10 players who SHOULD be in the World Rugby Hall of Fame

Tuesday, 07 November 2017 at 14:22

bySteven Smith

The debate over the World Rugby Hall of Fame follows a reliable cycle of who, why, how, why not and who's next.

This year five legends of the game in Liza Burgess (Wales), Stephen Larkham (Australia), Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), Pierre Villepreux (France) and Bryan Williams (New Zealand) will be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2018.

Confirmation of the class of 2087, as chosen by the World Rugby Hall of Fame panel of experts, takes the grand total of inductees to 142 with each celebrated and profiled within a physical experience in the birthplace of the game that is fully interactive, immersive and delivered in multiple languages.

But there are plenty of players who should be in the hall, namely this 10:

1. Richie McCaw - New Zealand

His stats are quite remarkable. He earned a world-record 148 caps for the All Blacks, winning 131 of those games and captaining his country 111 times. He was voted World Rugby on three occasions and led his country to back-to-back Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015.

2. Jason Robinson - England/Lions

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.

3. Will Greenwood - England

A tall, stylish and astute centre who had a particular penchant for scoring tries against Wales. Two Lions tours, but his finest hour was lifting the World Cup with England in 2003.

4. Victor Matfield - South Africa

Dubbed the best centre in South Africa for his love of running with the ball in midfield, this ultra athletic second row has also been a supreme lineout technician. Man of the Match in the 2007 World Cup final, he came out of retirement to serve the Springboks once more after a three year break.

5. Paul O'Connell - Ireland/Lions

Munster fans will tell you that Superman wears Paul O’Connell pyjamas! The Irish second row was certainly blessed with special rugby powers having been one of the world’s leading tight forwards for more than a decade. A three-times Lions who captained the tour of South Africa in 2009.

6. Zinzan Brooke - New Zealand

A dynamic ball carrier, this Kiwi No 8 also had better kicking and handling skills than some fly-halves. Heaped the ultimate indignity on England in the 1995 World Cup semi-final, landing an audacious drop goal from 40 metres after they had already been demolished by four-try Jonah Lomu.

7. Rory Underwood - England/ Lions

Rory Underwood was a lightning-quick and prolific winger for England between 1984 and 1996, during which time he amassed 85 caps for England and six for the British and Irish Lions.

8. 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.

9. Richard Hill - England/Lions

he ultimate players’ player. Did all the unseen, grafting work and just got on with his job in unassuming fashion, putting his body on the line. Able to excel right across the back row, he was a pivotal figure on two Lions trips and an England World Cup winner.

10. Scott Gibbs - Wales/Lions

Responsible for one of the great moments in Welsh rugby history, with his Wembley try against England in 1999, and a seminal Lions image with his dumping of Os du Randt two years earlier. A wrecking ball centre.

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