The official Planet Rugby Top 50 men’s players of 2025 continues. In the run-up to the new year, we reveal the players who have made it into our list.
After naming our 30-21 a few days ago, let’s see who has made our latest section.
Here’s 20-11:
20. Dan Sheehan (Ireland, hooker)
2025 season: Sheehan’s dynamic throwing and maul tries boosted Ireland’s 2025 efforts, advancing Leinster to the semi-finals of the Champions Cup and a United Rugby Championship (URC) title. Hooker firepower galore.
Performance highlight: It was a profitable Six Nations for Sheehan as he scored five tries to finish in joint second place on that list.
19. Fraser McReight (Australia, flanker)
2025 season: McReight’s jackal threats pilfered turnovers in Australia‘s brighter 2025 moments, a breakdown bandit who turned possession and momentum.
Performance highlight: Across the Rugby Championship, McReight made 86 tackles and secured 11 steals.
18. Harry Wilson (Australia, number eight)
2025 season: Wilson captained the Wallabies with grit through a tough 2025, his hard carries and tackles earning a Dream Team number eight nod despite mixed results. He led from the front all year.
Performance highlight: In Rugby Championship matches, Wilson was top of the pile in both carries and metres in contact, showing his dynamic ability.
17. Cam Roigard (New Zealand, scrum-half)
2025 season: Roigard’s electric tempo and sniping runs turbocharged New Zealand’s 2025 efforts, earning Dream Team scrum-half honours with Hurricanes flair – a massive riser.
Performance highlight: In New Zealand’s victory over Ireland, Roigard scored a try to seal victory for the All Blacks, weaving through the defence after a quick break to dot down and extend the lead in a hard-fought rematch in Chicago.
16. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland, lock/flanker)
2025 season: Beirne’s intelligence and work-rate bolstered Ireland’s competitive 2025 campaigns, landing a Dream Team lock berth in the process. He was excellent for the British and Irish Lions and once again a key cog for Munster..
Performance highlight: Man of the Series for the British and Irish Lions in Australia says everything about his abilities.
15. Maro Itoje (England, lock)
2025 season: Itoje’s lineout wizardry and leadership bossed engine rooms in 2025, earning Dream Team lock status amid England’s Six Nations solidity and Autumn Nations Series perfection. He was also a colossus for Saracens and the Lions once again.
Performance highlight: In the Six Nations, Itoje ranked second in lineout takes and completed tackles – and of course became a winning Lions skipper in Australia as he led by brilliant personal example.
14. Tom Curry (England, flanker)
2025 season: Curry’s breakdown excellence powered England’s Six Nations campaign and autumn streak, and put in some world-class performances during the British and Irish Lions Test matches.
Performance highlight: In the Six Nations demolition of Wales, Curry made 20 tackles and forced four turnovers.
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13. Thomas du Toit (South Africa, prop)
2025 season: Du Toit brought brute force and precision to the Springboks’ dominant 2025 packs, earning Dream Team tighthead honours. He shone in the Rugby Championship and Autumn Nations Series, throwing in outstanding shifts for Bath in the Champions Cup and Prem to boot.
Performance highlight: In Autumn Nations Series matches, Du Toit won six scrum penalties across the series and was a try-scoring machine for Bath.
12. Ben Earl (England, number eight/flanker)
2025 season: Earl rampaged relentlessly for England, the British and Irish Lions and Saracens in 2025, his carries and tackles powering strong Six Nations, Lions and unbeaten autumn campaigns, including statement wins. He’s a one-man engine room who led carrying metres and defensive hits among his fellow forwards.
Performance highlight: Across the Six Nations, Earl topped the forwards with 63 carries and 418 metres gained.
11. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa, wing)
2025 season: Kolbe’s mesmerising step and opportunism sliced defences apart in 2025. He was key to South Africa’s double success in the Rugby Championship and autumn, landing him a Dream Team wing spot. Pure evasion artistry.
Performance highlight: In the Rugby Championship blowout against Argentina in Durban, Kolbe scored a try and beat eight defenders in another classy display.