The Six Nations is underway and some of the world’s fastest rugby players will be on display in the first Test matches of the calendar year
Louis Rees-Zammit is one of the fastest players in world rugby(Image: Photo by Ian Cook – CameraSport via Getty Images)
The Six Nations is upon us and the northern hemisphere’s greatest rugby nations will go head-to-head in the first Test matches of 2026. Wales are heading into their second campaign under Steve Tandy and will be hoping to bring some positivity to the Welsh rugby public when take on England this weekend.
They will face a stern test against the old enemy, who seem as though they could challenge France and Ireland for the crown this year. The return of Test match rugby sees the return of size, speed and world class ability, but there are some athletes that are simply a cut above the rest.
With Louis Rees-Zammit at their disposal, Wales have their own weapon in the speed department but the Bristol Bears man is not the fastest at this year’s tournament.
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Coming in at number one is French international Louis Bielle-Biarrey. He is renowned for his electric pace but recently cemented his place as the fastest rugby player in the world by defeating former Olympic medallist Christophe Lemaitre in a race. The latter did have shoes on and hadn’t raced in a year but nevertheless, Bielle-Biarrey clocked almost 24mph.
“The coaches didn’t want me to go at 100 per cent, they were afraid I’d get injured. But it was out of the question that I’d do less than 100 per cent,” said the French wing. “Christophe hadn’t raced for a year, it’s very different, and perhaps with some preparation, the result would have been different. I just want to measure myself and I’m glad I did it.”
Louis Bielle-Biarrey tops the list(Image: Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP via Getty Images)
If Adam Radwan was fit and in the England squad then he would be in second place with 23.8mph but the Leicester Tigers star is currently injured. Instead, second place goes to Henry Arundell, who will play against Rees-Zammit and Wales this weekend. The Bath flyer has been recorded hitting 23.7mph and will be a problem for Tandy and co.
Third place goes to Welsh wing Rees-Zammit, who was recently recorded hitting 23.57 mph for Bears in the PREM. The former NFL player remains one of Wales’ most deadly attacking threats and along with his electric pace, he has packed on a lot of size and is a fearsome broken field runner.
The former NFL player remains one of Wales’ most deadly attacking threats and along with his electric pace, he has packed on a lot of size and is a fearsome broken field runner.
England’s Henry Arundell is lining up against Wales on Saturday(Image: Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Ulster and Ireland winger Robert Baloucoune has been recorded running at 23.4mph and after being named in Andy Farrell’s squad, he is in fourth place on this list. Baloucoune is a former Sevens international and is widely considered the fastest man in Irish rugby.
Fifth place goes to England winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. While there is no confirmed speed figure available, the Cardiff-born wing is often referred to as one of the quickest players in the PREM and would certainly back himself to challenge the other names on this list in a race.
The likes of Ted Hill and Ollie Sleightholme of England would most certainly challenge the top five, but Hill has been snubbed again by Steve Borthwick and there isn’t enough data on Sleightholme online.