Flankers are rugby\u2019s heartbeat \u2014 the first into contact, the last off the ground, and often the difference between chaos and control. In today\u2019s game, they must tackle like locks, run like centres, and think like playmakers.<\/p>\n
Join RUCK\u2019s Instagram broadcast channel <\/a>and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.<\/p>\n From breakdown hunters to all-action leaders, this list celebrates the 20 flankers setting the standard in world rugby right now.<\/p>\n 20 Levani Botia<\/p>\n Nicknamed the \u201cDemolition Man,\u201d 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\u2019s most destructive hybrid defenders.<\/p>\n 19 Sebastien Negri<\/p>\n Raw power and relentless graft sit at the heart of Negri\u2019s 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\u2019s become a cornerstone of Italy\u2019s pack thanks to his strength, work rate, and uncompromising mentality.<\/p>\n 18 Matt Fagerson<\/p>\n Versatility and reliability are Fagerson\u2019s 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\u2019s grown into a key figure alongside his brother Zander.<\/p>\n 17 Jamie Ritchie<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 16 Fraser McReight<\/p>\n 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\u2019t made lightly \u2014 but his game invites them.<\/p>\n 15 Josh van der Flier<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n