Top 6: Ranking England's best rugby captains - Ruck

Top 7: Ranking England’s best rugby captains ranked by win %

One of England’s best rugby captains Will Carling is to join England’s management team this autumn, as a mentor to senior players.

Carling starts the part-time role next week and has been given the brief of developing the skills of the leadership group, which is spearheaded by co-captains Dylan Hartley and Owen Farrell.

But where does Carling rank among England’s captains down the years in terms of win percentage and is he above Dylan Hartley? Find out below.

Note: They must have captained over 15 Tests to be eligible for this list.

England’s best rugby captains

7. Bill Beaumont (1978-82)

Captained 21; won 11; lost eight; drew two; 57.14%

He succeeded Roger Uttley as England captain in 1978. He went on to earn a total of 34 Test caps for England – captaining his country on 21 of those occasions and most famously leading them to the 1980 Five Nations Grand Slam – their first clean sweep since 1957. Also captained the Lions on their tour of South Africa in 1980.


6. Chris Robshaw (2012-17)

Captained 43; won 26; lost 17; 60.46%

Robshaw will forever be remembered for his poor decision against Wales in the 2015 Rugby World Cup and he was never a natural leader but the best England had at the time and did an admirable job for long periods.

LIST CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO