新澳门开奖结果

Rugby Ball. Photo by Edgar Pimenta on

20 Best Rugby Players Of All Times

1. Jonah Lomu

Jonah Lomu. Author Own work.

Talking about rugby will be incomplete without mentioning Jonah Lomu.  The New Zealander, born on 12 May 1975, died on 18 November 2015; this terrific player was in a class of his own. The late Jonah Lomu鈥檚 antics on the rugby pitch enabled him to become the first (born on 12 May 1975, died on 18 November 2015) was the first and remains the only rugby player to achieve worldwide fame. E was a thriller to watch at the 1995 Rugby World Cup tournament making him a household name in the world of rugby. His fame also ensured the success of the transition to professional rugby and redefined wing play.

He was also dynamic off the field. This amazing player overcame many obstacles in his life to gain that fame. While playing he suffered from Nephrotic Syndrome though he had kept it a secret for a very long time. Despite his medical struggles, Lomu鈥檚 career grew very quickly. Starting his career with only two caps before entering the 1995 Rugby World Cup, he pulled through and scored 7 tries in 5 matches. Unfortunately, his team lost to South Africa in the finals, but he is still the highest scorer in World Cup History with 12 tries.

 It is said that rugby wouldn鈥檛 have grown the way it did in the 90s without Lomu. He is arguably the most recognizable rugby player of all time and is well deserving of the #1 spot.

Read more Here

2. Dan Carter

Dan Carter. Author Geoff Trotter.

Daniel William Carter ONZM is a retired New Zealand rugby union player. He played for the Crusaders in New Zealand and New Zealand’s national team, the All Blacks.  Not only does he hold the record for points, which he took from Jonny Wilkinson, but he is the highest Tri-Nations scorer as well. It is said that New Zealand has won every match that Carter has scored a try during, a remarkable achievement. Carter almost became a multi-sport athlete, as the National Football League鈥檚 New England Patriots tried to recruit him. However, the plan never came to fruition because Carter tore his Achilles tendon.

A true rugby superstar by definition, Dan Carter is arguably the world’s best fly-half and his reputation and subsequent fame transcend both hemispheres. He comes in as a complete package, including great speed, defensive strength, and a dangerous side step. A reliable goal-kicker and astute tactician, the accomplished Carter is celebrated as the All Blacks’ leading all-time Test points-scorer having eclipsed the mark of Andrew Mehrtens.

Get more information in this article

3. David Pocock

David Pocock. Author Spectrum Communications.

 This Australian rugby union player is an open-side flanker and the vice-captain of the Brumbies. He started his career for the Wallabies against Hong Kong in 2008 and was given the honor f being the captain for the Australian under 20鈥檚 league at the Junior World Championship in Wales.  He was also awarded the Emirates Western Force captaincy for the development tour of England. Notably, in 2015, Pocock scored two tries in the opening game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup and beat Fiji 28-13. He even scored during the game against the New Zealand All Blacks, helping lead Australia to victory.

Get  interesting information here

4. Gareth Edwards

Sir Gareth Owen Edwards, CBE, KB (born 12 July 1947) is a Welsh former rugby union player who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as “arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey”. This is quite an honor for the sensational Wales player.

Not only does he have great sideburns, but Rugby World Magazine named him the greatest player of all time in 2003. He even received the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 2007 New Year Honors for his tremendous contributions to rugby internationally.

In 2003, a poll conducted by international rugby players placed him as one of the greatest players of all time. In 2007, former England captain Will Carling published his list of the ’50 Greatest Rugby players’ in The Daily Telegraph. Edwards was featured as the greatest player ever.

He was also a key member of the Welsh national team that was to the fore in European rugby in the ’60s and ’70s. He is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams including Gerald Davies, JPR Williams, Ryan Jones, Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, and Alun Wyn Jones.

We can also not forget that in the 2007 New Year Honours, Edwards became a CBE for services to sport.[4] He was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 2015, for services to sport and charitable services

5. Richie McCaw

McCaw predominantly played in the open-side flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders, and Canterbury teams. At some point, he also played as a blindside flanker, and no. 8. His silverware includes; Canterbury winning the NPC (later Mitre10 Cup) five times, and the four Super Rugby titles. In addition to winning two world cups, the All Blacks won seven Tri-Nations titles, completed three successful Grand Slam tours, and won the Bledisloe Cup eight times. His name will remain in the history books for a very long time.

He was the first All-Black to reach 100 caps, and the first rugby union player to win 100 tests. He was the most-capped player in rugby union history with 148 caps after overtaking Brian O’Driscoll’s record in 2015 and losing the record to Alun Wyn Jones in 2020. McCaw has also equaled the record for most appearances at the Rugby World Cup with Jason Leonard.

6. Percy Montgomery

Percy Montgomery. Author gepiblu.

Percival Colin Montgomery OIS (born 15 March 1974) is a South African former professional rugby union player. By the time he was ending his international career in August 2008, he held the records for both caps and points for South Africa’s national team, known as the Springboks. He is currently the highest-scoring full-back in the history of international rugby.

Even though there was a period when he couldn鈥檛 play for the Springboks because of domestic regulations while he lived in Wales, he remains the greatest rugby player to ever hail from South Africa.

Read more here

7. David Campese

鈥淩ugby鈥檚 first millionaire鈥� is what he called himself before rugby players weren鈥檛 even allowed to earn a profit. He has always been a player who aimed to entertain the audience while getting it done and scoring tries. He boasts of being named Player of the Tournament in the 1991 World Cup.

An Australian rugby legend, David Ian Campese, also known as Campo, is a former Australian rugby union player (1982-1996). He was capped by the Wallabies 101 times and played 85 Tests at wing and 16 at fullback. His illustrious career ended in 1996.

During his playing days, he was awarded an Australian Medal for his contribution to Australian Rugby. Currently, he is a well-respected media commentator working in broadcasting and print media for over 30 years. Known to travel the world as an International guest speaker, delivering his life story which focuses on risk-taking, teamwork, and self-belief, all of which were instrumental in his dramatic rise to stardom against all odds as an outsider from a small country town. He also works as an Ambassador to businesses, offering value through his internationally recognized brand and influential business network. These include Coca-Cola Amatel, DHL, Adidas, Ladbrokes, and Investec.

Find out more in this article

8. Brian O鈥橠riscoll

Brian O鈥橠riscoll. Author Paul Walsh.

Brian had a very impressive career as the most-capped Irish player and the second-most-capped player in rugby history (120 caps). He played as an outside center for the Irish provisional team Leinster and Ireland. He also captained Ireland. Not only did he appear in many international games, but he sure did perform. He has the record for the most tries scored by any center, ever. In the Six Nations Tournament, he was named Player of the Tournament in 2006, 2007, and 2009. O鈥橠riscoll also helped Ireland to achieve their first Grand Slam in 61 years during the Six Nations Tournament in 2009.

He is ranked the fourth most-capped player in rugby union history, having played 141 test matches: 133 for Ireland (83 as captain), and 8 for the Lions. During his playing career, he scored 46 tries for Ireland and 1 try for the Lions in 2001, making him the highest try scorer of all time in Irish Rugby. He is also the 8th-highest try scorer in international rugby union history and the highest-scoring center of all time.

For his effort, he was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame on 17 November 2016 at the opening ceremony for Hall’s first location in Rugby, Warwickshire.

Read more here

9. Michael Jones

Sir Michael Niko Jones KNZM is a New Zealand former rugby union player and coach. He was named by Rugby World magazine as the third-best All-Black of the 20th century after Colin Meads and Sean Fitzpatrick. John Hart, his first national team coach, called him “almost the perfect rugby player”.

He was nicknamed the Iceman due to always playing to the limits and needing icepacks for his injuries, Jones is widely regarded as the most successful flanker to ever play for the All Blacks. He was also inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2003.

10. Schalk Burger

Schalk Willem Petrus Burger Jr. Author derivative work.

Schalk Willem Petrus Burger Jr is a South African former professional rugby union player. He played as a flanker for Saracens in the English Premiership and has won 86 caps for South Africa.

He was a member of the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning team, has twice been named South African Rugby Player of the Year (in 2004 and 2011), and was named IRB Player of the Year in 2004, among other accolades. He also holds the record for the most appearances (84) and most tries scored (13) by a Springbok flanker.

However, we should also note that  Burger’s physical approach has often resulted in him being shown a yellow card six times in international rugby, second only to Italy’s Marco Bortolami (7 times) as of June 2014.

He was well known for his intense work ethic and dynamic physical style of play and is considered one of rugby鈥檚 most decorated players. He was a member of the 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning team and was named South African Rugby Player of the Year twice. He was also named IRB Player of the Year in 2004.

Read more here

11. Michael Hooper

Hooper Pass. Author www.davidmolloyphotography.com.

Michael Kent Hooper is an Australian professional rugby union player who is captain of the Australian national team, the Wallabies. He plays as open side flanker. He is also regarded as one of Australia’s most-capped players of all time and currently plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby.

Hooper was a member of the Australia under-20 team at the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship where he was captain and named International Player of the Tournament.

12. Serge Blanco

Serge Blanco is a French rugby player who also qualifies as perhaps the best-attacking fullback in the history of rugby union. Between 1980 and 1991, he played 93 games for the French national team, an international rugby record at the time. Considered by many as his country鈥檚 greatest rugby footballer, Blanco was noted for his long runs from the last line of defense, quickly turning the defensive play into attacking play. This may be because he began his career as a winger, playing that position 12 times for France before switching to fullback.

Quite a decorated player, not only was Blanco inducted as an inaugural member of the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997 but he was also inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011. He has been said to be one of the most skilled fullbacks in rugby history.

Read more here

13. Paul O鈥機onnell

Munster and Ireland (rugby) player Paul O’Connell. Author Ciar谩n Bohane (flickr).

Paul Jeremiah O鈥機onnell is an Irish former rugby union player and coach. He was previously Ireland’s third most-capped player (108) and the eighteenth most-capped international player in rugby union history. During his career, O’Connell captained Munster, Ireland, and the British & Irish Lions. He is now the forward’s coach for the Ireland national men’s team.

In one of his outstanding performances, O鈥機onnell won the ball in a lineout against Wales in the 2009 Six Nations Championship, which was a game-changing moment and led to Ireland鈥檚 first Grand Slam in 61 years.

Read more on this article

14. Sergio Parisse

Sergio Francesco Parisse is an Italian rugby union player. He currently plays for the French club Toulon and captained the Italian national team through the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He is Italy’s most-capped player, and currently the third most-capped player worldwide. He was the first Italian rugby union player to be nominated for the IRB International Player of the Year, first in 2008 and again in 2013. His sensational play has earned him one of the greatest number eights to play the game in the modern era, and the greatest Italian rugby player of all time. He also holds the joint record of playing in five Rugby World Cups.

The first ever Italian rugby player to be nominated for the IRB International Player of the Year, Parisse was formerly the captain of the French team Stade Francais, and currently captains the Italian National Rugby Union Team. Many consider him to be modern rugby鈥檚 more influential eight men due to his handling ability. Parisse also had great field awareness, especially in line-out heavy-pressure situations.

15. Martin Johnson

Martin Osborne Johnson CBE is an English retired rugby union player who represented and captained England and Leicester in a career spanning 16 seasons. He captained England to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup and is regarded as one of the greatest locks ever to have played, and one of England’s greatest-ever players.

Johnson played all the games for England when they won the Grand Slam in the 1995 Five Nations Championship. In 1997 he was named as captain for the victorious British Lions tour to South Africa, in 2001 he became the first man to captain the Lions twice as he led the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.

He became England captain in 1999 and led the side in 39 matches, the third most ever.[7] He was captain as England reached the quarter-finals of the 1999 Rugby World Cup, won the Grand Slam in the 2003 Six Nations Championship, and as England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The 2003 Rugby World Cup Final was his 84th and final international match.

He was also the England team manager. Under his management, England won the 2011 Six Nations Championship, their first since 2003. He left the post in November 2011 following England’s quarter-final defeat at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and has not taken another management position in the game since.

16. Willie John McBride

William James McBride, CBE, better known as Willie John McBride is a former rugby union footballer who played as a lock for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions. He played 63 Tests for Ireland including eleven as captain, and toured with the Lions five times; a record that gave him 17 Lions Test caps. He also captained the most successful-ever Lions side, which toured South Africa in 1974.

It鈥檚 hard to mention the Lions without mentioning McBride, who was a class act and team player on and off the field. A very aware 8-man, McBride knew where everyone was on the field and never left anyone behind.

17. George Gregan

George Gregan. Author Eva Rinaldi.

Gregan was born in Lusaka, Zambia. He played Super 12 (now Super Rugby) for the Brumbies from the inception of that competition in 1996 through 2007, helping to lead them to overall victories in 2001 and 2004. As a member of the Wallabies team, he has attained the zenith of the rugby world, winning the Rugby World Cup in 1999. Gregan and his longtime Wallabies teammate, fly-half Stephen Larkham, also hold the record for Test appearances by a halfback partnership with 79.

18. JPR Williams

Having played for Wales, Williams is considered to be one of the best fullbacks in rugby history. An all-around solid player on defense, Williams truly shined as a fast and exciting player when on the attack offensively. Defined as a true fullback, he could find the hole in the defense and would be gone on a breakaway in the blink of an eye. He was an iconic public figure for Wales in the 鈥�70s and became known universally as J. P. R. Williams (or sometimes just as JPR) after 1973 when J. J. Williams (also John) joined the Welsh team.

Remarkably, he is one of a small group of elite Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams including Gerald Davies, Gareth Edwards, Ryan Jones, Adam Jones, Gethin Jenkins, and Alun Wyn Jones.

Outside playing rugby and being an orthopedic surgeon by profession, Williams has continued to be involved in rugby since retirement, currently serving as president of the Bridgend Ravens.

19. Philippe Sella

Philippe Sella is a French former rugby union player. He started as a rugby league junior in his hometown before switching to rugby union. As a former French rugby union player, he held the record for most international appearances until beaten by Jason Leonard. He became a member of the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1999, and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2008.

He made a then-world-record 111 appearances (or caps) for France and is one of only five players to have scored a try in every game during a Five Nations season.

One of the most remarkable French players to ever play, Sella competed in an astounding 111 international games. This is an extremely hard level to reach, and not only that, but he is one of only five players who have scored a try in every game during a Five Nations season. Sella was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1999 and then the IRB Hall of Fame in 2008.   

20. Andrew Gavin Hastings

Andrew Gavin Hastings, OBE is a Scottish former rugby union player. A fullback, he is widely regarded to be one of the best Scottish rugby players and was one of the outstanding players of his generation, winning 61 caps for Scotland, 20 of which as captain.

He was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2003 and the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2013. He captained Scotland on many occasions, even during the 1995 World Cup. He held the record for most international points in Scotland with 667 until that was surpassed in 2008.