Finn Russell named the best rugby player in the world: Ranked 10-1 (Updated)
Rugby NewsMonday, 10 August 2026 at 21:31
With the Nations Championship now finished and the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour well underway, there has been plenty of rugby to reassess who currently stands above the rest.
Recent performances have led to some notable changes in our latest ranking, with a new entry, several players climbing and others dropping down. Here are the 10 best players in world rugby right now.
10 Jasper Wiese - New addition
Jasper Wiese is a new entry in this ranking, but his performances have more than earned him a place in the top 10. The back-rower is one of the most powerful ball carriers in world rugby and consistently produces huge post-contact metres.
The No.8 has everything you could want from a modern back-row forward. He offers a major threat with ball in hand while also being highly effective at the breakdown and in defence.
Despite being one of the first names on Rassie Erasmus' teamsheet, Wiese can still be overlooked when discussing the very best players in the world. The former Leicester Tigers man is an incredibly difficult opponent to contain.
9 Jack Willis - Remains in ninth place
Jack Willis missed the Nations Championship due to his continued ineligibility while playing his club rugby in France, but his absence has only demonstrated how valuable he is to England.
One of the finest back-row forwards in the game, Willis excels at the breakdown, brings huge intensity to defence and has the versatility to operate effectively across the back row.
His 2025 Top 14 Player of the Season award underlined his status among rugby's elite, while his performances at club level have continued to showcase his quality.
England are undoubtedly missing one of their most influential players.
8 Matthieu Jalibert - Climbs two places
There are few fly-halves in world rugby who play with the attacking freedom and confidence of Matthieu Jalibert.
The Bordeaux Bègles playmaker has established himself as one of the sport's most exciting attacking talents, using his footwork, vision and creativity to consistently unlock defences. He played a major role in Bordeaux's successful Champions Cup title defence.
With Bordeaux now firmly established among Europe's leading clubs, Jalibert has continued to flourish as their primary creative force.
His ability to produce something from seemingly impossible situations makes him a constant danger and strengthens his credentials as France's long-term answer at fly-half.
His performances at fullback this summer have also highlighted his versatility and helped him climb two places in this ranking.
7 Will Jordan - Moves up slightly
Will Jordan's recent performances have made it impossible to leave him out of the world's top 10.
The All Blacks winger scored a hat-trick during New Zealand's 47-17 victory over Italy in Wellington, taking his Test try tally to 50 and surpassing Doug Howlett's long-standing record of 49.
Another try against Ireland has extended his advantage at the top of the All Blacks' scoring charts, with Jordan now looking increasingly difficult to catch.
His clinical finishing and remarkable strike rate have firmly established him among the world's best. Although he has not featured for the All Blacks during their Rugby's Greatest Rivalry tour, he remains expected to play a major role.
6 Pieter-Steph du Toit - Drops slightly
Few players demonstrate consistency, physicality and commitment quite like Pieter-Steph du Toit.
His remarkable 28-tackle performance in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final remains one of the outstanding individual displays of the modern era.
Now 33 and a two-time World Rugby Player of the Year, du Toit continues to set an incredibly high standard through his defensive work rate, physicality and understanding of the game.
While his recent club involvement has been limited, there is little doubt that he remains among the world's best. The Springboks will once again rely heavily on his qualities against New Zealand.
5 Cam Roigard - Climbs two places
Both the All Blacks and Hurricanes have enjoyed remarkable periods of success, with New Zealand winning all three Nations Championship matches and the Hurricanes lifting the Super Rugby title. Cam Roigard has played a major role in both achievements.
The scrum-half combines explosive running with physicality and an impressive eye for the try line. At just 25, he still has plenty of time to develop further and is rapidly establishing himself as one of the world's leading players in his position.
His form could prove crucial for the All Blacks against the Springboks. New Zealand's performances when Roigard has been unavailable have only underlined how important he has become to the team.
4 Maxime Lucu - Holds onto fourth place
Bordeaux Bègles' Champions Cup triumph has further strengthened Maxime Lucu's credentials as one of the world's leading scrum-halves.
A natural leader, Lucu has developed an excellent partnership with Matthieu Jalibert, combining tactical intelligence with accurate kicking and a relentless defensive work rate.
He was named Player of the Match in the Champions Cup final against Leinster after producing a commanding performance to help Bordeaux Bègles retain their European crown.
Lucu has also impressed for France throughout the summer, playing an important role in two of their three Nations Championship victories and proving that Les Bleus can still thrive without Antoine Dupont.
3 Malcolm Marx - Retains third place
Malcolm Marx continues to set the standard for modern hookers.
Powerful in contact, relentless around the pitch and highly effective at the breakdown, the Springboks star possesses almost every quality required of a world-class forward.
His World Rugby Player of the Year award further cemented his status among the game's elite. Marx became just the second hooker after Keith Wood to win the men's 15s award and the first since 2001.
2 Louis Bielle-Biarrey - Drops one place
It is difficult to find much more to say about Louis Bielle-Biarrey. At just 23, he already looks like one of the brightest young talents in world rugby.
The French winger scored 34 tries during the season, including two in the Champions Cup final and four in the Six Nations finale, further enhancing his reputation as one of the most dangerous attacking players in the sport.
A back-to-back Six Nations Player of the Championship winner, Bielle-Biarrey already possesses many of the qualities required to become an all-time great.
However, his absence from the Nations Championship has allowed one player to move above him in this latest ranking.
1 Finn Russell - Climbs into top spot
Few fly-halves in world rugby can combine creativity and control as effectively as Finn Russell. Once viewed largely as an unpredictable maverick, the Scotland and Bath star has developed into a composed and influential playmaker who can dictate matches with both flair and authority.
During the summer, Russell became the Lions' primary attacking organiser, confidently directing some of their most dangerous passages of play with precision and composure.
Whether playing for Bath or Scotland, he possesses the ability to completely change a match with one decision, something he demonstrated once again against South Africa.
Fitness problems disrupted his Nations Championship campaign, but Russell's performances have continued to underline his quality.
Right now, he has done enough to claim the number one spot and be recognised as the best player in the world.
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