The Best Back Rows In World Rugby (Ranked 20-1)

From fearless veterans to breakout stars redefining modern forward play, here’s our countdown of the 20 best back-row players shaping the game in 2025.

Carlo Tizzano plays like a man fuelled by pure defiance. The Western Force flanker has built his reputation on relentless tackling and a ferocious appetite for the breakdown. Though recently caught in controversy during the Lions series, his commitment has never been questioned.

At just 25, he’s a workhorse who plays with the intensity of someone twice his age — a player who thrives in the chaos, diving headfirst into collisions few others fancy.

When it comes to quiet consistency, few can rival Taulupe Faletau. Now 34, the Cardiff number eight remains the heartbeat of Welsh rugby — a calm leader who lets his work do the talking. His carrying game still brims with power, and his deft hands continue to unlock defences.

Faletau has nothing left to prove, yet his professionalism ensures he keeps delivering.

Kwagga Smith’s journey from the sevens circuit to double World Cup winner tells you everything about his versatility. He’s not the biggest flanker, but few hit harder or work longer. Smith’s time with Japan’s Shizuoka Blue Revs has added new layers to his game — sharper running lines, improved fitness, and leadership born of experience.

He’s everywhere at once: supporting runs, contesting turnovers, chasing kicks. A bronze medal from the Olympics and two Webb Ellis trophies show just how much he’s achieved already.

There’s something almost electric about Ben Earl in full flight. His speed and explosiveness off the mark make him England’s most dynamic back-rower since peak Tom Croft. Whether breaking the line for Saracens or smashing into contact for England, Earl plays with visible joy and fury.

His 2024 Six Nations campaign — topping the carry charts and scooping player-of-the-year honours — cemented him as England’s go-to man.

Few players relish the grind like Marco van Staden. Built for collisions and unafraid of pain, the Bulls and Springboks powerhouse brings old-school brutality wrapped in modern conditioning. He was the first South African to play university, franchise, and international rugby in the same year — a testament to both his drive and talent.

Van Staden’s calling cards are his thunderous tackles and breakdown steel, but his mobility and discipline elevate him beyond the enforcer stereotype.

Watching Jasper Wiese carry into contact is like witnessing controlled demolition. The Leicester Tigers number eight thrives on confrontation, winning metres no one else can. His physicality borders on feral — all shoulders, grit, and forward momentum — yet his discipline and intelligence have grown massively in recent years. Wiese doesn’t just smash; he outworks everyone.

At 20, Henry Pollock is rugby’s next great force. The Northampton Saints flanker seems to have skipped the learning curve entirely, producing performances seasoned pros would envy. His Champions Cup heroics — try-scoring, fearless defending, and moments of pure instinct — have made him a fan favourite.

Pollock plays with the swagger of someone who knows he belongs, yet his humility shines through. Whether earning Lions selection or handling post-match scuffles with maturity beyond his years, he’s a player who takes everything in stride.

When France need calm amidst chaos, they turn to Grégory Alldritt. La Rochelle’s captain combines brute power with remarkable finesse — a carrier who hits like a hammer but passes like a fly-half. As France’s skipper during the 2024 Six Nations, his leadership drew comparisons to greats like Thierry Dusautoir. Alldritt’s balance, footwork, and offload game make him the heartbeat of every French surge forward.

Harry Wilson has become the beating heart of the Wallabies’ resurgence. The 25-year-old Queenslander led Australia through their 2025 Lions series with fierce passion, then delivered one of the greatest individual comebacks in Ellis Park history — scoring twice as captain to overturn a 22-point deficit against South Africa.

Wilson is tough, tactically sharp, and leads by example rather than volume. His ball-carrying is relentless, his defensive work unglamorous yet vital.

If you ever want a lesson in heart, watch Jac Morgan play. The Welsh co-captain embodies everything good about his nation’s rugby — fearless tackling, selfless graft, and an ability to rise in big moments.

His breakdown work is world-class, and during the 2025 Lions tour, his clear-out led directly to the series-winning try. Morgan doesn’t just stop attacks; he ends them.

Few number eights mix brute force and grace like Jack Conan. The Leinster man’s journey has been one of patience and persistence, blossoming into a complete player capable of dominating the tight and loose.

His performances for the Lions, starting all three tests in 2021, showed his class on the biggest stage. Conan’s improved offloading and support play have made him a key cog in Ireland’s attacking shape.

There’s a sense of inevitability about Josh van der Flier’s excellence. The red scrum cap, the tireless motor, the immaculate discipline — he’s the embodiment of professionalism.

A former European Player of the Year, van der Flier rarely puts a foot wrong, leading through action rather than noise. His work rate defies belief, and his defensive reads border on clairvoyant.

Few players give more of themselves than Tom Curry. Every tackle, every carry, every chase — it’s total commitment. The Sale Sharks flanker has been a cornerstone of English rugby for nearly a decade, and his impact remains enormous.

On the 2025 Lions tour, he scored in consecutive tests, driving his side to a historic series win. Curry blends intelligence and savagery, reading the game like a half-back but hitting like a heavyweight.

Rob Valetini’s influence is so vast it’s felt even when he’s not playing. The two-time John Eales Medal winner brings balance and brutality in equal measure. Injuries may have limited his Lions series, but when on form, there’s no more complete back-rower in the southern hemisphere.

His carrying game sets the tone, his defence breaks spirits, and his leadership steadies Australia’s young core.

There’s a quiet tragedy to Jack Willis’s brilliance — England’s loss is Toulouse’s gain. Since moving to France, Willis has dominated the Top 14, even scoring twice in this year’s final before being named Player of the Season.

His turnover stats are absurd, his tackling vicious, and his instincts unmatched. Yet, for all his success, there’s still the dream of returning home to play in the 2027 World Cup.

New Zealand’s next great forward has already arrived. At just 23, Wallace Sititi plays with the composure of a veteran and the power of a runaway freight train. His breakout 2024 season earned him World Rugby’s Breakthrough Player of the Year and All Blacks Player of the Year honours — no small feat.

Sititi’s versatility across the back row gives the All Blacks priceless options, but it’s his pace and power in open play that make him special.

Caelan Doris doesn’t just play rugby — he conducts it. Ireland’s captain-in-waiting has redefined what balance looks like in a number eight. His ball-carrying is devastating, yet it’s his intelligence in contact and decision-making under pressure that make him elite.

Whether captaining Leinster or leading from the front for Ireland, Doris brings poise, control, and a touch of artistry.

Some players lead through talent; Siya Kolisi leads through soul. The Springbok captain has become a symbol far beyond the game — a two-time World Cup winner and the first black player to lead South Africa to global glory.

Yet, even stripped of symbolism, Kolisi remains a phenomenal flanker: explosive over the ball, tireless in defence, and endlessly selfless.

Watching Ardie Savea play feels like witnessing passion personified. Every carry, every turnover, every post-match interview radiates authenticity. In 2025, he’s been the standout in Super Rugby again, captaining Moana Pasifika with boundless energy and humility. Savea doesn’t just lift teams; he transforms them.

His stats for last season defy belief — over 100 tackles, 15 turnovers, countless line breaks — but it’s his emotional influence that sets him apart.

At the summit stands Pieter-Steph du Toit — a man who turns exhaustion into excellence. Twice World Rugby Player of the Year, he’s the living embodiment of work rate and sacrifice.

Du Toit’s performance in the 2023 World Cup final was a masterclass in endurance: 28 tackles and total control. His blend of power, humility, and relentlessness defines the Springbok ethos.