Google Favourites <\/a>for nonstop RUCK content!<\/p>\nWith form, reputation and silverware all taken into account, here is our ranking of the 20 best players in the world right now, and the contenders looking to challenge them.<\/p>\n
BEST RUGBY PLAYERS: <\/p>\n
20 Richie Mo\u2019unga<\/p>\n
Although he has been absent from All Blacks selection while playing in Japan, Richie Mo\u2019unga remains one of the world\u2019s elite fly-halves.<\/p>\n
With more than 50 Test caps to his name, his exceptional game management, tactical kicking and elusive running game continue to set him apart, even if his recent appearances have been limited to club rugby.<\/p>\n
His return to the Crusaders this summer could put him back in contention for the All Blacks ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, giving him an opportunity to climb this list once again.<\/p>\n
19 Thomas Ramos<\/p>\n
Few players have enhanced their reputation over the past 18 months quite like Thomas Ramos. Equally effective at fly-half and full-back, the Toulouse star has become a key figure for both club and country through his tactical kicking, attacking instincts and consistency.<\/p>\n
When France secured the 2026 Six Nations title in a dramatic finale against England, Ramos\u2019 accuracy from the tee proved decisive. His reliability as a goal-kicker remains among the very best in the game.<\/p>\n
18 Sione Tuipulotu<\/p>\n
Sione Tuipulotu\u2019s rise from underrated centre to one of rugby\u2019s premier midfield players has been remarkable. <\/p>\n
The Scotland captain is now central to the success of both the national side and Glasgow Warriors, combining powerful ball carrying with intelligent distribution and strong leadership.<\/p>\n
Under Gregor Townsend, his influence continues to grow with every passing season.<\/p>\n
17 Caelan Doris<\/p>\n
Caelan Doris has established himself as one of the most complete number eights in world rugby. The Ireland and Leinster star blends athleticism, intelligence and consistency with outstanding handling skills, physicality and excellent breakdown work.<\/p>\n
One of Ireland\u2019s standout performers during the latest Six Nations, Doris would likely have captained the British and Irish Lions last year had injury not intervened. Unfortunately, he remains sidelined ahead of the upcoming Nations Championship.<\/p>\n
16 Jordie Barrett<\/p>\n
Jordie Barrett is widely regarded as one of the most versatile and physically imposing backs in the sport.<\/p>\n
A key figure for the Hurricanes during their dominant Super Rugby title-winning campaign, Barrett played a major role throughout the season and crossed for a try in the final against the Chiefs. While his individual talent is unquestionable, his ability to bring those around him into the game is what truly stands out.<\/p>\n
With significant international experience, he has developed into a composed and intelligent leader capable of influencing matches from several positions.<\/p>\n
15 Dan Sheehan<\/p>\n
The role of the modern hooker continues to evolve, and few embody that evolution better than Dan Sheehan. Ireland\u2019s first-choice hooker offers the pace, skill set and decision-making often associated with backs.<\/p>\n
Comfortable operating almost as an additional loose forward, Sheehan combines his all-round game with an outstanding try-scoring record, making him one of rugby\u2019s most dangerous attacking weapons.<\/p>\n
14 Cheslin Kolbe<\/p>\n
Few players are as dangerous in open space as Cheslin Kolbe. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner has built a reputation for producing decisive moments on the biggest stages.<\/p>\n
His acceleration, balance and footwork allow him to beat defenders with remarkable regularity, while his experience and composure make him a vital presence in close contests.<\/p>\n
13 Tomas Albornoz<\/p>\n
Anyone watching Toulon closely will quickly recognise the influence of Tomas Albornoz. The Argentine playmaker controls games with intelligence, composure and an instinctive attacking mindset.<\/p>\n
As the club\u2019s first-choice fly-half, he has been central to their recent success. Accurate from the tee and assured as a distributor, Albornoz remains one of the most underrated talents in world rugby.<\/p>\n
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the Nations Championship gets underway, attention will once again turn to the best rugby players setting the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":672957,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[5903,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-672956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-rugby","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/672956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=672956"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/672956\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/672957"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=672956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=672956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=672956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}