The Top 10 rugby players in the world have just been named

In short, NZ rugby did not take responsibility for the disrespect shown to Irish players, Irish supporters and Ireland. NZ are responsible and accountable for the conduct of their players. He obliquely referenced Sexton’s incident with Peyper seemingly unaware that Ioane was citable under the exact same offence.

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• His significant size in the backrow opens up a whole world of possibilities at set piece for Los Pumas – in particular, his explosive power getting off the ground quickly for lineouts and kickoff receipts.
• Aki has won two Six Nations titles with Ireland and the Pro12 with club Connacht.
• When England played to his style at the latter end of the World Cup it worked wonders and his kicking game could be pivotal in the Six Nations.
• He obliquely referenced Sexton’s incident with Peyper seemingly unaware that Ioane was citable under the exact same offence.
• Most noteworthy is loosehead prop Alec Hepburn, who earned six caps for England in 2018.
• ‘Industrious’ doesn’t begin to sum up the workrate of Azzurri captain Michele Lamaro, but it’s a good start.
• A shoo-in for the Blues starting XV, he looms as one of their most dangerous attacking weapons and one of the best finishers in the competition.
• He has also added his leadership skills to the All Blacks, captaining the team on multiple occasions.

We are the leading rugby union news and content network delivering you the latest news, views and all the moves in Rugby Union. A tenacious openside flanker, van der Flier’s work rate and breakdown prowess are his standout traits. His relentless tackling and ability to secure turnovers make him a vital component of Ireland’s defensive efforts and breakdown strategies. Join us as we celebrate the extraordinary talents that have elevated the sport to new heights, making this exclusive ranking a testament to their prowess, resilience, and enduring impact on the game. As for Ireland, « there was and is something brutally mechanical » about them, said The Telegraph. For a time they were ranked number one in the world and after the heartbreak of their dramatic quarter-final exit to the All Blacks at the World Cup, they will be looking to prove themselves again.

George Ford – Sale Sharks

In this new reality, Andy Farrell, Warren Gatland and Steve Borthwick have the unenviable, yet exciting, opportunity to set the foundations of their respective squads as they build toward Australia 2027. The 2024 Six Nations brings with it more change than just about any of the previous ten editions of rugby’s oldest international tournament. If the team is not doing well, the individuals will not be doing well either. For me, the award is a bonus on a day when our goal was to win the Rugby Championship,” he said. Du Toit, who delivered another Man of the Match performance in the victory over Argentina, stressed the importance of teamwork. Rassie Erasmus and Pieter-Steph du Toit said the Springboks, fresh off their Rugby Championship title win, have set their sights on an unbeaten end-of-year tour to the UK.

Kwagga Smith – South Africa – Utility Player

No. 8 Ardie Savea was named World Rugby’s Player of the Year in 2023 after picking up a silver medal at the Rugby World Cup. Savea’s standout performance in the tournament held in France came in the quarter-final, where his scoring prowess aided his team to victory over Ireland. He has also added his leadership skills to the All Blacks, captaining the team on multiple occasions. The top spot should come as little surprise after Antoine Dupont led Toulouse to both Investec Champions Cup and Top 14 title. Ford had started all of England’s matches during this year’s Six Nations but missed the summer tour after undergoing surgery on his Achilles tendon.

George Martin – England – Utility Forward

A good friend of newest NFL recruit Louis Rees-Zammit, Varney has been a consistent player in Italy’s squad since 2020. There has been a lot of change in the Italy camp heading into this tournament and so Michele Lamaro will want to be the consistent, guiding force as they look to try and finally avoid the wooden spoon. With Louis Rees-Zammit making the shock decision to leave rugby and pursue a career in the NFL, there is no better time for Rio Dyer to cement himself as Wales’ fast man. With Owen Farrell opting to take a break from international duty and then signing for French side Racing 92, the time came for England to turn to someone new as their full-time captain. The current line-up is missing many of the team’s biggest names, with Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric retiring in the last 12 months. Not to mention Louis Rees-Zammit, who has departed the squad for a career in the NFL.

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He was then named in the 2023 Six Nations squad and he made his first start against Scotland. Here is the full list of the highest-paid rugby players of 2024, compiled using data from Yahoo News, GQ Australia, and The Scotsman. Very few players, if any, throughout the world of rugby exude leadership, passion and dedication like Michael Hooper does whenever he plays for the Wallabies. That didn’t change in 2021, a year of which he earned a World Rugby Player of the Year nomination, and one could argue Hooper can feel hard done by that he wasn’t the outright winner of the award. Sale are still waiting for Ford to see a specialist to determine the exact length of the lay-off and whether surgery will be required.

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Also guilty for giving the ball away after a 24 phase move when he recklessly chucked an off-load from the ground. Worse perhaps was the custard-soft penalty he gave away when Adams kicked from his own in-goal area to gift England three points. But a distinct lack of quality, as well as enough heft, meant they couldn’t get the better of England’s rush defence. Red runners were smothered by white shirts and when the match coalesced into a struggle of will, the team with more nous won out.

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Working alongside fellow international Craig Casey in the Munster halfbacks is another feather in the cap of the man who looks set to be the first choice for the foreseeable future. So, as the rugby world awaits the imminent squad announcements, here are three fly-half options for each nation who should get the first crack at the whip in 2024. 17 – Corey Domachowski –  4Asked to join the scene by scrumming against Dan Cole. Didn’t struggle as much as fellow substitute Archie Griffin, but didn’t win his personal duel.

Italy equal all-time high in World Rugby Men’s Rankings powered by Capgemini

His significant size in the backrow opens up a whole world of possibilities at set piece for Los Pumas – in particular, his explosive power getting off the ground quickly for lineouts and kickoff receipts. Not since the great Joe Rokocoko has New Zealand Rugby had a winger who ties together immense physicality with guile to the level of Telea. Captain of two-time European Cup-winning Stade Rochelais, Alldritt is a key leader for the French national side. England’s lost soldier, and yet another Toulouse player, how Willis remains ineligible due to selection rules is one of the greatest travesties in rugby.

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At the top of Andy Farrell’s Six Nations players to watch list is talented centre, Garry Ringrose. The Leinster co-captain was previously referred to as ‘the next Brian O’Driscoll’, a claim that added undue pressure. A versatile and powerful forward who is comfortable in the second row, at blindside flanker or number eight, Cunningham-South will make his debut at the upcoming tournament. He will likely vie for pitch time alongside Alex Dombrandt, with Steve Borthwick adding both players to his Six Nations squad.

Top 100 Rugby Players In The World: Read The Complete List

Physically, the 26-year-old is a powerful defender and strong ball carrier, who, at the time of writing, looks to be the ultimate bench option given his versatility. This will, of course, not be the role he wants to occupy long term, and he likely will push Crowley, if given an opportunity. The competition will feature the same 10 teams from the 2023–24 season.

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« She has had a few knockbacks in her career and picked up some big injuries, but she has taken that all in her stride and has really grown. » « To reach 50 caps by the age of 25 and the way she is playing at the moment, I take my hat off to her [Hannah], » Red Roses captain Marlie Packer said. « You saw last week that Holly [Aitchison] moved to 12, Scaz [Emily Scarratt] can also play 12.

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• Any match that is not a full international between two member countries does not count at all.
• Standing at 6 foot 8 and weighing 145 kg, this commanding lock is a firm favourite amongst Toulouse fans.
• A master tactician with a sublime passing and kicking game, Ford is an old-school game manager in the best sense of the word.
• Cam Winnett for Wales, Johnny Matthews for Scotland, Ciaran Frawley or Calvin Nash for Ireland, Nocolas Depootare for France and Feyi-Waboso or Cunningham-South for England.
• One half of an all-star French halves combination, Romain Ntamack continues to emerge as one of rugby’s most promising young players.
• Now, if he impresses new head coach Gonzalo Quesada, Varney could be the danger man as Italy look to fire in attack like they never have before to challenge the likes of Wales, England, and Scotland.

He’s beaten 12 defenders so far, level with Ben Earl (who some pundits have even suggested should be played at centre). Wing Monty Ioane, who appears to be an ever-present across a number of categories, such is his potency in attack, is third with 10. Some of the best rugby players in the world are in the thick of their 2024 summer international season following a long professional season that just ended. Dafydd Jenkins will make history in 2024 by becoming the second youngest player to captain the Wales rugby team. The 21-year-old earned his first cap in 2022, when he came off the bench against Georgia.

Wales

His annual salary of $900,000 establishes him as the fourth highest-paid rugby player. He’s the only other player on the list to earn over $1 million a year for his services. ‘Industrious’ doesn’t begin to sum up the workrate of Azzurri captain Michele Lamaro, but it’s a good start. The back rower has made a breathtaking 55 tackles after three rounds of play – he also tops the dominant tackles list, with six – with Wales’ Tommy Reffell nine behind. Two front rowers have been putting themselves about too, in prop Pierre Schoeman (36) and hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi (34).

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Should Ford be ruled out then Smith will need to hold off his namesake Fin who has started the season in impressive fashion for Premiership champions Northampton. Borthwick is also sweating over the fitness of scrum-half Alex Mitchell who has no return-to-play date on his recovery https://becric.co.in/mobile/ from a neck injury. Prop Joe Marler and centre Henry Slade also have not played so far this season due to foot and shoulder injuries respectively. A versatile back, Barrett’s impressive boot, aerial skills, and positional awareness offer versatility to the All Blacks.

• Singled out as one to watch by Italy great Sergio Parisse, the uncapped Izekor is a colossus of a back row who stands 6’5” tall and weighs well over 17 stones.
• Commenting on his performance, O’Driscoll praised Ringrose’s ability to disrupt and halt oncoming attacks.
• Could have benefited from more punch through the rush, but didn’t need a midfield thanks to his sniper-accurate cross-kicks.
• Ringrose achieved new heights at the 2023 Six Nations, scoring Ireland’s winning try against France.
• Historically, Ireland has steered clear of rushing players onto the international stage, but the 6’4” Prendergast is an exception.
• His darting runs – like the one where he reached the safe ty of his 22 after collecting a pass under his own poles – weren’t just brave, they were calculated.

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While he is no slouch, De Allende is the first player to volunteer himself to run into a brick wall to create space for his flashy teammates. Shining whenever given the opportunity, the little magician will return the All Blacks attack to scarily good levels this season. Points are doubled during the World Cup Finals to recognise the importance of this event, but all other international matches, friendly or competitive, are treated the same across the world.

Australian rugby is clearly feeling the effects of a disruptive tenure under Eddie Jones.Joe Schmidt has a massive job ahead of him. The Wallabies are in the doldrums and need a significant boost in quality in their forward pack, particularly in the tight five, as well as finding a flyhalf capable of controlling the game. The 2024 Rugby Championship was filled with thrilling encounters between four of the top rugby nations. Bet Central takes a look at how all the teams fared in this year’s competition.

The following players have received the Gallagher Premiership Player of the Month award during the 2024–25 season, as selected by a panel of media commentators, in addition to monthly public polls. With game time now under the belt, ALB will be perfectly primed for a strong year as Waikato look to go one better, and will plenty on the line to play for with positions in the All Blacks starting XV open. The fastest player ever to reach 40 tries in Super Rugby, Sevu Reece, in partnership with former Crusader Leicester Fainga’anuku, was a major reason behind their team’s insane ability to score tries. A ruthless finisher, Reece is still no less of a threat out on the wings for Canterbury, and many backlines will have their work cut out just trying to shut him down. Sharing the record with Telea with 12 tries last season, Codie Taylor is a formidable veteran at the head of a dangerous Crusaders pack.

Aki has won two Six Nations titles with Ireland and the Pro12 with club Connacht. Our round-up of the finest rugby union players in the world right now. Prop Hannah Botterman, one of 10 changes to the starting line-up, wins her 50th cap in the front row. Bath flanker Sam Underhill, who has started every match for England this calendar year, has also been declared fully fit for the West Country derby against Bristol following ankle surgery. Last year, Smith held advanced talks with Racing 92 about a move to the Top 14, where he retains suitors but would render him ineligible for international selection.

Kevin Paredes then added a pair of insurance goals as the U.S. secured a second straight lopsided victory. The USMNT snapped a two-decade-plus drought by reaching the knockout rounds of the 2024 Olympics. The Americans used a 3-0 victory over Guinea to advance to the knockout stage for the first time since the 2000 Sydney Games, where they finished fourth. Lee earned the fourth medal of her career, while Carey and Chiles each made the podium for a second time. Like Ford, Smith is a sharpshooting kicker, both with his tactical and goal kicking, and like Ford, he is a great passer of the ball. His wonderful performance against Argentina at the World Cup will go down in English Rugby history as one of the best individual performances in a white shirt.

His ability to play fullback, wing, or center, coupled with his goal-kicking prowess, makes him a valuable asset to the New Zealand squad. Japan’s Rugby League One and France’s Top 14 have two players each among the top five highest-paid rugby players. Hopefully NZ will respect us enough to do likelwise without abusing Irish players or abusing our amazing supporters again. « They also are producing a steady stream of positive drug tests. » No ‘They’ are not. A few players outside the Bok squad like Jantjies and Nkosi have tested positive and often players are testing positive once they’ve moved to another country to play club rugby. Meanwhile, the ABs seem to have no problem turning a blind eye to wife beaters.

• Nothing too flashy, he continued to find his close-in runners and – mostly – his areas when box kicking.
• Once he gets back on the park, expect him to make an impression quickly.
• With Scott Barrett also captaining the Crusaders, Jordie will also be desperate to get his hands on a Super Rugby title.
• He reportedly earns $1.2 million as a key position player in sparking attacks.
• He followed this by scoring a try during England’s semi-final against France at the World Rugby U20 Championship.
• South Africa is always great and the vast majority of their fans are brilliant.

Men’s and Women’s World Rugby Rankings are calculated using a ‘Points Exchange’ system, where sides gain or lose points based on the match result. Other criteria include the relative strength of each team, the margin of victory, and an allowance for home advantage. McReight looked very good against the ABs but I think that’s the first time I’ve seen him excel against top opposition. A decent side to be sure, but you shouldn’t be blaming them for getting your ar$e handed to you the next week. Sexton’s actions to Peyper was misconduct, and for the exact same reason Ioane’s actions to Irish supporters are citable as misconduct.

Emmanuel Meafou will be looking to make a statement at the 2024 Six Nations. Standing at 6 foot 8 and weighing 145 kg, this commanding lock is a firm favourite amongst Toulouse fans. At just 20 years old, Cunningham-South is already forging a fierce reputation. As well as regularly appearing for Harlequins in 2023, he crossed the line during England’s win against Scotland at the U20 Six Nations. He followed this by scoring a try during England’s semi-final against France at the World Rugby U20 Championship.

Now that the 2024 squads have been announced, here are the Six Nations players to watch from each team. The captain of South Africa’s Rugby team, Siya Kolisi, makes the list at fifth. Kolisi plays for the French club Racing 92 for an estimated $800,000 to $850,000 a year.

Quite possibly, the most talented 20-year-old in professional rugby, Sam Prendergast dominated the U20 circuit for the past few seasons. Like Crowley, Cian Frawley is a versatile operator who can play fly-half, center and fullback to a high standard. However, he has looked best when wearing the No. 10 shirt and has been in Andy Farrell’s thinking regarding the fly-half berth. Ordinarily, Ross Byrne would have been the choice here, but the rock-steady Leinster stalwart picked up an unfortunate early-season injury and has yet to return to action.

The once-intimidating aura of the All Blacks seems to have faded.They are by no means in crisis like the Wallabies, but at the moment, they aren’t performing at a level that puts them among the elite. The emergence of young loose forwards like Carlo Tizzano and Fraser McReight was a huge plus, while the growth of Harry Wilson was impressive. The return of Len Ikitau also provided much-needed defensive strength and attacking creativity. The Wallabies finished last, with only a last-minute win against Argentina in South America to their name.

The winger is so often Ireland’s trump card when one is required, and his seven line breaks are the most in the Championship this year. Rampaging second row Federico Ruzza is a cornerstone of the Italian pack, and he is evidently their target man at this set-piece, taking 17 lineouts in three matches. While Wales’ lineout has faltered at key moments, back rower Aaron Wainwright (15) and lock Dafydd Jenkins (12) have been the go-tos in this area. Tadhg Beirne, Ollie Chessum and Scott Cummings are all level with Jenkins in third. Flanker Tommy Reffell must be a nightmare to play against, such is his disruptive influence at the breakdown.

The 25-year-old was England’s starting fly-half on the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand and will have an opportunity to retain the No 10 shirt for the autumn campaign that George Ford is likely to miss with a torn quad. The Wallaroos are hoping to celebrate Ashley Marsters becoming the equal most-capped Australian women’s Test player with a victory in the WXV2 tournament against South Africa. Cam Winnett for Wales, Johnny Matthews for Scotland, Ciaran Frawley or Calvin Nash for Ireland, Nocolas Depootare for France and Feyi-Waboso or Cunningham-South for England. Australia’s women’s rugby sevens team was on the brink on winning bronze. The 21-year-old arguably is Borthwick’s most viable long-term option, given his ability to combine what the England coach traditionally has favored with a strong running game. Forced to play in a dual playmaker role for an extended period under former coach Eddie Jones, the two players somewhat stifled each other on many occasions.

Once he gets back on the park, expect him to make an impression quickly. He’s earned 129 Super Rugby caps and 85 international caps for a reason. Second to one other hooker higher in the list, he looms as one of the All Blacks’ strongest competitors.

When I look at Goosen for example, he was overplayed badly back in his younger days and IMHO never really reached the heights he should have done. My guy this has to be one of the most embarrassing comments threads I have ever seen. Close to the end of this I realised I was wincing while reading your rants.