The Best on the Pitch
The question ‘who is the best rugby player?’ does not have a simple answer. Several players have managed to impact the sport like none before their time on the field. Different people also have different opinions, and one person’s idea of a great player might be drastically different from another’s.
Let us take a look at some of the best players in rugby.
Justin Tipuric
Justin Tipuric plays as an openside flanker for the Wales national rugby team. He has played for the Wales national team since 2011, scoring 40 points in 76 appearances. He has also made an appearance for the British & Irish Lions.
Faf de Klerk
Fak de Klerk plays as a scrum-half for the South African national rugby team. As a member of the South African squad, he played a key role in the team’s win in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. To date, he has made 30 appearances for the South African team and scored 20 points. He is known as a fearless rugby scrum-half with an intimidating playing style.
Brodie Retallick
Brodie Allan Retallick played as a lock for the New Zealand national rugby team from 2012 to 2019. Throughout seven seasons playing for the national team, he made 82 appearances, scoring 25 points. Although he has taken a sabbatical to play rugby for the Kobelco Steelers, he is still one of the most important rugby players of his generation.
Eben Etzebeth
Eben Etzebeth plays as a number 4 lock for the South African national rugby team. He has been on the national team for eight years running. Since 2012, he has made eight appearances, scoring 15 points. He is an intimidating and towering figure on the rugby field, who maintains his physical lead over his opponents in every match he plays.
Antoine Dupont
Antoine Dupont plays as a scrum-half for the French national rugby team. Although he is just twenty-three years old, he is one of the most passionate players around. His running speed and agility on the field remain unmatched. Throughout his 27 appearances for the French team, he has managed to score 35 points.
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Pieter-Steph du Toit was on the South African national team for the 2019 Rugby World Cup win, after which he got the title of 2019 Men’s World Rugby Player of the Year. He has made 55 appearances for the South African team since 2013, scoring 25 points and establishing himself as one of the most consistently well-performing players in rugby.
Cheslin Kolbe
Cheslin Kolbe from South Africa plays as a wing, fullback, and fly-half for the national team. He was part of the team that won a bronze medal during the 2016 Summer Olympics and played on the team that won the 2019 Rugby World Cup. He got nominated for the Player of the Year award, but his teammate Pieter-Steph du Toit won the title. In his three years playing for the South African national team, Cheslin has made 14 appearances and scored 40 points.
Semi Radradra
Semi Radradra wins the top spot for the best rugby player of his generation. He was one of the best performers at the 2019 World Cup. He plays on the Fiji national team as a wing and center player, and for the 2020-21 season, he will play for the Bristol Bears. He has been a consistently awe-inspiring figure on the field and has the rare ability to change the entire course of a game within minutes.
