The ten most powerful players in rugby history

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IT’S NO SECRET that rugby only turned professional in the mid-1990s, which greatly enhanced its beauty, spectacle and emotional intensity. In this article, we’re going to introduce readers to the ten greatest players of the professional rugby era.

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Martin Johnson (England)

The player many people quote in response to the question of who they are prepared to scout with is not only an outstanding rugby professional, but also possesses remarkable moral qualities. Martin captained England to World Cup glory in 2002. He was a charismatic leader and the kind of player the modern England national team desperately needs. The legends of his dedication to the team live on in the world of professional and amateur rugby.

Victor Matfield (South Africa)

Victor Matfield, nicknamed ‘Mr Corridor’, has become one of the main symbols of the South African rugby team in recent years. After several years away, during which he tried his hand at commentary, the veteran couldn’t resist returning to the field. Since his return, Johnson has shown great fitness and has become an invaluable mentor to younger players.

Brian Habana (South Africa)

Brian Habana is an athlete known for his ability to outrun aircraft and is ranked second in the world for the number of tries scored on the international stage. It was his eight tries in the 2007 World Cup that helped the South African national team win the Webb Ellis Cup. He also repeated the record of the legendary John Lomu by scoring the same number of tries – fifteen – at Rugby World Cups.

Jonny Wilkinson (England)

This athlete has certainly had a significant impact on modern professional and amateur rugby. For example, he is second only to Carter in terms of points scored. The highlight of Wilkinson’s career was the 2003 World Cup, when his golden drop goal led England to victory.

John Eales (Australia)

John Eales, known as ‘nobody’ for his phrase ‘nobody is perfect’, played a near-perfect game. He became one of the few professional athletes to lift the Webb Ellis Cup over his head twice. He played 86 matches for the Wallabies, including 55 times as team captain. He is now regarded as one of the most respected players in professional rugby.

Shane Williams (Wales)

Any professional rugby fan will no doubt remember his magical feints. He is regarded as one of the greatest Welsh rugby players of all time and ranks third in terms of tries scored. Although not the ideal size for the sport, he is one of the fastest players and his natural agility and excellent coordination make him truly elusive. The 2008 World Cup was a key moment in his career.

Jonah Lomu (New Zealand)

Jonah Lomu was an exceptional player whose life was sadly short, but he did much to popularise rugby among a wide audience. His superb physique enabled him to make truly decisive passes, inspiring fear in his opponents. His battle against illness was also remarkable: despite kidney failure, he took to the field and played remarkably well.

Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)

Brian O’Driscoll is as important a figure to Irish rugby fans as McCaw is to New Zealanders. He played 141 matches for his country’s national team and set a record by scoring 46 tries in official matches. What’s more, his game was remarkable in both attack and defence.

Dan Carter (New Zealand)

Maestro Carter is regarded as one of the greatest backs in the history of rugby by many experts and fans. His record is backed up by the 1,5987 points he scored for the national team in 149 matches. He is an excellent kicker, capable of driving the team’s attack and making a spectacular pass at the right time.

Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

Richie McCaw is one of the key symbols of the All Blacks, around whom many legends and rumours have already formed. This exceptional and iconic professional rugby player has set a number of records, including 141 matches for the national team, 131 of which were won by his team. McCaw also captained the team in 111 matches.