Flankers are rugby’s heartbeat — the first into contact, the last off the ground, and often the difference between chaos and control. In today’s game, they must tackle like locks, run like centres, and think like playmakers.
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From breakdown hunters to all-action leaders, this list celebrates the 20 flankers setting the standard in world rugby right now.
20 Levani Botia
Nicknamed the “Demolition Man,” Botia has built a fearsome reputation through sheer physicality. A former prison guard, he brings that same uncompromising edge to La Rochelle and Fiji, whether deployed at centre, flanker, or even wing. Bone-rattling tackles and elite jackal skills define his game, making him one of rugby’s most destructive hybrid defenders.
19 Sebastien Negri
Raw power and relentless graft sit at the heart of Negri’s game. The Benetton and Italy international, born in Zimbabwe and raised across southern Africa, plays with a hardened edge shaped by that upbringing. Eligible through his Italian father, he’s become a cornerstone of Italy’s pack thanks to his strength, work rate, and uncompromising mentality.
18 Matt Fagerson
Versatility and reliability are Fagerson’s calling cards. Comfortable at No.8 or flanker, he offers Scotland and Glasgow Warriors a powerful ball-carrier with a knack for finding space. Strong in the tackle, effective at the lineout, and increasingly vocal as a leader, he’s grown into a key figure alongside his brother Zander.
17 Jamie Ritchie
Few players better embody effort than Ritchie. The Edinburgh and Scotland flanker thrives on confrontation, combining tireless work rate with bruising physicality. His leadership credentials are unquestioned, and his willingness to do the unseen work has made him indispensable at both club and international level.
16 Fraser McReight
The engine never seems to stop with McReight. Operating as an openside for the Queensland Reds and Australia, he excels at the breakdown, chops down runners with precision tackling, and constantly pops up in support. Comparisons to George Smith and David Pocock aren’t made lightly — but his game invites them.
15 Josh van der Flier
Excellence feels inevitable with van der Flier. The red scrum cap, endless engine, and immaculate discipline tell their own story. A former European Player of the Year, he leads through action rather than words, producing relentless work rate and defensive reads that border on the uncanny.
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