9. Ma'a Nonu, Centre, New Zealand
27 year old Ma'a Nonu is undoutedly one of the sports most explosive players. He has built a reputation as one of the toughest players in rugby today, able to break the line, off-load the ball and score some fantastic tries. Originally from Samoan descent Ma'a Nonu is known best for his blonde streaked dreadlocks and wearing eye-liner on the pitch. At 5ft 11" and 105kg it is no wonder he has the nickname "Rock" on the field. He is a regular feature in All Blacks coach Graham Henry's side and with 42 test caps and 70 test points it is no wonder why.
8. Jean de Villiers, Centre, South Africa
Munster man de Villiers was named South Africa's player of the year this year. At aged 28 now de Villiers started off his career on the wing but gradually moved into his position in the centre. At 6ft 3" and 103kg you'd think he'd be a bit of a slow mover. This isn't the case de Villiers manages to combine creativity and fluidity in the midfield and is no stranger to intercepting the ball, just ask James Hook. However de Villiers career has been plagued by injury famously getting sent home early from the 2007 World Cup after obtaining an injury against Samoa in the Springboks opening game.
7. Shane Williams, Winger, Wales
Williams who can play scrum half and on the wing is officially recognised by the IRB as the best player on the planet however this is by the same panel who refused to acknowledge the All Blacks Richie McCaw. At 5ft 7" and 80kg, 32 year old Williams is probably the most exciting winger in six nations rugby. He scored 14 tries in 12 tests in the 2007 - 8 season and is officially Wales' best try-scorer. He was part of the Welsh 2008 six nations grand slam winning side and he is currently third overall for the international all-time test try scoring list. He was also named BBC Welsh Sports Personality of the year in 2008.
6. Brian O'Driscoll, Outside Centre , Ireland
Perhaps an unexpected entry into number 6 as BOD has not been on his best form in recent years but he is still one of the most exciting players in the northern hemisphere. At 30 years old, 5ft 10" and 90kg Brian O'Driscoll has fantastic strength, pace and great attacking skill. During the 2001 British and Irish Lions tour he ripped apart the Australian defence to score one of tours greatest tries. He was the first player to be nominated for the IRB World player of the year two year's in a row but sadly lost out both times. Brian O'Driscoll's career was almost ruined back in the 2005 Lions Tour when the All Blacks' Tana Umaga and Keven Mealamu spear tackled Brian into the ground and dislocated his shoulder in an off the ball incident.
5. Johnny Wilkinson, Flyhalf, England
30 year old Johnny Wilkinson rose to fame in the 2003 world cup when he helped England to world cup victory and he was quickly acknowledged as one of the world's greatest players. However Wilkinson's career has been plagued by injury with major knee, ankle, and shoulder injuries keeping him out for long periods of time. At 5ft 9" and 88kg Johnny Wilkinson has a massive list of national and international accolades to his name including a world best of the most drop goals, and a world record of 1,119 test points. In 2002 he was voted for the International Player of the year award and he is only the third player ever to receive the golden boot for scoring 1000 points in the premiership.
4. Schalk Burger, Flanker, South Africa
Schalk Burger is an absolute monster in rugby. At 6ft 4" and 110kg it is no wonder he has been named the most intimidating flanker in the current game. Burger is the 2004 IRB player of the year and helped the Springboks to the crushing defeat of England in the 2007 World Cup despite missing out on 2 games due to a high tackle. Burger is a rare talent and possesses all the attributes of a great loose forward. He is quick to the breakdown and is often used in open play as a link with his ability to draw defenders and offload rather than put the head down and charge toward defenders. It is this skill he has underneath all his physicality that makes him such a great player in the game today.
3. Rocky Elsom, Flanker, Australia
Rocky Elsom is the current captain of the wallabies and plays for the Heineken cup winning side Leinster player in Ireland. Rocky Elsom is considered rare as he can play blind side as well as open side in lock or number 8. At 6ft 6" and 112kg Rocky Elsom is another huge player. He was named 2008 Wallaby player of the year and 2009 Leinster Rugby player of the year beating Brian O'Driscoll to the title. At only 26 Rocky Elsom has already gained 47 test caps and 40 test points. Amongst other accolades Rocky has a Magners League Player of the Year and European player of the year and he holds the record for fastest hat-trick by a forward in World Cup History at 18.33 minutes which was against Japan in 2007, Elsom's debut World Cup.
2. Richie McCaw, Flanker, New Zealand
Richie McCaw is the current open side flanker for New Zealand and the current captain of the All Blacks. He is a tireless worker, big enough to take the battering and bruising of a position at open side flanker as well as being quick and skilful with wonderful vision to offload to some of the best backs in the world. Richie McCaw really is an incredible talent and has a huge list of achievements to his name and he is only 28. He was the 2002 newcomer of the year and the 2006 IRB player of the year as well as the 2006 NZRU Player of the year.
1. Dan Carter, Flyhalf, New Zealand
Dan Carter is a phenomenal flyhalf for arguably the greatest rugby union side in the world despite having not won the world cup since 1987. Dan Carter at just 27 years old already has a number of international achievements. He was the 2004 and 2005 Kelvin Tremain Memorial Player of the Year, the 2004 and 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14 Player of the Year and the 2005 IRB Player of the Year. He made his debut for the All-Blacks in 2003 scoring 20 points. He currently has a total of 980 test points and is the 4th on the overall all time list of point scorers. He has scored 25 tries, 165 conversions, 173 penalties and 2 drop goals in 64 tests with an average of 15 points a game which is the highest average for players who have scored more than 500 Test points. The All-Blacks have only lost 8 games that Carter has featured in which reinforces the idea that he is rugby unions next big thing. At 5ft 10" and only 91kg Dan Carter is hardly the largest All Blacks man but he has all the precision, panache, pace and power of a fabulous player and really is the greatest flyhalf in the game today. A talent so precious that he has been leased out to the northern hemisphere team Perpignan in France for the winter before he returns to the Crusaders in New Zealand. As a player with a relatively brief international career to be hailed as one of the all time greats that certainly is an achievement and we won't have seen the last of him.
What do you think of our top 10? Who do you think should have been included? If you are a registered user you can discuss it over at our forum here.
