With another year almost over, some records have fallen while others seem hellbent in refusing to budge, mainly when it comes to each country\u2019s all-time try scorers.<\/p>\n
In 2025, a few marks were broken, setting new standards for their nations, as we outline across the 24 qualified teams for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n
South Africa However, as the two-time World Cup winner\u2019s career is coming to a close, there\u2019s no one in line to challenge Habana\u2019s record, despite Malcolm Marx<\/a> (27), Kurt-Lee Arendse<\/a> (23) and Cheslin Kolbe<\/a> (21) still being part of the Springboks setup at least until 2027.<\/p>\n New Zealand In 2025, Jordan banked another six tries against France (three), South Africa, Scotland<\/a> and England. Close behind is Beauden Barrett<\/a>, who has scored 45 tries and also has a realistic shot at reaching 49.<\/p>\n England May finished with 36 tries, and without him there is no one mounting a credible challenge to surpass Underwood.<\/p>\n Only one active England<\/a> player has reached 20 tries: Elliot Daly<\/a>, who registered his twentieth this past February.<\/p>\n Ireland France The UBB wing has collected scores against almost all of the world\u2019s top 15 sides, with only Argentina<\/a> escaping him.<\/p>\n Now inside the top 20 all-time Test try scorers, Penaud may yet climb higher \u2014 though Louis Bielle-Biarrey<\/a>, already on 20 tries at 22 years old, could threaten his total in the coming decade.<\/p>\n Argentina If he is to reach the next World Cup, he must regain strong form and fight his way towards becoming Argentina\u2019s all-time top scorer.<\/p>\n Australia Andrew Kellaway is the closest active Wallaby but sits on only 15 tries \u2014 far from Campese\u2019s 64.<\/p>\n Fiji Unexpectedly, a hooker may surpass them: Tevita Ikanivere<\/a> already has 12 tries at age 26 and could become Fiji\u2019s all-time leading scorer.<\/p>\n Can he become the first Flying Fijian to reach the 30 five-pointer mark?<\/p>\n Scotland Darcy Graham, on 34, remains close enough that the record could trade hands again in 2026.<\/p>\n This era has produced a cluster of prolific finishers: Stuart Hogg<\/a> (27), Huw Jones<\/a> (23), Chris Paterson<\/a> (22) and Tommy Seymour<\/a> (17) all sit inside the top 10.<\/p>\n Italy Ange Capuozzo is three behind Ioane, meaning both could challenge for the mark in the near future.<\/p>\n Wales Williams scored 58 tries for Wales and two for the Lions, placing him fourth among the world\u2019s leading try scorers.<\/p>\n His record appears safe. Only Josh Adams<\/a> (22) has passed 20 among the current squad.<\/p>\n Japan Michael Leitch has scored 22 tries for the Brave Blossoms.<\/p>\n Georgia Despite not scoring in recent outings, he should return to form in 2026, fuelling his unquenchable thirst for more.<\/p>\n Uruguay Given Uruguay\u2019s strong maul game, and his central role in it, he has a realistic chance of matching Ormaechea within four years.<\/p>\n Spain With Spain<\/a> improving, Martiniano Cian<\/a> \u2014 already on 15 \u2014 increasingly looks like a future record-breaker.<\/p>\n USA The hooker hasn\u2019t played for the Eagles since 2022, though he was named in the wider squad this April. Chile The record may change hands multiple times across the next few years.<\/p>\n Tonga Samoa Duncan Paia\u2019aua leads the current squad with eight tries and is nowhere near threatening the mark.<\/p>\n Portugal Romania
Current all-time holder: Bryan Habana<\/a> (67)
Will we ever see the day that Bryan Habana isn\u2019t the Springboks\u2019 leading try scorer? At this point, it seems improbable that such a scenario will happen in the next few years, as no South African player is close to the former Bulls<\/a> wing\u2019s record, with only Makazole Mapimpi<\/a> coming near with 33 tries.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Doug Howlett<\/a> (49)
Is Doug Howlett\u2019s record finally coming down? Will Jordan<\/a> is only four tries away from equalling it, and if he maintains his strike-rate of almost one try per game, he should reach the total in 2026.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Rory Underwood<\/a> (49)
Rory Underwood\u2019s 49-try record \u2014 or 50 if you include his British and Irish Lions<\/a> score against the All Blacks<\/a> \u2014 seems unreachable, especially with Jonny May<\/a> now retired.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Brian O\u2019Driscoll (46)
Some things are timeless, and Brian O\u2019Driscoll\u2019s record looks set to stand for the foreseeable future.
O\u2019Driscoll scored 46 tries for Ireland, plus one for the Lions \u2014 29 more than James Lowe\u2019s provincial total. Keith Earls<\/a> came closest but retired still 10 tries short.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Damian Penaud<\/a> (40)
A record that finally fell in 2025, when Damian Penaud overtook Serge Blanco\u2019s 38 tries and reached the 40-try milestone.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Jos\u00e9 N\u00fa\u00f1ez Piossek (29)
Piossek\u2019s record looks safe, as no Puma from the last fifteen years has come close to threatening it.
Emiliano Boffelli is the only active player with a realistic shot but must reach the in-goal fourteen times to match it.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: David Campese<\/a> (64)
Like Habana and Underwood, David Campese\u2019s record looks untouchable. Chris Latham<\/a> (40), Adam Ashley-Cooper<\/a> (39) and Israel<\/a> Folau (37) each had moments when they looked capable of reaching it, but none came close in the end.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Vereniki Goneva<\/a> and Nemani Nadolo<\/a> (22)
Despite the country\u2019s conveyor belt of world-class attackers, only Goneva and Nadolo have reached 22 Test tries.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Duhan van der Merwe<\/a> (35)
Duhan van der Merwe now leads Scotland\u2019s list after scoring his 35th try against Tonga.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Marcello Cuttitta<\/a> (26)
Monty Ioane is seven tries short of matching Cuttitta\u2019s long-standing record and could do so within two seasons.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Shane Williams<\/a> (58)
Wales<\/a> has produced finishers of the highest calibre: George North<\/a> (49 including Lions), Gareth Thomas<\/a> (41) and the incomparable Shane Williams.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Daisuke Ohata<\/a> (69)
Daisuke Ohata remains the all-time global leader with 69 tries in under 60 caps \u2014 an astonishing feat even if six were scored against A sides.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Akaki Tabutsadze (50)
Akaki Tabutsadze, the world\u2019s leading active Test try scorer, has notched 50 tries since debuting in 2020.
Having obliterated Georgia\u2019s previous record, he has now set his gaze on Ohata\u2019s 69. If he averages five per year, he can reach it before 2030.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Diego Ormaechea<\/a> (33)
Germ\u00e1n Kessler has crossed 23 times and is now only ten tries short of the Uruguayan record.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: C\u00e9sar Sempere (31)
C\u00e9sar Sempere\u2019s 31 tries helped define an era for Spanish rugby in the 1990s and 2000s.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Vaea Anitoni<\/a> (26)
Vaea Anitoni\u2019s 26 tries have stood for 25 years, but Joe Taufete\u2019e is close on 23.<\/p>\n
Anitoni\u2019s record sparked a new era of wing finishing and may fall within the next two seasons.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Jos\u00e9 Larenas (11)
Larenas\u2019 mark is certain to fall soon: Rodrigo Fern\u00e1ndez (10), Santiago Videla<\/a> (9) and Mat\u00edas Garafulic are all approaching it.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Sonatane Takulua<\/a> (18)
Takulua overtook Fetu?u Vainikolo this year by scoring his 18th try.
He has earned 63 caps, played three World Cups and is unlikely to be caught soon \u2014 no current player is near double digits.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Brian Lima<\/a> (29)
Brian Lima\u2019s 29-Test tally has remained untouched since 2007.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: Rodrigo Marta<\/a> (36)
Rodrigo Marta, one of the brightest players of his generation, has moved clear with 36 tries and counting.
He surpassed Ant\u00f3nio Aguilar\u2019s 23 \u2014 a figure also beaten by Raffaele Storti<\/a>, who trails Marta by 12.<\/p>\n
Current all-time holder: C?t?lin Fercu (33)
C?t?lin Fercu enjoyed a prolific 109-cap career and remains Romania\u2019s top try scorer.<\/p>\n