Greatest Cross-Code Rugby Players of All Time (Ranked 5-1)

Switching from league to union — or vice versa — is no small feat, but a select few have done so with immense success. Here are five of the greatest dual-code rugby players to ever lace up a pair of boots.

Clubs: Canterbury Bulldogs, Toulon, Chiefs

Country: New Zealand

Height: 1.91m

Caps: 12 (league), 58 (union)

Achievements: RLIP International Player of the Year (2013)

One of the most gifted athletes rugby has ever seen, Sonny Bill Williams defied sporting boundaries. He didn’t just switch between rugby league and union — he dominated in both.

A World Cup winner in union and a star in the NRL, Williams also tried his hand at international sevens and even carved out a 9-1 pro boxing record. His multiple cross-code moves, including the controversial switch from the Bulldogs to Toulon, only added to his legend. Few have matched his impact, versatility, or silverware.

Clubs: Brisbane Broncos, Wests Tigers, NSW Waratahs

Country: Fiji, Australia

Height: 1.91m

Caps: 4 (Fiji, league), 9 (Australia, league), 67 (Australia, union)

Achievements: NRL title (2000), State of Origin (2001), World Cup runner-up (2003)

Tuqiri’s electric pace and strength made him a standout in either code. Starting in rugby league, he represented both Fiji and Australia before becoming a Wallaby in union.

Most memorably, he was Australia’s only try scorer in the 2003 Rugby World Cup final — a moment England fans won’t forget. While league was his first and final love, with his career ending on a high at South Sydney, his time with the Waratahs showed his quality across both formats.

Clubs: Brisbane Broncos, Crusaders

Country: Australia, New Zealand

Height: 1.91m

Caps: 3 (Australia, league), 59 (New Zealand, union)

Achievements: NRL title (1998,2000,2006), Rugby World Cup (2011), Heineken Cup (2012)

If there’s one word to describe Brad Thorn, it’s durability. He wasn’t just good at both codes — he was a colossus.

With 200 games for the Brisbane Broncos and major stints at powerhouses like Leinster and Crusaders in union, Thorn became the first player ever to win a Rugby World Cup, Super Rugby title, and Heineken Cup. A lock in union and second-row in league, his sheer physicality and professionalism set the benchmark for longevity and success in both games.

Clubs: Wigan Warriors, Northampton Saints, Saracens

Country: England

Height: 1.83m

Caps: 4 (league), 44 (union)

Achievements: Premiership winner (2015,2016), Six Nations (2011), Record try-scorer in Premiership and Champions Cup

Chris Ashton’s career began in Super League with Wigan Warriors, but it was in union where he truly made his name. His switch to Northampton Saints was seamless — scoring with his first touch said it all. Over a 16-year career in the Premiership and Top 14, Ashton’s pace and relentless support play, honed in league, became his trademark.

He was a finisher of the highest order, leaving defenders in his wake and fans on their feet. Being the player with the most tries in history in both the Champions Cup and Premiership is no mean feat, and Ashton deserves a huge amount of credit for holding those accolades.

Clubs: Wigan, Sale Sharks

Country: England

Height: 1.73m

Caps: 7 (league), 51 (union)

Achievements: First person to win Premiership and Super League, Rugby World Cup winner (2003)

No list of dual-code stars is complete without Jason “Billy Whizz” Robinson. With over 300 appearances for Wigan Warriors, a World Cup win in union, five Lions caps, and an OBE to his name, Robinson’s legacy is undeniable.

A devastating broken-field runner and fearless competitor, he helped Sale Sharks to their only Premiership title and became a true icon of English rugby, cemented by the fact that he scored a try in the historic World Cup win against Australia. His journey from league to union greatness remains one of the sport’s most inspiring stories.