Statistically these are the 10 players you should buy if there was Rugby Ultimate Team
Top 10s/ListsTuesday, 15 January 2019 at 10:06
It’s been a long time since rugby has had a truly quality video game. Some would argue it’s been just as long that EA Sports haven’t made a rugby game.
The “Rugby challenge” series has had some good attempts but Rugby 08 remains to be the last quality attempt, a game made by EA. So I decided to work under the pretence that EA were coming out with a new Rugby game and create a FIFA ultimate team style system. I will be giving the top 10 ratings for Rugby players through a FIFA style system, I will rate players based on:
Speed
Passing/offloading
Tackling
Speciality (including positional specific qualities, scrummaging etc)
Kicking
Strength
The players will also have an overall rating and will be placed in order of that rating, the ratings will all be out of 100. So kicking off the list…
I’ll start with some honourable players and a select few who could have featured on the list and who would still have high ratings (Faf De Klerk, Jonathan Davies, Mako Vunipola, Siya Kolisi, Michael Hooper, Leone Nakarawa, Maro Itoje)
No.10 – David Pocock (rating – 90)
Speed: 70 ,Passing/Offloading: 70, Tackling: 96, Speciality: 96, Kicking: void, Strength: 93
Struggled with injuries in recent time but remains one of the best opensides of the modern game, a work horse, master of the breakdown and a great carrier of the ball. Any coach would love his qualities and ethos in their team, his speciality would be the turnover, hence such a high score.
No. 9 – Jonathan Sexton (rating – 90)
Speed: 79, Passing/Offloading: 95, Tackling: 60, Speciality: void, Kicking: 95, Strength: 65
A slightly controversial figure in Rugby with some on-field antics, however, it can’t be doubted that Sexton is one of the finest fly-halfs on the planet, a great controller of the game and a true tactician on the pitch, Ireland are arguably on par with New Zealand as top dogs right now and without Sexton that likely wouldn’t be the case.
No.8 – Ben Smith (rating – 91)
Speed: 89, Passing/Offloading: 95, Tackling: 80, Speciality: void, Kicking:90, Strength: 70
One of the classiest operators on the planet. He could probably own every position in the backline but he usually operates at fullback or on the wing, a great attacking force and defensively reliable. Even at 32, he’s ageing like a fine wine in what is usually a youthful position on the pitch.
No.7 – Kieran Read (rating – 91)
Speed: 70, Passing/Offloading: 90, Tackling: 85, Speciality: 87, Kicking: void, Strength: 89
From one kiwi to another. Kieran Read has seemingly been around forever, but has never faltered in quality of performance. Still quality in the carry and defence and for speciality numerous factors could be put but for quality in the carry and quality of leadership, I’ve rounded the speciality on them factors. Just a class all-round Rugby player.
No.6 – Conor Murray (rating – 91)
Speed: 75, Passing/Offloading: 99, Tackling: 70, Speciality: void, Kicking: 95, Strength: 70
Arguably the best scrumhalf in the world, in the same regard as Sexton he is one of the most critical components of such a dominant Irish team, you would struggle to find a better passer of a rugby ball. A player who has also delivered for many years and has constantly been able to remain on top form.
No.5 - Brodie Retallick (rating – 92)
Speed: 70, Passing/Offloading: 80, Tackling: 85, Speciality: 85, Kicking: void, Strength: 85
And now starting the top 10, it can be hard to pin point what Brodie Retallick does so well because it tends to be everything. The kicking rating is void but give him a kicking T and he’d be punting them over in no time, speciality rating goes to the line-out where he has such a dominant hold. Certainly a top operator in such a hard working position.
No.4 - Reiko Ioane (rating – 92)
Speed: 99, Passing/Offloading: 80, Tackling: 80, Speciality: void, Kicking: 80, Strength: 80
If you look in the dictionary at the definition of a poacher, you’d probably see Reiko Ioane’s name somewhere. Having scored 22 tries in 22 appearances, he simply can’t be stopped, the definition of a modern-day winger.
No.3 - Owen Farrell (rating – 92)
Speed:80, Passing/Offloading: 90, Tackling: 80, Speciality: void, Kicking: 96, Strength: 80
Undoubtedly the most controversial choice on this list, Farrell can be seen as marmite in the rugby world, you either rate him or you don’t. It’s hard to look past what he’s achieved with both England and Saracens having guided both teams to success in recent times, in a similar vein to Sexton, he controls and dominates the game, his kicking can always be relied on too, the World Cup this year will be a platform to show his quality on the highest stage.
No.2 – Tadhg Furlong (rating – 93)
Speed: 70, Passing/Offloading: 80, Tackling: 85, Speciality: 98, Kicking: void, Strength: 96
You shouldn’t underestimate the power of the potato addict. When looking position specific it’s impossible to think of someone who dominates their position the same way Tadgh Furlong does, with his speciality being the scrum, you’re more likely to watch pigs fly then to see this man go back in the scrum. Incredibly strong and willing to do anything around the park, his handling also shouldn’t be underestimated.
No.1 – Beauden Barrett (rating – 95)
Speed: 95, Passing/Offloading: 90, Tackling: 80, Speciality: void, Kicking: 90, Strength: 70
Was his position ever in doubt? He’s still the standout rugby player on the planet with incredible speed, passing and kicking rage, his kicking off the T has been questioned but he’s undoubtedly an amazing open play kicker, with a brain to spot a gap and then the pace and ability to take it, every rugby fan seems in unison thinking that he is the greatest player in the world at this time.
Let me know your thoughts and what ratings you would give to specific players in the comments.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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