The centre position in rugby union has always been a place of contradiction — where brute force meets light footwork, and where decision-making under pressure is just as crucial as physicality.
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Some centres are subtle string-pullers, others wrecking balls. But the very best shape teams, bend games to their will, and leave legacies.
Here’s a tribute to 20 of the greatest centres to ever play the game.
20 Manu Tuilagi (England)
At his peak, Manu Tuilagi was almost impossible to stop. Built like a forward but blessed with explosive speed, he brought a level of physical dominance few centres could match.
From his breakout in 2011 to his destructive performances at the 2019 World Cup, Tuilagi was England’s go-to weapon in the midfield. Injuries limited his career, but on his day, no defender relished facing him. Pure power, total commitment, and game-breaking impact.
19 Will Greenwood (England)
Few players wore the England jersey with more thought or precision than Will Greenwood. Tall, rangy, and brilliantly intuitive, he didn’t look like a typical centre — and that’s exactly what made him special. Greenwood had a habit of popping up at the right moment, as he did in the 2003 World Cup, scoring five crucial tries — including a key one against Wales in the quarter-final and another against South Africa.
18 Jason Little (Australia)
Jason Little was a smart, powerful centre who combined physicality with vision. Comfortable in both attack and defence, he formed a lethal partnership with Tim Horan to anchor Australia’s midfield through the 1990s.
A two-time World Cup winner, Little excelled at breaking lines, distributing under pressure, and guiding the backline with calm authority. Reliable, versatile, and consistently brilliant, he was a cornerstone of Australia’s golden era.
17 Jeremy Guscott (England)
Silky, intelligent, and devastatingly effective, Jeremy Guscott was one of England’s finest-ever midfielders.
Best remembered for his iconic drop goal in the 1997 Lions series, Guscott’s real brilliance lay in his movement and vision. He ghosted through gaps rather than smashing them open — a centre who thought the game two phases ahead.
A key figure in England’s rise during the 1990s.
16 Tana Umaga (New Zealand)
A centre who played like a warrior.
Tana Umaga brought leadership, physicality, and intensity to everything he did. Equally comfortable at 13 or on the wing, he captained the All Blacks and set the standard for professionalism in the early 2000s.
His hits were feared, his leadership unquestioned, and his influence on New Zealand rugby immense.
15 Matt Giteau (Australia)
Matt Giteau was the ultimate rugby brain. Calm, skilful, and endlessly composed, he could control a game from centre or fly-half with ease.
A key figure for Australia in the 2000s and a standout for Toulon in Europe, Giteau thrived on smart decision-making rather than brute force. His vision, passing, and game management made him one of the most complete backs of his era.
14 Jamie Roberts (Wales)
A human battering ram.
Jamie Roberts redefined what a modern inside centre could be — enormous, direct, and brutally effective. He was central to Wales’ Grand Slam success and devastating on the 2009 Lions tour, where he bullied defences alongside Brian O’Driscoll.
When Roberts carried, teams felt it.
13 Jonathan Davies (Wales)
Not Jiffy — but the modern Welsh midfield general.
Jonathan Davies was one of the smartest defensive centres of the professional era. Calm under pressure, brutally efficient in contact, and outstanding at organising a backline, he became the glue of Warren Gatland’s most successful Welsh sides.
A two-time Lions tourist (2013, 2017), Davies saved his best performances for the biggest stages — notably his colossal showing in the 2017 Lions series decider against the All Blacks. Never flashy, always effective, and fiercely competitive, he was the definition of a big-game player.
12 Emily Scarratt (England)
Emily Scarratt is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in women’s rugby history and a benchmark for the modern centre. Combining pace, power and elite rugby intelligence, she has been a central figure in England’s dominance over the past decade.
A former World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year, Scarratt has starred in multiple World Cup campaigns and Six Nations titles, consistently delivering on the biggest stage. Her ability to break defensive lines, finish clinically, and organise a backline sets her apart from her peers.
Equally effective at fullback or centre, her versatility, composure under pressure and leadership qualities make her invaluable. Few players in the women’s game have influenced matches as consistently or for as long.
11 Lukhanyo Am (South Africa)
Lukhanyo Am is the heartbeat of any midfield he steps into. Calm under pressure, technically flawless, and defensively rock-solid, he combines intelligence with understated power.
A two-time World Cup winner, Am reads the game like few others, controlling tempo, organising defence, and striking with precision when the moment demands it. He may not always grab the headlines, but his influence on the Springboks’ dominance over the past decade is undeniable.
He overcame frightening setbacks early on, including a life-threatening injury on the 1997 Lions tour, but bounced back to become a vital cog in Clive Woodward’s world champion side. Over 55 caps, Greenwood proved one thing: England never lost when he scored.
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