Greatest English rugby players of all time
England might not be the most successful rugby nation in the world, but that doesn’t count them out from producing some of the best players to grace the sport. Rugby Union has had the pleasure of presenting some talented names the nation has produced down the years.
As the only country from the Northern Hemisphere to win the Rugby World Cup – in 2003 – England possess a considerable reputation among other big guns such as New Zealand and South Africa.
Keeping that in mind, here are some of the finest English rugby players to have distinguished themselves as greats of the rough sport.
From 1993 to 2003, Johnson was a force to be reckoned with. He led England to their first and only Rugby World Cup in 2003 against Australia as captain, before hanging up his boots. As the only English player ever to captain his side to the world championship, none can argue his stature among the country’s greatest ever players. At 6’7”, his hefty build allowed him to function as an enforcer in the lock position with great efficiency. He coupled his aggressive presence on the field with his game intelligence to lead the Red Roses though an unforgettable period in English rugby history. His five iconic scraps perfectly demonstrate the heard-headedness of the five-time Six Nations champion.
- Lawrence Dallaglio – 85 caps
Lawrence Dallaglio teamed up with fellow forward Martin Johnson to storm along one of England’s most successful eras in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Dallaglio is one of the handful of players to have won both the Rugby World Cup and the Sevens World Cup, both ten years apart. The latter served as a launchpad for the sharp-witted Englishman, who was an indispensable part of the Red Roses for much of two decades. As an ace upfront, he had all the makings of a legendary number eight, thanks to his dedicated eye-for-goal, tyrannical authority going forward and the ability to greatly influence his teammates around him.
51-time capper Robinson was one unique talent who played in the fullback and wing positions – a dual role that he manned with superb acceleration that allowed him to get through defenders in the tightest of spaces. His reputation as arguably the fastest English player thanks to his dancing feet once prompted a remark to be made: that he could get past a defender in a phone box. Such was the charisma of the 2003 World Cup winner. Robinson shifted from the rugby league to the union midway through his professional career, making his way into the already strong ranks of the England squad in 2001. He proved his exploits in both the union and the league, an achievement that makes him the most successful dual-code international.
- Jonny Wilkinson – 91 caps
Wilkinson’s legacy was immortalized in rugby history when he kicked his way into record books by slotting an extra-time drop goal to break Australian hearts that won the World Cup for England in 2003. The iconic fly-half’s versatility allowed him to disrupt defences for three decades and it is this very character that astounded spectators in the final victory, as he bagged the final goal from his right foot instead of his traditional left. His 13-year international career was marred regularly with injuries, but nonetheless, his record of 1,179 points in 91 appearances will stand the test of time. His kicking ability is what set him apart, along with his presence of mind to pop up destructive tackles that sometimes won not just ball, but matches too.
Flanker Richard Hill is considered by some as one of the greatest ever to don his position on the field. Renowned for his tacit style of play, the Surrey-born international did all the dirty work behind the screens, playing a pivotal role in England’s period of indivisible success. He is regarded as the only player to have never been dropped by 2003 World Cup winning coach Clive Woodward. Hill operated in the shadows with unrivalled tenacity as part of the back-four, almost never succumbing to pressure by going down to his opponents. Never outspoken and always committed, Hill is arguably the perfect role model for budding players of the sport.
All the aforementioned names played an imperative part in England’s historic 2003 World Cup win. Since then, the nation has failed to replicate the success of the legendary team of the early 2000’s – having finished as runners-up twice in 2007 and 2019.
The World Cup to be held in France next year marks either South Africa and New Zealand to bag their fourth championship title as odd-on-favourites, ahead of one-time winner England, according to statistics provided by betting sites online. With the aforementioned resource, one can gain a great deal of knowledge regarding how betting on the sports works. A great directory of sports is present – other than rugby – to immerse oneself in, from horseracing and football to basketball and cricket. Players, whether old or new, can also benefit from bonuses or rewards such as loyalty points, cashbacks, free bets and accumulator schemes.
Other honourable mentions alongside the legends above as England’s best ever rugby players include Peter Winterbottom, David Duckham, Wavell Wakefield, Rory Underwood, Jeremy Guscott and Jason Leonard.
