The centre position has produced some of rugby’s most complete players, with phenomenal athletes staring across both sides of the ball.
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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.
Before revealing the final seven, four legendary centres narrowly miss out.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
MIKE GIBSON (IRELAND)
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 (SOUTH AFRICA)
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 (FRANCE)
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.
PHILIPPE SELLA (FRANCE)
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.
TOP 7 RUGBY CENTRES OF ALL TIME
7. JEAN DE VILLIERS – SOUTH AFRICA
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.
6. DANIE GERBER – SOUTH AFRICA
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.
5. WILL GREENWOOD – ENGLAND
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.
