Rugby Ball. Photo by Edgar Pimenta on Unsplash
20 Best English Rugby Players of All Times
As the only country from the Northern Hemisphere to win the Rugby World Cup in 2003, England might not be the most successful rugby nation in the world. However, we can still count them among the big guns as they have a reputation of producing some of the best players to grace the sport. Rugby Union has had the pleasure of presenting some talented names the nation has produced down the years.
Here, we go down memory lane to look at some of the finest English rugby players to have distinguished themselves as greats of the rough sport.
1. Martin Johnson
Martin Johnson. Author https://www.flickr.com/photos/69975115@N00/. Wikimedia Commons
Martin Osborne Johnson CBE is an English retired rugby union player who represented and captained England and Leicester in a career spanning 16 seasons. He captained England to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and is regarded as one of the greatest locks ever to have played, and one of England’s greatest ever players.
Johnson played all the games for England when they won the Grand Slam in the 1995 Five Nations Championship. In 1997 he was named as captain for the victorious British Lions tour to South Africa, in 2001 he became the first man to captain the Lions twice as he led the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.
He became England captain in 1999 and led the side in 39 matches, the third most ever.[7] He was captain as England reached the quarter finals of the 1999 Rugby World Cup, won the Grand Slam in the 2003 Six Nations Championship and as England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The 2003 Rugby World Cup Final was his 84th and final international match.
He was also the England team manager. Under his management England won the 2011 Six Nations Championship, their first since 2003. He left the post in November 2011 following England’s quarter final defeat at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and has not taken another management position in the game since.
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2. Jonny Wilkinson
Jonny Wilkinson. Author George Olcott. Wikimedia Commons
What a player. If not for the injuries he suffered through his career, Wilkinson would likely be more widely regarded as up there with the very best ever to have played. He received 91 caps from 1998 to 2011, a considerable playing time in rugby.
His style of play as a fly-half was a critical cog to the most successful period England, winning three Six Nations titles in four years between 2000 and 2003. Not forgetting, on their way to triumph they defeated every other nation in the world, including New Zealand and Australia on their own patches, and going on to clinch the 2003 World Cup.
However, after that tournament, Wilkinson struggled with a host of injuries, but returned to the Test fold to help England reach the 2007 World Cup final.
He also represented the Lions on two tours (2001, 2005) and, like Johnson, has been inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame – Wilkinson in 2016.
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3. Jeremy Guscott
Jeremy Guscott. Author Blackcat. Wikimedia Commons
A rugby superstar, Guscott received 65 caps in a span of ten years. He played most of his England career during the amateur era, and gained the reputation of a wonderfully creative and smooth-running centre. Apart from playing rugby he also had a day job working as bricklayer, bus driver and for British Gas. He rose through the professional ranks and became a favorite of the World Cup winning-coach Sir Clive Woodward referring to him as the “Prince of Centers”.
With his stunning performance, he scored 30 tries from 65 Tests, and was pivotal as England achieved back-to-back Five Nations Grand Slams in 1991 and 1992, and was also part of the side that narrowly lost the 1991 World Cup final to Australia.
A darling of the crowd in his playing days, he is best remembered for sealing the 1997 British & Irish Lions series win over the world champion Springboks with a late second Test drop goal to win 18-15 and go 2-0 ahead. He also played for the Lions on two other tours in 1989 and 1993, and is another World Rugby Hall of Famer.
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4. Richard Hill
Richard Hill. Author Daxipedia. Wikimedia Commons
Hill was a phenomenal performer in the back-row for England during a period of unrivalled success. Though not as famed or outspoken as some of his team-mates, the Saracen had everything and gelled within a back-row unit alongside Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio to genuinely world class effect. Intelligent, skillful, powerful, Hill almost never lost an individual battle on the pitch.
As an elite player, he won the 2003 Rugby World Cup and British & Irish Lion in 1997, 2001 and 2005. This is not a mean fit for a player of his stature. His combination of gnarl and power at the breakdown and in the tight, along with his passing ability in the loose mark him out as a special performer. He was capped 71 times during his playing career.
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5. Rory Underwood
England’s greatest ever try scorer, and by some distance. Wing Underwood notched 49 tries in 85 Test appearances for his nation – 18 more than the next most – and continues to be spoken about by fans today. He also represented the Lions on two tours in 1989 and 1993 and remains the most capped England back in history. His longevity, having played at three World Cups, sets him apart from most.
Possessed with rapid pace and a clinical finisher, Underwood goes down as one of the best in an England jersey. These are the characteristics that propelled him to stardom, enabling him to receive 85 caps.
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6. Will Greenwood
Will Greenwood. Author https://www.flickr.com/photos/findafuture. Wikimedia Commons
A superstar in his own making, Greenwood had a sensational career in the centre for England. A prominent feature in the England National team during the successful years under Woodward, he notched some 31 tries in 55 caps and was key in Six Nations titles, Grand Slams, Triple Crowns and the 2003 World Cup victory.
Greenwood was also a British & Irish Lion on three tours in 1997, 2001, and 2005. Being a superb attacking player made his presence to be felt on the pitch, combining with his tactically astute physique making him to be feared by opponents. At 6’4″, Greenwood was a different type of centre for opposition defenses to deal with, and when England were in their pomp, he thrived.
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7. Lawrence Dallaglio
Lawrence Dallaglio. Author zoonabar. Wikimedia Commons
Lawrence is regarded as one of the most talismanic England players to have worn the shirt, and one of the principal leaders on their road to 2003 Rugby World Cup success. Hugely powerful and athletic with and without the ball, the No 8 was often England’s emotional beat on some of their greatest days. Pacey, aggressive and skillful too, the Wasps man easily goes up there as one of the best.
He is also one of very few players in the sport to have participated and won both a Rugby World Cup and Sevens World Cup. For his effort, he was rewarded with 85 caps for England.
8. Jason Robinson
Less caps than the rest on this list he may have, but that is only because Robinson converted from rugby league midway through his professional career. What a unique talent he was. His introduction into the England squad in 2001 was a revelation – and that for a team with an already exceedingly strong and dominant forward pack.
Arguably, there has not been a player with the turn of speed and agility that Robinson possessed either before him, or since. Seemingly quick, fast-footed, a fabulous runner and capable of near inexplicable acceleration too, he truly deserved a place in the history books of English rugby.
He scored 28 tries in 51 Tests, including one in the victorious 2003 World Cup final, while he became a British & Irish Lion in 2001 and 2005.
9. Owen Farrell
He is one of the youngest players to be considered as one of the greatest English players. Notably he is the only player from the current set-up to make it onto our list at this juncture, there can be no denying that Farrell has forged an outstanding England career, and is still only 28-years-old. A 2016 Grand Slam winner, 2017 Six Nations winner and three-time Triple Crown winner (2014, 2016, 2017), Farrell was also part of 2016’s three-Test whitewash of the Wallabies in Australia. He has also represented the Lions on two tours (2013, 2017).
Since, he has gone on to become England captain and led his nation to the 2019 Rugby World Cup final in Japan, only to suffer defeat at the hands of South Africa. Their semi-final victory over New Zealand in Yokohama was the greatest single performance by an England team in history, however.
We cannot fail to mention him as one of, if not the best place-kicker throughout the majority of his career, Farrell will soon pass Underwood’s record to become the most capped back in England history. Thereafter, he is a certainty – injury aside – to streak past 100 caps. He is also regarded as an out-and-out winner on the pitch.
10. Harry Randall
Harry Alan J. Randall] is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Bristol Bears in Premiership Rugby. Harry Randall is the younger brother of Jake Randall, the Scarlets youngest ever player. Club career
Having started his career at Bristol in 2018, he was described by the Bristol Post as “one of the most exciting young talents in the country”. He is remembered for scoring a try after 15 seconds in the final of the European Rugby Challenge Cup as Bristol defeated Toulon to win their first European trophy.
He was a member of the England under-20 team that hosted the 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship and came off the bench as England defeated Ireland in the final. He went on to play in several tournaments for the England Under-20 before making his debut in the senior team .
As a result of his performances in the Gallagher Premiership and European Cup Competition, Randall was again called up to the England squad for the 2022 Six Nations Championship.
11. Ben Youngs
Benjamin Ryder Youngs plays as a scrum-half for Leicester Tigers and England. He made his club debut at 17 in 2007 and in 2010 made his debut for England; in 2022 he became England men’s most capped player with 115 appearances. He started the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final and toured Australia with the Lions in 2013. Youngs is a celebrated player having been a Premiership Rugby champion five times, winning in 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 and in 2022.
His record speaks for itself as he has played for England U-16, U-18 and in March 2008 was a member of the England under-20 team that won the grand slam. Later that month, Youngs made his debut for the England Sevens team at the Hong Kong sevens. Youngs played in the final of both the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship, and 2009 IRB Junior World Championship. Luckily, he was also selected for the revised England Saxons Squad on 13 January 2010, and upgraded to the revised Senior Squad as injury cover for Harry Ellis on 25 January 2010. Later that month, he made his debut for the England Saxons, against Ireland A.
Youngs was part of further Six Nations victories in 2017 and 2020, scoring two tries in the 2020 title decider against Italy to mark his 100th cap in style. Youngs is only the second Englishman to reach this number after Jason Leonard, and immediately went on to win a further four caps in the inaugural Amazon Autumn Nations Cup [36] as England secured their second piece of silverware of the year.
12. Luke Cowan-Dickie
Luke Anthony Cowan-Dickie plies his trade with Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership and the England national team. He plays primarily as a hooker but can also play prop.
The English player has played more than a hundred games in the Premiership, scoring a hat-trick against Harlequins during the 2016–17 season which culminated in Exeter defeating Wasps in the final to win their first League title.
He has seen tremendous growth in his career having represented England under-18. He was also a member of the England under-20 team that won three successive titles in the 2011 2012 and 2013 U20 Six Nations. Additionally he was part of the squad that finished seventh at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship and the following year scored a try against France at the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship. Because of his success he was given an opportunity to start in the final of that tournament as England defeated Wales to become Junior World Champions for the first time.[17] In January 2015 Cowan-Dickie represented England A against the Ireland Wolfhounds.
In 2016 Cowan-Dickie was part of the team that achieved the Grand Slam during the 2016 Six Nation and later that year was a member of their tour party for the successful summer tour .
At the World Cup Cowan-Dickie scored a try against Ireland in the 2020 Six Nations Championship which England went on to win. Later that year he scored a try as England beat France in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup. What a player with a bright future.
13. Sam Simmonds
Samuel David Simmonds is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a back row forward for Premiership Rugby side Exeter Chiefs. He is a product of their academy. His younger brother, Joe Simmonds, also plays rugby union for Exeter Chiefs and has represented England at youth levels as a fly-half. In October 2017 Simmonds received his first call-up to the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones for the 2017 Autumn Internationals.
Some of his accolades include; European Rugby Champions Cup: 2019–2020, Premiership: 2016–17, 2019–20, European Player of the Year: 2019–20.
14. Charlie Ewels
Charlie Ewels is an English professional rugby union player who plays at lock for Premiership club Bath and England national team. He started playing rugby at the age of seven and captained Bournemouth School to a number of local successes playing in a number 8 role, forming a ‘formidable’ partnership with speedster and playmaker Chris Speers.
He is known to be a keen car collector and takes his Ford Mustang to motor shows across the south west of England, where he regularly poses for photos with fans on the bonnet. However, on close scrutiny he denied stating that he has never owned a Ford Mustang.
After featuring for the England under-20 team that won the 2014 IRB Junior World Championship, he received his first call up to the senior England squad by coach Eddie Jones on 8 May 2016 for a three-day training squad. Later, on 19 November 2016 Ewels made his senior debut as a replacement for Courtney Lawes in an autumn international against Fiji. On 20 April 2017 he was named in the squad for the tour of Argentina and scored his first International try in the final test as England won the series.[16] Later that year he scored another try in an autumn international against Samoa.
We also know that on 12 March 2022, in the game against Ireland in the 2022 Six Nations Championship, Ewels was sent off after 82 seconds after clashing heads with Ireland’s James Ryan.
15. Henry Slade
Henry James Harvey Slade (born 19 March 1993) is an English professional rugby union player. He plays for the Exeter Chiefs in Premiership Rugby and represents England at international level.
On 22 July 2010 Slade made his debut for the England under-18 team.[10] England Academy coach John Fletcher once said of Slade “the way he plays reminds me of a young Toby Flood or Rory Clegg.” He was also a member of the England under-20 team that won consecutive titles in the 2012 and 2013 U20 Six Nations.
He was selected for the World Cup and scored his first international try on his only appearance during the tournament in their final pool game against Uruguay. However, a broken leg suffered playing for Exeter in December 2015 meant Slade did not feature for new coach Eddie Jones until the 2016 autumn internationals against Fiji and Argentina. He made his first Six Nations appearance against Italy during the 2017 tournament which England retained.
16. Alex Joseph DomBrandt
Alex Joseph DomBrandt is an English professional rugby union player for Harlequins in Premiership Rugby. His primary position is Number 8. DomBrandt began playing rugby at the age of six for Warlingham R.F.C in Surrey, originally at fly-half before switching into the forwards pack
He played for Wales under 20s in all five of their games in the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship, qualifying as a resident student at a Welsh university. However he has no birth, family or residency qualifications to play for Wales at Test level.
On 2 June 2019 Dombrandt made his England debut, playing in a non-cap match against the Barbarians, in which he scored two tries
17. Kyle Sinckler
Kyle Sinckler is an English professional rugby union player who currently plays as a tighthead prop for Premiership club Bristol Bears and the English national team. He has previously played for Harlequins, Richmond and Ealing Trailfinders. He is a product of the Harlequins Academy.
Quite an accomplished player, he has represented England at under-16, under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, and has been a crucial member of the senior team since 2016, in which he has won the Six Nations Championship, the Calcutta Cup and the Millennium Trophy. He was also a member of the team that won the 2020 Six Nations Championship and later that year started for the side that defeated France in the final of the Autumn Nations Cup.
18. Max Malins
Max Malins is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half or fullback for Saracens. At International level, he has occasionally represented the England national team and won a world title at junior level. A talented member of the Saracens squad, Max Malins was the top-try scorer in the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership season. A product of The Academy playing mainly at both fly-half and full-back for the first team with his scything run and beautiful looping pass to put Alex Lewington in the corner at Leicester Tigers a particular highlight.
He began his rugby journey at six years. It was at Felsted he was spotted by Saracens and he joined the Academy ahead of representing England at Under-18 level. As he progressed to the Senior Academy, the versatile back signed dual-registration terms with Old Albanian to experience men’s rugby for the first time.
In 2016 Malins tasted success with England Under-20s in the World Rugby Championship and made his Saracens bow a year later in the LV= Cup. Learning from the likes of Owen Farrell and Alex Goode, Malins has stepped up on numerous occasions in the Premiership and helped a young team reach the 2018/19 Premiership Rugby Cup with some sizzling displays. He is now an England international, and starred during their victory over South Africa at Twickenham.
19. Joe Marler
Joseph William George Marler is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Harlequins in the Premiership. He is also one of the hosts of The Joe Marler Show podcast with Tom Fordyce. Loose-head prop Joe Marler, is regarded as one of the most reliable front-row forwards. At some point, he came out of international retirement to re-join the England squad for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
He won his first three senior England caps against South Africa during 2012 summer tour, after previously being capped at England U18 and U20 level. By the time he made 42nd international appearance against France in March 2016 he had missed only four matches since his debut on the way to becoming a Grand Slam winner. Sadly, he withdrew from the subsequent summer tour of Australia and took a break from the game before leading out England for his 50th cap in their stunning victory over Scotland in March 2017. Three months later, Joe was part of the British & Irish Lions squad for their tour of New Zealand and was a regular for the Lions in their midweek games.
20. Elliot Daly
Elliot Daly is an English rugby union player who plays for Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership and for England. Excelling in high-profile matches, alongside two fine seasons for Wasps, launched Elliot Daly into the England squad for the 2016 RBS 6 Nations.
A gifted player, he celebrated his first senior start for his country with a monster left-footed penalty against South Africa in November 2016. Shortly after, he had his maiden Test try against Fiji. Characteristic of him, Elliot announced his return to the side in February 2017 with a huge penalty against France and that was followed up with a brilliantly-taken try with four minutes left to beat Wales in Cardiff. He was subsequently selected for the 2017 British & Irish Lions in New Zealand, and started all three Tests on the left wing against the All Blacks. He was also part of the England squad that reached the 2019 Rugby World Cup final.
After a successful career, he announced his international retirement in September 2018 to spend more time with his family, but has since reversed this decision.
All the aforementioned names played an imperative part in England’s historic 2003 World Cup win. Since then, the nation has failed to replicate the success of the legendary team of the early 2000’s – having finished as runners-up twice in 2007 and 2019.
The World Cup to be held in France next year marks either South Africa and New Zealand to bag their fourth championship title as odd-on-favourites, ahead of one-time winner England, according to statistics provided by betting sites online. With the aforementioned resource, one can gain a great deal of knowledge regarding how betting on the sports works. A great directory of sports is present – other than rugby – to immerse oneself in, from horseracing and football to basketball and cricket. Players, whether old or new, can also benefit from bonuses or rewards such as loyalty points, cashbacks, free bets and accumulator schemes.
Other honourable mentions alongside the legends above as England’s best ever rugby players include Peter Winterbottom, David Duckham, Wavell Wakefield, Rory Underwood, Jeremy Guscott and Jason Leonard.
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