Speed is an important factor in all sports, and things are no different in Rugby Union.
There have been a lot of fast players to play the game, and some of them have even been the best players in the game.
A race, or set of races, would definitely be the easiest way to settle the debate about the fastest players, but that will never happen for a number of reasons—one being that some players on this list are retired.
In any case, we will try and sort out who are some of the fastest players to have played the game. Here they are. Enjoy.
Fastest rugby players of all-time
10. JONNY MAY – England – 10.71 SECONDS (100M)
The speedster clocked 10.71 for the 100 metres. With a strong argument to be England’s quickest wide man ever, May is gradually improving his finishing prowess and is now arguably the first name on the teamsheet for head coach Eddie Jones.
9. JONAH LOMU – NZ – 10.70 SECONDS (100M)
Will Carling famously labelled Lomu a ‘freak’ after his four-try show in 1995, and for a man of such bulkk, it’s remarkable he was clocked at 10.7 sec 100m time. Lomu could ‘gas’ opponents as much as steamroller them and his first of two tries against France in the 1999 World Cup semi, and many of his Counties Manukau scores showed he had more than enough top-end pace for a wide-man.
8.DOUG HOWLETT – NZ – 10.68 SECONDS (100M)
The former All Black and Blues speedster (now with Munster) was considered the quickest around during his time in Super Rugby. Howlett clocked a 10.68 in his prime, and showed his pace by scoring a number of long range tries throughout his international and Super Rugby career.
7. JOE ROKOCOKO – NZ – 10.66 SECONDS (100M)
Smokin’ Joe Rokocoko didn’t earn his nickname for nothing, as the Fijian-born All Black winger left defences scratching their heads throughout his time with the All Blacks and Blues. The winger ran a 10.66 in his prime – a great time for a man of his size and stature.
6. SEABELO SENATLA – SOUTH AFRICA – 10.6 SECONDS (100M)
Seabelo Senatla’s acceleration has to be one of the most explosive in world rugby at the moment. The 24-year-old Commonwealth gold medal winner is able to hit full speed from a standing start in a blink, and if his all-out pace wasn’t troublesome enough for defenders, the Stormers and Blitzbokke star has some dazzling footwork that can bamboozle the best tacklers in the game.
5. PERRY BAKER – USA – 10.58 SECONDS (100M)
According to reports, the USA’s new speedy find is said to clock in at 10.58 seconds on the 100m dash, slotting him into the top 6 rugby speedsters in recent times. Since debuting in the Gold Coast leg of the Sevens World Series back in 2014, Baker’s languidly-smooth, yet blisteringly-quick, pace has allowed him to cross the whitewash 133 times in the World Series, in an attack that goes someway to proving that speed is an ultimate leveller when it comes to scoring tries.
4. BRYAN HABANA – SOUTH AFRICA -10.4 SECONDS (100M)
The speedster made his debut in 2005 and managed to score a try with his first touch of the ball. Since then the winger has become a prolific try scorer, showing blistering pace for the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers and Toulon. Habana’s best 100m time is captured at 10.4 seconds. He also once raced a Cheetah...
3. TONDERAI CHAVANGA – SOUTH AFRICA -10.27 SECONDS (100M)
The Zimbabwean speedster hit the scene scoring six tries on his debut for the Springboks against Uruguay in 2005. Chavanga may have not had the physical bulk to match some players, but he could leave any other world winger in his wake. Chavanga managed a 10.27 in the 100m dash, which made him, at the time, the fastest rugby player in the world. He is now currently playing with the Sharks.
2. CARLIN ISLES – 10.13 SECONDS (100M)
If the most recent sprint times are anything to go by, Carlin Isles retains the top spot as the world’s fastest rugby player. Isles was a former track athlete turned rugby player, so its inevitable that he would have an impressive 100m. 10.13 is the time the 27-year old produced, giving him the top spot in the world’s fastest players.null
1. TRAE WILLIAMS – 10.10 SECONDS (100M)
Australian rugby has landed a major coup ahead of next year’s Olympic Games by signing one of the country’s fastest men, Trae Williams, on a sevens contract until 2021. And the 22-year-old has signalled his intention to be the fastest rugby player in the world – should he make a successful transition – saying he wants to burn defenders out wide.
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading