professional era has produced some truly extraordinary talents. But who stands above the rest?
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We have ranked the 10 greatest rugby union players since the game turned professional, taking into account individual brilliance, longevity, leadership, silverware and their ability to perform when the pressure was at its highest.
10 Bryan Habana
South Africa produced some outstanding wings during the professional era, but Bryan Habana set a standard that few have matched.
Blessed with blistering pace and a ruthless eye for the try line, he became one of the most prolific scorers in Test history.
Habana was a central figure in the Springboks’ 2007 Rugby World Cup triumph, scoring eight tries to equal Jonah Lomu’s record for the most in a single tournament.
He later matched Lomu’s overall World Cup tally of 15 tries and finished his international career with 67. A World Rugby Player of the Year winner, Habana was a complete superstar of the game.
9 Antoine Dupont
The youngest player on this list is already building a case to sit even higher in the years ahead. Antoine Dupont has redefined expectations of a modern scrum-half through his speed, strength, skill and remarkable ability to influence games in multiple formats.
His achievements stretch from repeated domestic and European success with Toulouse to Six Nations titles, a Grand Slam and Olympic gold with France Sevens.
Dupont has also won World Rugby’s top individual award in both 15s and sevens, a unique achievement. With three Six Nations Player of the Championship awards already to his name, he is widely regarded as the outstanding No. 9 of his generation.
8 Pieter-Steph du Toit
Relentless is perhaps the best word to describe Pieter-Steph du Toit’s influence on a rugby field. Whether operating at lock or flanker, the South African has built his reputation on extraordinary stamina, defensive dominance and an ability to maintain an astonishing work rate for 80 minutes.
A key figure in the Springboks’ Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2023, he produced one of the defining performances of his career in the 2023 final against New Zealand, earning the man of the match award.
A two-time World Rugby Player of the Year, du Toit has established himself as one of the greatest forwards of the modern era.
7 Martin Johnson
Leadership was at the heart of Martin Johnson’s extraordinary career. Few players have commanded as much respect from teammates and opponents, with the towering lock becoming one of the defining captains of the professional era.
His greatest achievement came in 2003, when he led England to Rugby World Cup glory, but his influence stretched far beyond that famous night in Sydney.
Johnson also captained the British & Irish Lions on two tours and helped Leicester Tigers dominate English and European rugby.
Across 362 appearances for his only senior club, he won league titles, domestic cups and two European Cups. As a player and captain, Johnson set an imposing standard.
6 Sergio Parisse
Individual brilliance can sometimes be harder to appreciate when it is displayed in a struggling side, which makes Sergio Parisse’s career all the more remarkable.
For almost two decades, the Italian No. 8 carried the hopes of his country and regularly produced world-class performances against far stronger opposition.
Italy’s most-capped player, Parisse represented the Azzurri from 2002 until the 2019 Rugby World Cup and became one of the most respected forwards in the game.
His combination of athleticism, handling ability and leadership made him a complete No. 8, while nominations for the IRB International Player of the Year award underlined how highly he was regarded.
5 Jonah Lomu
Few players have transformed rugby in the way Jonah Lomu did. A devastating combination of size, speed and power, the New Zealand wing became the sport’s first true global superstar following his unforgettable performances at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
His four tries against England in the semi-final remain among the most iconic moments in the game’s history, while his 15 World Cup tries, scored across just two tournaments, remains a joint record.
Lomu finished with 63 caps and 37 tries for the All Blacks, but his influence extended far beyond statistics. His career was severely affected by kidney disease, yet his impact on rugby’s professional era remains almost impossible to overstate.
