{"id":852734,"date":"2026-08-12T15:58:15","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/852734\/"},"modified":"2026-08-12T15:58:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T15:58:15","slug":"top-100-rugby-players-2026-players-ranked-70-61-florugby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/852734\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 100 Rugby Players 2026: Players Ranked 70-61 | FloRugby"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the FloRugby Top 100\u00a0<\/a>countdown enters its top 70, the margin separating players becomes increasingly narrow. This group features proven internationals who have starred in Rugby World Cups, lifted major club trophies and become leaders for some of the sport’s biggest teams.<\/p>\n

Whether controlling the tempo from scrum-half, anchoring dominant forward packs or delivering match-winning performances in championship games, these players have established themselves among rugby’s elite through consistency as much as brilliance.<\/p>\n

Here is a closer look at Nos. 70-61 in FloRugby’s Top 100 Rugby Players.<\/p>\n

70. Alex Mitchell | Scrum-Half | England | Northampton Saints | Gallagher PREM<\/p>\n

Quick around the breakdown and fearless in attack, Mitchell, 29, has grown into one of Europe’s premier scrum-halves.<\/p>\n

\u00a0His crisp service and instinct for exploiting tired defenses again made him the catalyst for Northampton’s attack during the 2025-26 season, despite injuries interrupting parts of the campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Celebrating his 150th appearance for the Saints and helping drive another run to a major final, Mitchell continues to give both club and England an attacking spark few No. 9s can match.<\/p>\n

69. Salesi Rayasi | Fullback | Fiji | Bordeaux-B\u00e8gles | Top 14<\/p>\n

Few players elevated their stock more during the 2025-26 season than Rayasi, 29. Blessed with electric acceleration and a natural attacking instinct, the Fijian international seized Bordeaux-B\u00e8gles’ No. 15 jersey after initially arriving as a wing and never looked back.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His counterattacking brilliance, finishing ability and growing confidence helped fuel one of Europe’s most dangerous backlines, while his expanding role with Fiji suggests this ranking may only be the beginning.<\/p>\n

68. Thomas du Toit | Tighthead Prop | South Africa | Hollywoodbets Sharks | URC<\/p>\n

Nicknamed “The Tank” for good reason, du Toit, 31, remains one of rugby’s most complete front-row players.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After helping Bath complete a historic Premiership-winning campaign in 2025, the powerful tighthead returns to the Sharks playing arguably the best rugby of his career. His dominant scrummaging, surprising mobility and ability to influence matches well beyond the set piece continue to make him one of the Springboks’ most valuable forwards.<\/p>\n

67. James Ryan | Lock | Ireland | Leinster Rugby | URC<\/p>\n

A commanding presence at the lineout and one of Ireland’s most dependable leaders, Ryan, 30, continues to anchor both Leinster and the national team. Milestones piled up throughout the 2025-26 season as he surpassed 100 appearances for Leinster and reached 50 Investec Champions Cup matches, further reinforcing his standing among\u00a0<\/p>\n

Europe’s premier locks. While a brief suspension interrupted his campaign, his physicality, work rate and leadership remain as valuable as ever.<\/p>\n

66. Jasper Wiese | No. 8 | South Africa | Urayasu D-Rocks | JRLO<\/p>\n

Relentless through contact and unapologetically physical, Wiese, 30, has built his reputation as one of rugby’s hardest-hitting forwards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His return from injury restored another level of intensity to the Springboks, while his leadership responsibilities continued to grow with Urayasu D-Rocks in Japan. A suspension prevented him from climbing higher in these rankings, but few No. 8s impose themselves on a match the way Wiese does.<\/p>\n

65. Rob Valetini | Blindside Flanker | Australia | ACT Brumbies | Super Rugby<\/p>\n

When healthy, few forwards dominate collisions like Valetini, 27. The two-time John Eales Medal winner once again showed why he remains the heartbeat of the Brumbies’ forward pack, even as injuries prevented him from putting together a fully uninterrupted campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His explosive carrying, defensive work rate and ability to consistently win the gain line continue to make him one of Australia’s most influential players.<\/p>\n

64. Ellis Genge | Loosehead Prop | England | Bristol Bears | Gallagher PREM<\/p>\n

Powerful at the scrum and an emotional leader wherever he plays, Genge, 31, has become one of England’s defining front-rowers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Bristol captain again delivered an outstanding domestic season, combining destructive scrummaging with dynamic ball carrying and relentless energy around the field. His consistency, leadership and infectious competitiveness continue to place him among the world’s premier loosehead props.<\/p>\n

63. Siya Kolisi | Flanker | South Africa | DHL Stormers | URC<\/p>\n

Few players in rugby command the respect and admiration that Kolisi, 35, does. The two-time Rugby World Cup-winning captain celebrated his 100th Test cap before making an emotional return to the Stormers, bringing his leadership and championship experience back to Cape Town.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While younger Springbok back-rowers continue to emerge, Kolisi’s influence on and off the field remains unmatched, making him one of the game’s most important figures.<\/p>\n

62. Codie Taylor | Hooker | New Zealand | Crusaders | Super Rugby<\/p>\n

Dynamic around the field and remarkably consistent throughout his career, Taylor, 35, continues to set the standard for modern hookers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Crusaders veteran celebrated his 150th appearance for the franchise during another outstanding season, providing the All Blacks with dependable set-piece work, intelligent support play and invaluable leadership. Even as younger hookers emerge, Taylor’s class and experience remain impossible to overlook.<\/p>\n

61. Jack Willis | Flanker | England | Toulouse | Top 14<\/p>\n

One of the world’s premier breakdown specialists, Willis, 29, continues to dominate matches through relentless work over the ball and tireless defensive effort. The Toulouse flanker produced another sensational club campaign, earning Top 14 Player of the Year honors in 2025 before delivering a man-of-the-match performance in the championship final in 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If international selection were based solely on club form, Willis would rank considerably higher. Instead, England’s overseas selection policy remains the only obstacle preventing one of Europe’s best forwards from climbing further.<\/p>\n

Philip Bendon contributed to this report.<\/p>\n

Who’s Next On The List? Stay Tuned<\/p>\n

The next 10 players drop at 9a.m. ET on Aug. 17.<\/p>\n

Missed The last 10?\u00a0How To Watch FloRugby<\/p>\n

FloRugby is available through a FloSports subscription.<\/a> Subscribers can watch live rugby matches, full-match replays, highlights, original programming and exclusive coverage across multiple competitions. Stream on your computer at FloRugby.com or through the FloSports app on supported mobile devices and connected TVs.<\/p>\n

Can You Watch Replays On FloRugby?<\/p>\n

Yes. FloRugby subscribers can watch full-match replays after live events conclude<\/a>, along with match highlights, interviews and other on-demand content. Replays allow fans to catch up on matches they missed or revisit key moments throughout the season.<\/p>\n

Can You Watch FloRugby On TV?<\/p>\n

Yes. FloRugby is available on many popular streaming platforms through the FloSports app, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV. You also can cast from a compatible mobile device to supported televisions using Chromecast or AirPlay.<\/p>\n

Can You Watch FloRugby On Mobile?<\/p>\n

Yes. The FloSports app is available for iOS and Android devices, allowing subscribers to stream live matches, watch replays and follow rugby coverage from virtually anywhere with an internet connection.<\/p>\n

What Rugby Competitions Are On FloRugby?<\/p>\n

FloRugby streams a wide range of rugby competitions\u00a0<\/a>throughout the year, including major domestic leagues, international matches, European club competitions and select age-grade and collegiate events. Available competitions vary by region and broadcast rights, so check the FloRugby schedule for the latest listings.<\/p>\n

Where Can I Find Rugby News, Schedules And Results?<\/p>\n

FloRugby provides year-round rugby coverag<\/a>e, including breaking news, match previews, lineups, rankings, transfer news, schedules, results and standings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Join The Rugby Conversation On FloRugby Social<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the FloRugby Top 100\u00a0countdown enters its top 70, the margin separating players becomes increasingly narrow. This group…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":852735,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[567],"tags":[64,63,760,85],"class_list":["post-852734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-rugby","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=852734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852734\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/852735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=852734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=852734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=852734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}