Best captains in the history of Rugby Union

Rugby, played since the beginning of the 19th century, is a game won not just by strength but also through teamwork, coordination and strong leadership.

Throughout this time the sport has seen a multitude of captains come and go but some have stood out more than others.

The most iconic stars of Rugby Union history

There have been many memorable captains in Rugby Union over the years but there are a select few which have gone down in history for their success and efforts. Strong leaders are often the difference between wins and losses and can make a difference in who rugby fans choose as their team favourites when participating in rugby union betting. With such skills and proven talent, let’s look at some memorable rugby captains over the years which have made an impact on their team’s success in the game.

1. Martin Johnson

Debuting with Leicester Tigers and completing 16 seasons in the sport, Johnson was well-versed in the sport when he was made captain seven years after he joined his first professional team. Further to his notoriety as one of England’s best players, he also became known for being the first person to captain the British Lions twice when he embarked on his second stint in 2001. Another of his greatest moments was being made captain of the England team in 1999 where he led the team to victory in the Grand Slam in the 2003 Six Nations Championship as well as his final international match in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. This was his 84th match and signalled the nearing end of a glorious career which finally came in 2005, shortly before he became England’s manager.

2. Brian O’Driscoll

The Irish player O’Driscoll is regarded as one of the best players of all time, reflected by his extended stint as captain of the Irish team, all the way from 2003 until 2012. In his first year as captain, O’Driscoll brought his team to a proud second place in the Six Nations. The following year, the team Triple Crowns, bringing home their first in nearly two decades. They achieved the feat again in 2006 and 2007. The endless list of success stories O’Driscoll led his team to finally ended in 2012 when his captaincy ended due to a shoulder surgery that excluded him from Six Nations for the year. He continued to play, only stopping in 2014 as the team achieved an emotional win at the Six Nations.

3. Francois Pienaar

Portrayed by Matt Damon in the 2009 film Invictus, Jacobus Francois Pienaar was a remarkable captain during a tumultuous time. Pienaar led the Springboks to an unexpected victory at the 1995 World Cup in the midst of a post-apartheid South Africa. He was awarded his trophy by Nelson Mandela. Pienaar had a short but impressive stint as captain and achieved 29 international caps, all in his time as leader of his team.

4. Richie McCaw

McCaw was an astounding captain, leading his national team of New Zealand, the All Blacks to great victories. His skills were questioned as the team faltered but they went on to win both the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup titles. This gave him the honour of being one of only 21 to have won the Rugby World Cup on more than one occasion. He was the captain of the All Blacks for 110 of the 148 test matches he was a part of despite multiple concussions and setbacks, making him stand out as one of the most resilient and successful captains in the sport. McCaw suffered a concussion in April 2005 during his time as captain but returned swiftly and led the Crusaders to victory.