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RugbyPass Top 100: Picking the 90th to 81st best players in the world
By RugbyPass
Who is the best player in the world? It’s a question every rugby fan has an answer for, but rarely are any two answers the same.
That’s why RugbyPass has undertaken a comprehensive deep dive into the last 12 months of test rugby to formulate an answer of our own.
In doing so, five members from our editorial team - split between the northern and southern hemispheres - compiled their own lists of the top 100 players on the planet.
From there, the cumulative lists were averaged out to create the RugbyPass Top 100, an overall list of the 100 best players on the planet based primarily on test rugby performances in 2021.
Other factors that, to a lesser extent, contributed to how players were ranked included test rugby performances from previous years, the influence of a player within their team, and how players fared at club and domestic level.
However, in essence, the RugbyPass Top 100 is a celebration of the stars who shone the brightest on rugby’s biggest stage last year.
That celebration continues today by announcing the players ranked 90-81, with the remainder of the list to be released over the course of the next two weeks.
90. Frans Steyn
Age: 34
Test caps: 74
Nation: South Africa
Club: Cheetahs
The fact he made his Springboks debut in 2006 and has still managed to force his way into the RugbyPass Top 100 in 2022 is a testament to Francois Steyn's class and longevity. Although he rarely started a test this year, the veteran utility back made himself a key member of South Africa's match day squads by coming off the bench to help close out matches. An outstanding kicker of the ball, both out of hand and from the tee, and an imposing physical unit, Steyn remains a strong contender to help the Springboks defend their world champion status at next year's World Cup.
89. Liam Williams
Age: 30
Test caps: 79
Nation: Wales
Club: Scarlets
He's been one of his country's most exciting players for a long time, but now Liam Williams is also one of the most senior and experienced figures in Wales. An elusive outside back whose running and kicking game makes him a potent backline threat, Williams enjoyed a memorable 2021 test campaign where he won a Six Nations title and embarked on his second tour with the British and Irish Lions.
88. Kwagga Smith
Age: 28
Test caps: 19
Nation: South Africa
Club: Shizuoka Blue Revs
After making his name as a powerhouse figure on the World Sevens Series circuit, Kwagga Smith carried his form and reputation into test rugby four years ago and has become a mainstay of the Springboks squad. The burly loose forward carries the ball as hard as he tackles and is world-class at the breakdown, but seemingly never tires throughout the course of a test match. Those attributes made him a vital member of South Africa's 2019 World Cup success, and they proved to be important again in 2021.
87. Tate McDermott
Age: 23
Test caps: 15
Nation: Australia
Club: Reds
He's long been earmarked as a future star of the Australian game, and the global rugby fraternity finally got to see glimpses of what Tate McDermott is capable of with ball in hand for the Wallabies in 2021. An outstanding runner of the ball, the young halfback was sensational at times for Australia last year and was the best player for his country in their ill-fated Bledisloe Cup series against the All Blacks. He was then used as a back-up option to the more experienced Nic White for the rest of the year, but it wouldn't surprise to see McDermott push for starting honours throughout 2022.
86. Jasper Wiese
Age: 26
Test caps: 11
Nation: South Africa
Club: Leicester Tigers
Breaking into the Springboks set-up on the back of some stellar displays for the Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership, Jasper Wiese was rewarded with a test debut for South Africa against Georgia last July. From there, the energetic loose forward became a prominent member of his nation's playing sides, featuring in a total of 11 of South Africa's 13 tests in 2021. There is little doubt that Wiese will add more tests to his name this coming year.
85. Richie Mo'unga
Age: 27
Test caps: 32
Nation: New Zealand
Club: Crusaders
Tipped by many to start ahead of Beauden Barrett following another exceptional Super Rugby campaign with the Crusaders, Richie Mo'unga was initially favoured by All Blacks boss Ian Foster as New Zealand's first-choice No 10. That enabled the mercurial pivot to shine against Tonga, Fiji and the Wallabies early in the season, but his decision to skip most of the Rugby Championship cost him his starting place upon return to the All Blacks. Nevertheless, Mo'unga's footwork, vision and playmaking guile will keep him well in contention to contest starting honours with Barrett this year.
84. Pieter-Steph du Toit
Age: 29
Test caps: 58
Nation: South Africa
Club: Toyota Verblitz
Crowned World Rugby Player of the Year in 2019 in the wake of South Africa's World Cup success, Pieter-Steph du Toit was robbed of the chance to capitalise on newfound stardom in 2020 as the Springboks skipped the entire test season. Instead, it seemed 2021 would be the year for the back rower to flex his muscles as the world's best player, but injury prevented that as he only featured in three tests against Georgia and the British and Irish Lions. His talents can't be ignored, though, so Du Toit forces his way into the RugbyPass Top 100 on the basis of his top-class reputation.
83. Hugo Keenan
Age: 25
Test caps: 16
Nation: Ireland
Club: Leinster
Being one of Ireland's lesser-experienced players hasn't deterred Hugo Keenan from making his country's No 15 jersey his own since his test debut back in October 2020. In the ensuing year-and-a-bit, the Leinster fullback has established himself as the successor to the recently-retired Irish great Rob Kearney, featuring regularly in the test arena and starring in Ireland's recent Autumn Nations Series where they convincingly swept the Brave Blossoms, All Blacks and Los Pumas.
82. Iain Henderson
Age: 29
Test caps: 65
Nation: Ireland
Club: Ulster
A key cog in the Irish juggernaut that stunned Japan, New Zealand and Argentina two months ago, Iain Henderson furthered his credentials as one of Ireland's best in 2021. In addition to his second selection for the British and Irish Lions, the experienced lock played in all of his side's Six Nations tests and started in the two Autumn Nations Series victories over the Brave Blossoms and All Blacks. Will be key for Ireland at next year's World Cup.
81. Ellis Genge
Age: 26
Test caps: 31
Nation: England
Club: Leicester Tigers
Renowned for his aggressive style of play on either side of the ball, Ellis Genge continued his development at test level in 2021 by featuring regularly throughout the year for England. After featuring primarily off the bench in all of his side's Six Nations matches, the loosehead prop flourished in the absence of those picked for the British and Irish Lions as he started in both of England's July tests. A sole outing against Tonga was all he got in November, but expect to see more of Genge in 2022.
RugbyPass Top 100
1. TBC (14/1/2022)
2. TBC (14/1/2022)
3. TBC (14/1/2022)
4. TBC (14/1/2022)
5. TBC (14/1/2022)
6. TBC (14/1/2022)
7. TBC (14/1/2022)
8. TBC (14/1/2022)
9. TBC (14/1/2022)
10. TBC (14/1/2022)
11. TBC (13/1/2022)
12. TBC (13/1/2022)
13. TBC (13/1/2022)
14. TBC (13/1/2022)
15. TBC (13/1/2022)
16. TBC (13/1/2022)
17. TBC (13/1/2022)
18. TBC (13/1/2022)
19. TBC (13/1/2022)
20. TBC (13/1/2022)
21. TBC (12/1/2022)
22. TBC (12/1/2022)
23. TBC (12/1/2022)
24. TBC (12/1/2022)
25. TBC (12/1/2022)
26. TBC (12/1/2022)
27. TBC (12/1/2022)
28. TBC (12/1/2022)
29. TBC (12/1/2022)
30. TBC (12/1/2022)
31. TBC (11/1/2022)
32. TBC (11/1/2022)
33. TBC (11/1/2022)
34. TBC (11/1/2022)
35. TBC (11/1/2022)
36. TBC (11/1/2022)
37. TBC (11/1/2022)
38. TBC (11/1/2022)
39. TBC (11/1/2022)
40. TBC (11/1/2022)
41. TBC (10/1/2022)
42. TBC (10/1/2022)
43. TBC (10/1/2022)
44. TBC (10/1/2022)
45. TBC (10/1/2022)
46. TBC (10/1/2022)
47. TBC (10/1/2022)
48. TBC (10/1/2022)
49. TBC (10/1/2022)
50. TBC (7/1/2022)
51. TBC (7/1/2022)
52. TBC (7/1/2022)
53. TBC (7/1/2022)
54. TBC (7/1/2022)
55. TBC (7/1/2022)
56. TBC (7/1/2022)
57. TBC (7/1/2022)
58. TBC (7/1/2022)
59. TBC (7/1/2022)
60. TBC (6/1/2022)
61. TBC (6/1/2022)
62. TBC (6/1/2022)
63. TBC (6/1/2022)
64. TBC (6/1/2022)
65. TBC (6/1/2022)
66. TBC (6/1/2022)
67. TBC (6/1/2022)
68. TBC (6/1/2022)
69. TBC (6/1/2022)
70. TBC (5/1/2022)
71. TBC (5/1/2022)
72. TBC (5/1/2022)
73. TBC (5/1/2022)
74. TBC (5/1/2022)
75. TBC (5/1/2022)
76. TBC (5/1/2022)
77. TBC (5/1/2022)
78. TBC (5/1/2022)
79. TBC (5/1/2022)
80. TBC (5/1/2022)
81. Ellis Genge (England)
82. Iain Henderson (Ireland)
83. Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
84. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
85. Richie Mo'unga (New Zealand)
86. Jasper Wiese (South Africa)
87. Tate McDermott (Australia)
88. Kwagga Smith (South Africa)
89. Liam Williams (Wales)
90. Frans Steyn (South Africa)
91. James Ryan (Ireland)
92. Ken Owens (Wales)
93. Uini Atonio (France)
94. Sam Simmonds (England)
95. Ellis Jenkins (Wales)
96. Lood de Jager (South Africa)
97. Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
98. Cameron Woki (France)
99. Ox Nche (South Africa)
100. Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand)
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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