I wouldn’t want to ever try and make a list of the top ten greatest rugby players of all time. Even the top 100 would be a challenge, and you know there will always be that one guy who says “But what about….”.
This is not a definitive list by any manner of means. This is simply the top ten rugby players of my memory, which is to say the last thirty some-odd years or so. There will be players that you like that are not on the list, that’s fine, as I say this is my list. Let’s begin, shall we?
10: Sebastian Chabal
Chabal is big, scary, looks like a recently evolved cro magnon or a very cleverly shaven gorilla – and he was so much fun to watch on the field! I often imagined smaller players watching this human steamroller charging down the field thinking to themselves “Oh bugger it, just let him have the bloody try!” Sebas (Always Sebas, never The Caveman!) was by no means the most dynamic player ever. I do however, remember watching France playing the Wallabies, around 2007. Sebas gets picked up for a knock on during play. Most players would get up with a ‘who sir? Me sir?’ look of aggrievement. Sebas just smiled, shrugged and gave the ref a cheerful thumbs up, as if to say “Yeah, you got me, fair dues mate,” and just got on with the game. I loved him for that, and for the sense of monster he brought to the game.
9. Nick Farr-Jones
Yes, a Wallaby makes the All Blacks fan’s list. Nick Farr-Jones was a Wallaby great, and rightly so. With David Campese and Farr-Jones on the field, you could bet there would be electricity – and tries, lots of tries. Farr-Jones in my mind was part of what I can only really think of as a golden age of Australian rugby, that future sides have really struggled to emulate. This was a Wallaby team that was always out to win, and with Farr-Jones as captain they were a side that was not to be taken lightly. I’m not a Wallabies fan, but even I have to tip my hat to this player.
8. Sean Fitzpatrick
Fitzy to my mind is one of the first All Blacks legends I actively remember watching play. Fitzy was a solid hunk of player, but he had the brains to go with it, making him a formidable opponent. I met Fitzy at a corporate gathering back in 2003 and also found him to be a remarkably charming and personable chap. I think though he’ll best be remembered for a TV commercial he did in New Zealand, walking hand in hand with Wallaby David Campese and…well you had to be there, but it still makes me chuckle.
7. Brian O’Driscoll
5′ 10″ 205lbs is not big by Rugby standards. But O’Driscoll is not the sort of guy to let that stop him. If there was a game on, O’Driscoll wanted in. And when he plays, you need to pay attention. Or this green jersey wearing speed machine is going to run all over you. I’ll admit, I love the Irish rugby team, and I love Ireland. I’ve already said how much I love Munster fans, but the Irish rugby team is easily my number three team below the AB’s and Argentina. O’Driscoll is a smart, professional and above all to my mind just flat out nice guy. He is gracious in victory and in defeat, and I respect the hell out of him.
6. The 2008 Munster Rugby Team
Okay, not a player per se. However, as these guys gave me the best rugby game I’ve ever seen, it’s really kinda hard to just pick one. And hey, it’s my blog, I make the rules. So these guys are all in.
5. John Kirwan
JK battled players on the field, then battled depression off the field. In both insstances he conducted himself with grace and humility. I think perhaps his very public dealings with depression, and his being willing to bring this mental health issue so much into the spotlight is probably one of the things I most respect him for. Mental health almost overnight underwent this revolution of “well if it’s okay for JK to talk about it, maybe I should too.” I think the mark of a player should be measured by more than just his onfield presence. JK off the field continues to change lives, and still actively campaigns for mental health issues.
4. Johnny Wilkinson
I hate this guy. But I hate him because he’s so damn good. Didn’t matter where on the field he was, if he was kicking for the goal you could pretty much guarantee it was going over. He was good, he knew it, and he used all his abilities to their best. The bastard.
3. Tana Umaga
The dreadlocked demon. The Samoan warrior we almost lost to the NRL, thanks to homesickness though Tana would ultimately don a black jersey and scare the living hell out of anyone he faced off against on the field. Watching Umaga lead the Haka was an awesome experience, you literally got the feeling he was going to stomp down the field and demolish anyone who got in his way. With a ball in his hands quite often he did. Umaga was, and is, easily one of my all time favorites to watch in play.
2. Doug Howlett
Before playing as part of the 2008 Munster squad Doug Howlett carved out a great career for the Auckland Blues, and the All Blacks. Howlett combined great skill with great marketability to become a real franchise in himself. I still recall seeing his face plastered across the back of a bus in Auckland encouraging blues fans to “Go on, Howlett” in support of their team. Dougie was about the only thing in the Blues organisation I did like, and when he went offshore, so did my support for the team. Howlett continued to go from strength to strength at Munster before his retirement, and still remains one of the highest try scorers in All Blacks history.
1. Buck Shelford
Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford. In New Zealand, this is a name that isn’t spoken, it is invoked. At his peak, when Buck spoke, the world listened. Historically there are many that would say Colin Meads is the greatest All Black of all time, and I’d agree with them. But I never saw ‘Pinetree’ play. I saw Buck play. I never wanted to be Lomu, or Fitzy, or even Dougie. I wanted to be Buck! This was a guy who just did not quit – ever! Buck is famoyusly credited at being caught at the bottom of a rugby scrum, where his scrotum was ripped open and testicle was left hanging free. Buck’s response? He calmly walked to the phyiso, had him stitch the injury back up, then went back out and finished the game! Now I know Hockey players are hard men, but that is some next level stuff right there. Buck epitmised what rugby was – “go hard or go home”. Buck never went home. When he did ultimately retire, at every game he was present in his coaching capacity there were always signs around the field with one plaintive cry, “Bring Back Buck” It was Shelford who really brought the Haka to the level it is now, and I’d go so far as to say if it wasn’t for him, the All Blacks would not be the team they are today. Pinetree Meads may be the King, But Buck is definitely the crown prince in my book.
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Main Photo Credit: Rugbydump.com
