5 Dramatic Falls From Grace in Rugby Since 2020

One year you’re untouchable — a nailed-on Lion, world-class star, future Hall of Famer. The next, you’re out of the squad entirely, fighting for relevance, or watching your reputation unravel in public.

These five players experienced some of the sharpest declines of the 2020s.

In 2021, Wyn Jones genuinely looked like the best loosehead prop on the planet.

After dominating for Wales and starring for the British & Irish Lions in South Africa, he was suddenly being talked about alongside the elite front-rowers in world rugby. Powerful at the scrum, relentless around the park, and unbelievably durable, Jones became a cornerstone of Wayne Pivac’s Wales side.

At the time, even rival fans acknowledged his rise. WalesOnline’s feature on Wyn Jones’ peak years captured just how highly he was rated.

Then came the collapse.

Injuries, loss of form, and Wales’ wider decline completely changed the narrative. Jones went from Lions starter to barely discussed in elite rugby conversations within a couple of seasons.

For a player once ranked among the world’s very best, the speed of the decline was staggering.

Freddie Steward once looked destined to win 100 England caps.

At his peak under Eddie Jones and early Steve Borthwick, he felt irreplaceable. Dominant under the high ball, defensively outstanding, and absurdly calm for his age, Steward quickly became England’s most reliable back-three player.

Many believed England had found their fullback for the next decade.

Instead, the game moved around him.

As international rugby became faster and more attack-focused, questions started emerging over Steward’s creativity and attacking versatility. England’s tactical shifts gradually pushed him further from automatic selection status.

He still gets called up regularly — but increasingly feels like a squad player rather than a cornerstone of England’s future.

For someone once viewed as England’s safest long-term bet, that’s a remarkable drop-off.

Damian Penaud’s omission from France’s 2026 Six Nations squad felt almost impossible to believe.

This was one of the most devastating finishers world rugby had seen in years — a player capable of scoring from absolutely nothing and already sitting among France’s greatest try scorers.

Which made the fall so bizarre.

Whether it was tactical preference, defensive concerns, internal politics, or Fabien Galthié simply moving in a different direction, Penaud suddenly found himself outside the setup despite his incredible strike rate.

For a player who seemed guaranteed to dominate French rugby for another five years, the sudden exile shocked supporters across Europe.

Especially because, talent-wise, he still looked world-class.

At his best, Stuart Hogg was arguably the world’s premier fullback.

Electric runner. Elite kicking game. Multiple Lions tours. Scotland talisman. For over a decade, Hogg represented everything modern attacking fullback play should look like.

Then everything spiralled.

Hogg retired unexpectedly before the 2023 Rugby World Cup, only to reverse course and sign for Montpellier in 2024. Off-field controversies and personal-life issues then dramatically altered public perception of one of Scotland’s greatest-ever players.

The contrast became jarring.

A player once adored across the rugby world suddenly became associated more with chaos and controversy than brilliance on the pitch.

For someone who spent years near the very top of the sport, the reputational collapse has been one of rugby’s most uncomfortable storylines of the decade.

For years, Owen Farrell was England rugby.

Captain. Leader. Serial winner. Relentlessly competitive. Whether fans loved him or hated him, Farrell was unavoidable — and almost always selected.

Then came the Racing 92 move.

His decision to leave Saracens and step away from England after the 2023 World Cup era felt like the closing chapter of an all-time international career. But the move to France became messy quickly, with inconsistent form, criticism abroad, and questions over whether the transfer had been a mistake.

Even after returning to Saracens, Steve Borthwick has shown little urgency in reintegrating him into England’s plans.

Ironically, Farrell’s biggest positive moment since leaving England came with the British & Irish Lions — coached by his father, Andy Farrell.

For a player once considered untouchable in English rugby, becoming a peripheral figure so quickly is still difficult to process.