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Top 100 Men’s Rugby Players of 2024: Who made the cut?

246 days ago

RugbyPass launches the Top 100 Men's Rugby Players 2024

It started out as a simple idea: let’s rank the 100 best men’s rugby players in the world. Easy enough, or so we thought. Eleven writers, fiery debates and thousands of words later, today sees the launch of the inaugural RugbyPass Top 100 Men’s Rugby Players list.

So who truly stands above the rest? We’ve attempted to answer that by rolling up our sleeves, putting systems in place and pulling together a comprehensive 100-1 list of names, bolstered by a team of esteemed RugbyPass writers from all over the globe.

How we did it

Chaired by Long Reads editor Owain Jones, we aimed to make the list as rigorous and fair as possible, aiming to capture the full picture by melding consistency, leadership, innate talent and even the players’ impact on the game beyond the white lines.

The expert panel of writers and contributors from all corners of the rugby world each brought their ‘boots on the ground’ knowledge and judicious perspective to the table.

From Argentina’s Frankie Deges to South Africa’s Jon Cardinelli, France’s Gavin Mortimer to New Zealand’s Gregor Paul, we’ve covered both hemispheres and multiple angles.

With 11 writers from nine different countries, this truly is a global effort that is backed up with over 21,000 words, blending seasoned analysis and subjective insight to showcase rugby’s finest players, from household names to rising stars.

RugbyPass Top 100 Men's Rugby Players 2024 — A sneak peek at some of the players included in the RugbyPass Top 100 Men’s Rugby Players 2024 list

The Debate Starts Here

This isn’t just a closed ranking – it’s an invitation to debate and celebrate the players that make up the game we love.

With launch day today, 100-81 is now live for you to dive into, and within a week you’ll be able to view the full list of 100, no doubt tearing it apart but hopefully nodding along in agreement for the most part!

You can now view the list, and we’ll gradually release more players: Top 100 Men’s Rugby Players 2024.

Have Your Say

We’re looking forward to hearing what you have to say so feel free to digest the list as names are released and share your thoughts with us in the comments as we build up to the reveal of the much anticipated top 10, pencilled in for Thursday 12th December.

Who would you pick in the top ten?

Rugby’s best of the best, ranked by experts. Check out our list of the Top 100 Men's Rugby Players and let us know what you think!

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Comments

15 Comments

NK 239 days ago

Sua'ali'i with 4 games of rugby in his adult life, just one of these was impressive and he is not only in the Top100 but is ahead of established household names. Chocobares is a very good player but in what universe is he ahead of Ramos?!?! Sacha can't even nail the Springboks #10 shirt and he's almost 30 places ahead of Ramos?!?! Zander Fagerson ahead of Codie Taylor?!?! And how is Jiuta Wainiqolo ahead of Matera and Lawes?!?! I wouldn't be surprised to see Jonny Hill in the Top10, I mean he was in the stands during a Premiership semi.

HC 244 days ago

How we did it... 0 criteria, timespan, nothing... It's basically opinions, great. You're doing this to get likes and comments on Instagram and to stir hate. 👍🏼 good job!

Alex Delmouly 244 days ago

Team, Ramos 74 is a big mistake. Not only has he won every tournament with Toulouse as a 15, but also undefeated in 2024 with France as a 10... Can't be 74th

JW 243 days ago

Would be a real sin if someone like Beauden Barrett is ahead of him.

JPM 245 days ago

Thomas Ramos 74 ???!!

He won everything with Toulouse this year and was clinical in the 6N in particular vs England (Ironman as they call him there). And he is one of the four nominees for the Autumn Series top player.

RugbyPass and Gavin Mortimer (not even French) totally out of the picture.

J V 244 days ago

Totally agree with you about Thomas Ramos, whose rank is rather in the top 20 imo. But I don't think Gavin Mortimer is to be blamed ! The ranking must have been decided collectively among RP writers, and GM's articles about French rugby are always excellent.

GP 245 days ago

All Black and Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor has to be there . He played on his return from sabbatical and was unlucky to be nominated in the NZ Rugby Awards.

jb 246 days ago

Nice idea, will not work. A very good player in the super rugby vs very good player in the top 14. Top 14 is best competition and super rugby 4th at best. That is if you even look at domestic games. Can't compare the 2. What about all the bokke who play of the bench like a Malcom Marx. Will he not be looked at because he only playes 30min each week. He will walk into most international teams in the world. Like i said, nice idea, will not work.

Head high tackle 244 days ago

Top 14 is weak in comparison to SR. Building mediocrity.

Do agree this is a dumb concept and never a genuine ranking tho. Not possible to name a top 100

Icefarrow 245 days ago

Top 14 is not the best competition, it is just the most successful. Quality is subjective and down to personal bias.

JW 245 days ago

Quite right, other than you got those two leagues ranked the wrong way round, Doh!

SK 246 days ago

Matera was in the World Rugby team of the year but is at 94 behind Jasper Wiese and Courtney Lawes who by the way is retired and not even playing at the top level of the game at the moment. That does not make any sense

LE 246 days ago

Courtney Lawes is ineligible, NOT retired he plays for Brive in the Pro D2 and by all accounts is hugely influential in their campaign, sitting 2nd in the league. He has stated he is available for Lions selection. Given the metrics in consideration (consistency, leadership, innate talent and the players’ impact on the game beyond the white lines) then he is definitely worthy of a top 100 spot. Agree Matera should be at least top half

Jon 246 days ago

This doesn't make sense so far, is it International form or is club form also being taken into account? Agree about Matera and Courtney Lawes, the other 80 players are going to be crash hot if Pablo is only 94 and Tomos Williams was being touted as the form player in the English Premiership. Will be waiting with great anticipation for the other names....

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Comments on RugbyPass

Hellhound 11 minutes ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

If they do that, it could open the doors for cross competition contracts, even if it is only for a few games for players wanting to earn more. Might be able to get them to change codes permanently. That is actually a very good idea

329 Go to comments

Hellhound 25 minutes ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

Stubborn he may be, but that worked. Just like Matt Williams claims that everything the Boks do is against the spirit of the game, that scrums is ancient history and should be declawed. As old as the game is, scrums is the main set piece for dominance and MW wants to take that away. My point is that some old out dated things is what is needed to combat certain strategies today and it's a great way of counter acting new styles.

329 Go to comments

TokoRFC 31 minutes ago

Andy Farrell left with tough Ireland decisions to make after mixed Lions Tour

Fair cop. But is having most og their young talent pooled in Leinster B and C teams going to prepare them for higher honors?

8 Go to comments

Hellhound 31 minutes ago

'The success of Skelton, Hooper and Tupou should trigger a rethink on Australia’s overseas selection criteria'

While that may have been true in the past, a lot have changed and still is. While SA have more players, it doesn't mean they are better players. What makes them better players, is competing against some of the world's best internationals at club level, so by the time they themselves get to the international stage, they already know those players strengths and weaknesses. They may be uncapped, but they have already faced international stars multiple times by then, making them more mature and streetwise. Those experiences benefits the Boks massively. NZRU doesn't have the money to develop more and better players. While they might look good in SR, they are not ready to face the best in the world and that holds the AB's back. By allowing SA players to leave and play for other clubs world wide, they allow those players to be developed at no cost by others as SARU don't have the money to develop stars. Rugby have changed. Laws have changed. Everything is changing and if NZ don't, they may fall further behind. Once the most feared team, that statistic is merely a relic of the past and you will never see that amount of fear again. Teams don't fear the AB's anymore. They just see the AB's as “one” of the best and a very tough Test, but not invincible. Most Tier 1 nations is confident they can beat the AB's. Unlike others, I don't believe that the AB's went through a bad stage. They went through a transitional period as very team do. The other nations just caught up and is starting to surpass them. The Boks are the most feared team now, but they are definitely not invincible not undefeatable. However, a team need to bring a near flawless game plan to beat them. The Boks ability to win most games on “sleep mode”, not even getting out of 2nd gear, is what teams fear. Once the Boks start shifting gears, the game become almost impossible to beat them. However, it can be done. By the top 6 anyone can beat anyone.

329 Go to comments

J Marc 48 minutes ago

Red Roses name team for final World Cup warm up

Saturday night fever in Mont de Marsan : 30 degrees at 21h….

3 Go to comments

DP 51 minutes ago

Andy Farrell left with tough Ireland decisions to make after mixed Lions Tour

Judging by the B and C teams Leinster have sent to SA in the URC they haven’t done too badly. The issue with Ireland in this regard is that they’re stubborn in blooding the youngsters at higher honours as they’re not willing to lose a few test matches here and there for the longer term.

8 Go to comments

Hellhound 1 hour ago

New Zealand just needs to look at the NPC to change eligibility laws

Yeah that changed the game so much badly for the Boks. Don't be glib. It's exactly because of that eligibility changes that the Boks became the double WC champs and the best in the world. They can actually choose the best players to play for the Boks, no matter where they are plying their trade. That's why they are 4 deep in every position talent wise. Besides that, it allows the players to grow and learn and become better under different coaches. It allows them to earn a lot of money and make rugby a professional career without having to worry how they are going to pay for their houses and families and debt worries etc. Everything they learn, they bring back to SA, helping the younger generation grow and learn. It's why Rassie is miles ahead of every other coach. As much as players want to play for their country, guess what? They will always put family first. That is why the players will go where who ever pays them the most. SA can't afford their Bok stars, but other clubs world wide can and they employ those stars. They get small change from SARU compared to what clubs and endorsement deals pay them. The players that plays for the Boks do it out of national pride and they play for more than just money. It's why they are the best. It's why they don't have a best player in each position. It's why it's a team effort and all players but into that ideology. It's why the Boks are so successful. Look at the RFU in England. Look at Wales and others. Always the same problems. Money. Players leaving because of funds not caring if that affects their eligibility to play for their country. SA is currently getting raided for its talent. Not just some of the older players, but especially the young stars. Eligibility is strangling careers of players. Especially those who wants to play for their country as they are stuck earning peanuts. With SA, these players earn Mega. Why? They are not restricted by where they play. The Currie Cup is a small competition that doesn't have space for more players. In the world of rugby however, there is thousand of clubs where they can go ahead and make a name for themselves. Instead of being stuck behind a player for years and effectively destroying their own chances of representing their country. There is so many Bok players who was never in the Bok planning. That wasn't even known. Players who made a name for themselves elsewhere and became Boks where they never would have. Eligibility is only hurting the players and once they realise that, they always leave for green pastures despite it costing them a possible Test cap.

20 Go to comments

CN 1 hour ago

Red Roses name team for final World Cup warm up

I think this is probably the 23 for the stonger teams at the RWC although there will be debates around who starts at 9 and 10.

3 Go to comments

jb 1 hour ago

Ex-All Black named in Wallabies squad for Rugby Championship

I really hope that the Aussies can continue this upward trend- A strong Southern hemisphere and competitive championship will be beneficial to all teams!

4 Go to comments

BC 1 hour ago

Red Roses name team for final World Cup warm up

Where should Zoe Aldcroft play? In the second row with Ward, which means one of Galligan and Talling aren’t in the 23? Or No 6 which means that one of Feaunati, Kabeya and Packer aren’t in the 23. Perhaps having an extra line out jumper with her playing at 6 and Packer being in the twilight of her outstanding career tips the scales for JM.

3 Go to comments

Hellhound 1 hour ago

New Zealand just needs to look at the NPC to change eligibility laws

Super Rugby is not nearly as strong and good as it was. It needs to add teams from Argentina or SA. The current model doesn't work anymore. It's still a good competition, but also a former shadow of itself.

20 Go to comments

Hellhound 1 hour ago

'We struggled': Ex-All Black first five backs Springboks to end Eden Park streak

Blah blah blah. The Boks is 4 deep in every position and no top players in any position. Age won't be a problem. Neither will the Boks be a weak run over. Arrogance and over estimation of current AB's players is what is going to make the AB's go down 2-0 again. Clearly not having watched the Boks closely since the WC in 2023, you have missed the amount of players that's been used. The depth that has been build. It was all over the news and still is. Just by taking out 5 players alone, the Boks age grade drops by at least 2-3 years. By the next WC, they will already be more experienced than most players in other teams, including the AB's. This AB's team is good, but definitely not great and can barely beat a C team French. There is many good players in NZ, but very little depth. Despite SA losing so much talent to other countries, the wheels keep churning out absolute stars, and the sad thing is that many will be lost to the Boks due to other great stars already filling those positions, with other young great stars backing them up. The Boks have so many players in every position,they can employ any strategy they wish and still beat all comers. Can the AB's or other teams do that? No team is undefeatable, not even the Boks. However, unless the Boks lose deliberately or another team bring nothing but their A game and a near flawless game plan, they will lose. As usual these 2 Tests between them will be absolutely great and very very close. When it comes to the Boks vs AB's, ranking doesn't matter. Experience doesn't matter. Nothing matters except the game. Neither ever wants to lose against each other. Every game is like a WC final. But to write of the double WC champs as old? Players who have beaten the AB's 4 games in a row? Players who have won the last WC by 1 point each in the knockouts? Players who knows how to bend but not break in the toughest and tightest games? That knows how to win? Take off the blinders, judge not by emotion, but by logic and common sense. Stats. Facts. Performance. Skill. Everyone wants their team to win and that is a great thing. You and everyone wants to talk about the Georgians and Italy as no contest and the Boks going into the RC as “under cooked”. The Boks never moved out of 2nd gear, experimenting, changing of complete game plans, almost complete team changes, without losing a step. Absolutely destroying these weak teams. Something this AB's side couldn't do to a weak C French team. Last year the Boks used 55 players, and so far used 49 ( would be more if not for injuries ) this year, with the RC still to come, and the EOYT. Last year the Boks only lost 2 tests by 1 point each with these same so called “OLD” players. What's going to be the excuse when the AB's lose against these “OLD” players? The ref again? Or Rassie's innovative experiments? Do not be glib or blind. Show respect where it's due and respect the opposition and what they have achieved. Don't like the current narrative where more and more pundits calls this Bok team to be the best ever team? Better than the AB's of 2011-2015? To me, this is a different time, different players. I don't like to compare teams unless they are the same era. Then that team was the best. Currently it is the Boks. Should the Boks make it a triple WC crown, they would arguably be seen as the best ever team. That argument of the best team ever will carry on until the end of the 2027 WC. Currently this AB team have great potential with tweaks here and there, and with Mouanga back in the frame, it's a big step up. No win is guaranteed. Overhyping players and games does no good for the players on the field, just adding extra pressure that will lead to individual mistakes on the field that will cost a team a game.

4 Go to comments

Hammer Head 2 hours ago

'We struggled': Ex-All Black first five backs Springboks to end Eden Park streak

All things being equal - the ABs have home ground advantage. So they are favourites to win both tests.

Small margins - 1-3 points difference per test in favour of the ABs.

4 Go to comments

TokoRFC 2 hours ago

New Zealand just needs to look at the NPC to change eligibility laws

And lazy jounos like Mr. Bidwell jump on that and bag it without investigating the value it really creates or how it could be improved. It isn’t perfect and could be tweaked, but rugby in NZ would be a lot poorer without it.

20 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 2 hours ago

British & Irish Lions player ratings vs Wallabies | 3rd Test 2025 Lions series

None of us are! Sure as long as she makes the effort but don’t get too excited!

Our famous, maiden knockout win. We’ll get a bank holiday for it back home in Ireland. All the school kids will want to play rugby and become heroes. They’ll probably make a movie about it.

Then we’ll get 30 PTS dumped on us in the Quarters.

Business as usual, pal!

35 Go to comments

YeowNotEven 2 hours ago

Ex-All Black named in Wallabies squad for Rugby Championship

Give Tane a run yeow Joe.

If he’s just going to hold tackle bags then send him over to Habour to get some time in the NPC.

They just lost Pellegrini to international duties with Tonga.

4 Go to comments

TokoRFC 2 hours ago

Andy Farrell left with tough Ireland decisions to make after mixed Lions Tour

Can they replicate that in Ireland though?

Depth has often been their Achilles heal for a long time. They produce would class players no doubt about it, but the drop off from the test 23 to squad players can be pretty steep when injuries inevitably occur (see props). If you take away incoming foreign players that could become eligible after 3 years which is now extended to 5. The job for Andy Farrell and his men to maintain their success becomes tricky.

Even with their golden generation of players they were strong in cohesion and continuity rather than player resources. Injuries can really effect a team like Ireland, we might see more choppy seas than smooth sailing in the emerald isles going forward.

8 Go to comments

J Marc 3 hours ago

How group of spoiled Racing 92 players drove Stuart Lancaster 'insane'

No news from Mac Kenzie. But, in France, sports agents are often used to make a noise for a better salary. I suppose it's the same thing abroad…

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JW 3 hours ago

New Zealand just needs to look at the NPC to change eligibility laws

Yes mind boggling to think that NZR could have the opinion it wasn’t fit for purpose.

20 Go to comments

DP 3 hours ago

Andy Farrell left with tough Ireland decisions to make after mixed Lions Tour

They’ll copy SA and France, it’s the only way for sustained success.

8 Go to comments

LONG READ

LONG READ Generation gap: Can we meaningfully compare players separated by half a century? Generation gap: Can we meaningfully compare players separated by half a century?

Top 100 Men’s Rugby Players of 2024: Who made the cut?

How we did it

The Debate Starts Here

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