The scrum-half renaissance is real. From lightning-quick snipers to tempo-setting generals, the modern No.9 has never been more influential.
Here’s our definitive ranking of the best scrum-halves in world rugby right now, counting down from five to one.
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Best Scrum-Halves in the World:
5. Alex Mitchell (England ?)
England said goodbye to 228 caps with Danny Care and Ben Youngs retiring. The transition could have been brutal — but Alex Mitchell made it seamless.
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The Northampton Saints scrum-half is the metronome around which Steve Borthwick’s England operate. His speed of thought and feet keeps the team moving at a relentless tempo, whether he’s sniping around the fringes or firing sharp passes.
A gifted athlete who trialled with Manchester City and Manchester United, Mitchell is central to Saints’ golden generation. His rise was cemented on the British & Irish Lions tour, where he played more than anyone else — a huge vote of confidence.
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4. Cobus Reinach (South Africa ??)
Speed clearly runs in the family.
Cobus Reinach’s father was a Springbok winger and national 400m record-holder for 16 years. Reinach Jr has long been compared to his genetically gifted dad — and in recent seasons, he’s fully harnessed his pace.
South Africa’s faster attacking style has put him at the heart of their ruck-speed revolution. At 35, Reinach shows no sign of slowing down: he scored five Test tries in 2025 and formed a devastating partnership with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu — 12 years his junior. Experience meets explosiveness.
3. Cam Roigard (New Zealand ??)
By the end of the Rugby Championship, one thing was clear: the All Blacks are better with Cam Roigard.
Only 25 years old with 17 Test caps, Roigard is already the clearest challenger to Antoine Dupont’s throne as the world’s best No.9. Injuries have slowed him, but not his impact.
A former speedway rider, Roigard brings balance, power, and deception. Against Ireland, he danced off his left foot three times from a five-metre scrum to deliver a match-winning play. Special doesn’t even cover it.
2. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland ??)
It felt inevitable: pairing Jamison Gibson-Park with Finn Russell for the Lions tour was always going to happen. Fitness and form aligned, and the duo powered the Lions to a series win in Australia.
Gibson-Park is a complete modern scrum-half: rapid decision-maker, elite box-kicker, and sniping threat. His play allows younger teammates like Sam Prendergast and Jack Crowley to settle into Test rugby with confidence. Relentless. Efficient. Game-changing.
1. Antoine Dupont (France ??)
France spent most of 2025 fixated on a knee.
266 days passed between Antoine Dupont rupturing his cruciate ligament against Ireland and returning for Toulouse against Racing. When he came back, it was as if he’d never been away.
With sniping runs, inch-perfect passes, clever kicks, and leadership, Dupont remains rugby’s defining scrum-half at 29 years old. He lifts teammates, crowds, and standards. France simply aren’t the same without him. A generational great. No debate.
BEST SCRUM-HALVES POLL:
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