5. Fin Smith (England)
Frequent changes in selection during recent Six Nations campaigns have made it easy to overlook just how good he is. Fin Smith’s rise has still been impressive.
In January 2024, he was called up by Steve Borthwick and made his England debut off the bench against Italy. By October, he had secured an RFU Enhanced Elite Player Squad contract, confirming his growing importance.
A real breakthrough came in the 2025 Six Nations. He made his first Test start against France, earned Man of the Match and kicked the winning conversion in a 26-25 victory.
That form continued with a long-range penalty to beat Scotland and win the Calcutta Cup. At Northampton Saints, he has also delivered consistently, establishing himself as one of Europe’s premier playmakers.
Quirky fact: Fin Smith was born in Warwick but spent part of his childhood living in Singapore.
4. Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand)
Richie Mo’unga remains one of the most complete fly-halves in world rugby. His ability to combine attacking instinct with outstanding game management makes him a nightmare for opposition defences.
Whether creating chances for teammates or taking control of matches through his kicking game, the New Zealand star continues to perform at an elite level and remains a genuine contender for the top spot.
Quirky fact: Before becoming an All Black, Mo’unga was a talented cricketer and represented Canterbury age-group sides.
3. Matthieu Jalibert (France)
There are few more dangerous attacking fly-halves in the game right now. Matthieu Jalibert has been in outstanding form.
His ability to read defences and attack space makes him a constant threat. After returning to the France starting line-up, his influence has only grown.
Strong performances at both club and international level have followed. He now looks like one of the most in-form players in his position anywhere in the world.
Quirky fact: Jalibert originally played football as a youngster before choosing rugby.
2. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (South Africa)
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu looks like a generational talent.
His composure, vision and confidence belie his age, while his ability to influence games with both ball in hand and from the tee has made him one of rugby’s most exciting players.
Every Test appearance seems to strengthen the belief that South Africa have found their next great fly-half.
Quirky fact: His surname combines his Jewish maternal heritage (Feinberg) and Xhosa paternal heritage (Mngomezulu).
1. Finn Russell (Scotland)
Creativity has always been part of his game, but now it is matched with control. Finn Russell has developed into a complete fly-half.
His time at Bath has refined his decision-making and leadership. Moments of brilliance still define him, but they now come with purpose. His overall game management has improved significantly.
As a result, he has become both reliable and influential. Whether for club or country, Russell is delivering consistently at the highest level and is currently the outstanding fly-half in world rugby.
Quirky fact: Russell worked as a stonemason before becoming a full-time professional rugby player.
EDITORS PICKS:
Name the top 10 top-scorers in rugby history:
Scoring points at Test level is one of rugby’s toughest challenges. It takes consistency, longevity and the ability to deliver under pressure against the very best teams in the world.
From legendary fly-halves with metronomic boots to all-time greats who dominated international rugby for more than a decade, these players have piled up points on the sport’s biggest stages.
You have three minutes to name the top 10 highest points scorers in men’s international rugby union history. How many can you get?