Most Famous Rugby Players Right Now

Aaron Douglas Smith is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Steelers and played for the team for thirteen seasons. 

Born: 1976, Colorado Springs, CO

Height: 6′ 5″

Alun Wyn Jones OBE is a Welsh former international rugby union player who played as a lock. He played most of his career for Ospreys and for the Wales national team. 

Born: 1985, Swansea, United Kingdom

Height: 6′ 6″

Antoine Dupont is a French professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Top 14 club Toulouse and captains the France national team. Dupont has won the World Rugby Men's 15s Player of the Year award in 2021 and three Six Nations Player of the Championships, the most by a French player. 

Born: 1996, Lannemezan, France

Height: 5′ 9″

Ardie Suemalo Savea is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a flanker or number 8 for Wellington in the Bunnings NPC, Hurricanes in Super Rugby and international rugby for the New Zealand All Blacks. Savea was a member of New Zealand's 2019 Rugby World Cup squad and 2023 Rugby World Cup squad. 

Born: 1993, Wellington, New Zealand

Height: 6′ 2″

Beauden John Barrett is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a Fly half for Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Verblitz and for the New Zealand national team. 

Born: May 27, 1991, New Plymouth, New Zealand

Height: 6′ 0″

Cheslin Kolbe is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for Tokyo Sungoliath in the Japan Rugby League One and the South Africa national team. His regular position is wing, but he also plays at fullback. 

Born: 1993, Kraaifontein, Cape Town, South Africa

Height: 5′ 8″

Damian Penaud is a French professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for Top 14 club Bordeaux Bègles and the France national team. 

Born: 1996, Brive-la-Gaillarde, France

Height: 6′ 4″

Eben Etzebeth is a South African professional rugby union player who currently plays for the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship and the South Africa national rugby team. He made his international debut for the Springboks in 2012 and has since won more than 100 caps. 

Born: 1991, Cape Town, South Africa

Height: 6′ 8″

François de Klerk known by his nickname Faf, is a South African professional rugby union player who plays scrum-half for Japan Rugby League One club Yokohama Canon Eagles and the South Africa national team. He was a member of the South Africa teams that won the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and 2023.

Born: 1991, Mbombela, South Africa

Height: 5′ 7″

Finn Alastair Russell is a Scottish professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Bath and captains the Scotland national team. Russell made his international debut against the United States in 2014, and has since played over fifty test matches. 

Born: 1992, Bridge of Allan, United Kingdom

Height: 6′ 0″

Jonathan Jeremiah Sexton is an Irish former professional rugby union player who played as a fly-half and captained the Ireland national team from 2019 until 2023. He also played club rugby for Leinster and French side Racing 92. 

Born: 1985, Dublin, Ireland

Height: 6′ 2″

Oghenemaro Miles Itoje is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a lock for Premiership Rugby club Saracens and the England national team. Itoje began his career in 2012 when he signed his inaugural professional contract with Saracens, quickly making his debut the following year. 

Born: 1994, London Borough of Camden, London, United Kingdom

Height: 6′ 6″

Michael Kent Hooper is an Australian former professional rugby union player who is the former captain of the Australia national team, the Wallabies. His primary position is openside flanker.

Born: 1991, Collaroy, Australia

Height: 6′ 0″

Owen Andrew O'Loughlin Farrell is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Saracens. He is known for his goal kicking prowess. Since 2012, Farrell has represented England internationally. 

Born: 1991, Higher End, Orrell, United Kingdom

Height: 6′ 2″

Pieter Stephanus du Toit is a South African professional rugby union player. Du Toit plays as a lock or a flanker for the South Africa national team and the Toyota Verblitz in Japan Rugby League One. After winning the 2019 Rugby World Cup with South Africa, he was awarded the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year. 

Born: 1992, Cape Town, South Africa

Height: 6′ 7″

Romain Ntamack is a French professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Top 14 club Toulouse and the France national team. 

Born: May 1, 1999, Toulouse, France

Samuel Jordan Cane is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for Japan Rugby League One club Tokyo Sungoliath and is the former captain of the New Zealand national team. 2012 saw Cane earn his debut for New Zealand internationally. 

Born: 1992, Rotorua, New Zealand

Height: 6′ 2″

Samuela Vatuniveivuke Kerevi is a Fijian-born Australian rugby union player currently playing for Urayasu D-Rocks in the Japan Rugby League One. His usual position is centre. He previously played for the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby and has played for the Australian national team. 

Born: 1993, Viseisei, Fiji

Height: 6′ 1″

Stuart William Hogg MBE is a Scottish professional rugby union player. He has represented Scotland at international level, having made his test debut against Wales during the 2012 Six Nations Championship. He was Scotland's all-time leading try-scorer. 

Born: 1992, Melrose, United Kingdom

Height: 5′ 11″

Tadhg Vincent Furlong is an Irish professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Leinster and the Ireland national team. 

Born: 1992, Wexford, Ireland

Height: 6′ 1″