5 George Gregan – “The Ice Man”

Clubs: ACT Brumbies, Toulon, Suntory Sungoliath
Country: Australia
Height: 1.73m
Caps: 139
Achievements: Rugby World Cup winner (1999), World Cup finalist (2003), 2× Super Rugby champion, 59 Tests as captain

George Gregan is one of rugby’s most enduring figures. With 139 Test caps, he remains Australia’s most-capped player and one of the most influential scrum-halves in history. He helped the Brumbies to two Super Rugby titles and the Wallabies to World Cup glory in 1999. Famous for his ice-cool composure, Gregan’s career is marked by unforgettable moments: his tackle on Jeff Wilson in 1994, his “Four more years” sledge to the All Blacks in 2003, and his record-breaking longevity.

4 Fourie du Preez – “The Master Technician”

Clubs: Blue Bulls, Bulls, Suntory Sungoliath
Country: South Africa
Height: 1.82m
Caps: 76
Achievements: Rugby World Cup winner (2007), 3× Super Rugby champion, 2× South African Rugby Player of the Year

Fourie du Preez epitomised the modern scrum-half with his tactical kicking, flawless passing, and game management. A key figure in South Africa’s 2007 World Cup victory, he also steered the Bulls to three Super Rugby titles and won multiple Tri Nations championships. His intelligence and execution earned him recognition as one of the most complete No. 9s of all time and set the blueprint for the position in the professional era.

3 Aaron Smith – “The Conductor”

Clubs: Highlanders, Toyota Verblitz
Country: New Zealand
Height: 1.71m
Caps: 124
Achievements: Rugby World Cup winner (2015), most-capped All Black scrum-half, Highlanders Super Rugby champion (2015)

Aaron Smith transformed the tempo of New Zealand rugby. His lightning-fast service enabled the All Blacks’ high-octane attack for over a decade, making him the most capped No. 9 in New Zealand history. A world champion in 2015, Smith also led the haka on 35 occasions, becoming the first Māori scrum-half to reach 100 Tests. His precision and consistency secured his place as one of the finest All Blacks of the modern era.

2 Gareth Edwards CBE – “The Maestro”

Clubs: Cardiff RFC
Country: Wales
Height: 1.73m
Caps: 53
Achievements: 7× Five Nations titles, 3× Grand Slams, 2× Lions series winner

Widely regarded as the greatest Welsh player, Gareth Edwards was the lynchpin of Wales’ golden age in the 1970s. A supreme athlete and game-breaker, he played 53 consecutive Tests and starred on two historic Lions tours: the victorious 1971 series in New Zealand and the unbeaten 1974 tour to South Africa. He is immortalised by “That Try” for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973, often cited as rugby’s greatest moment. Edwards remains the gold standard for scrum-halves.

1 Joost van der Westhuizen – “The Warrior”

Clubs: Blue Bulls, Bulls
Country: South Africa
Height: 1.88m
Caps: 89
Achievements: Rugby World Cup winner (1995), Tri Nations champion (1998), South Africa captain, 38 Test tries

Joost van der Westhuizen revolutionised the scrum-half role with his physicality, pace, and attacking threat. At 6ft 2in, he was a new breed of No. 9, scoring an astonishing 38 tries in 89 Tests. He was a hero of South Africa’s 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph, remembered for his fearless defence on Jonah Lomu in the final. After rugby, Joost showed remarkable courage in his battle with motor neurone disease, founding the J9 Foundation before his death in 2017. His impact, both on and off the field, makes him an immortal of the game.

EDITORS PICKS:

Like this:

Like Loading…