RUGBY PLAYERS from United Kingdom

Top 10

The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the top 10 most legendary British Rugby Players of all time. This list of famous British Rugby Players is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography's online popularity. Visit the rankings page to view the entire list of British Rugby Players.

1. Jonny Wilkinson (b. 1979)

With an HPI of 46.39, Jonny Wilkinson is the most famous British Rugby Player.  His biography has been translated into 27 different languages on wikipedia.

Jonathan Peter Wilkinson (born 25 May 1979) is an English former rugby union player. A fly-half, he played for Newcastle Falcons and French side Toulon and represented England and the British & Irish Lions. He is particularly known for scoring the winning drop goal in the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final and is widely acknowledged as one of the best rugby union players of all time. He played club rugby for twelve seasons in the English Premiership with Newcastle Falcons. In 2009, he moved to Toulon, where he won two Heineken Cups and one Top 14 championship in five seasons. He holds the record of top point-scorer at both clubs. Wilkinson won 91 caps for England. He was an integral member of the England squad which won the 2003 World Cup, scoring the winning drop goal in the last minute of extra time against Australia in the final. He came back from several injuries and was part of the England team which reached the final of the 2007 World Cup. He toured twice with the British & Irish Lions, in 2001 to Australia and 2005 to New Zealand, winning 6 caps. He retired from rugby at the end of the 2013–14 season. In 2016, he was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame. Wilkinson is currently a studio pundit for ITV Sport, working on their coverage of the Six Nations Championship, Rugby World Cup and other rugby events.

2. Mike Tindall (b. 1978)

With an HPI of 43.35, Mike Tindall is the 2nd most famous British Rugby Player.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

Michael James Tindall (born 18 October 1978) is an English former rugby union player and a member of the British royal family. Tindall played outside centre for Bath and Gloucester, and won 75 caps for England between 2000 and 2011. He was a member of the England squad which won the 2003 World Cup. Tindall made his debut for England on 5 February 2000, against Ireland in the 2000 Six Nations Championship. As well as winning the 2003 World Cup, he was a member of the England team which won the 2003 Six Nations Championship. He was injured at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. Tindall played in eleven Six Nations Championship competitions from 2000 to 2011. Tindall is married to Zara Phillips, the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal and the eldest niece of King Charles III. They have three children.

3. Shane Williams (b. 1977)

With an HPI of 40.36, Shane Williams is the 3rd most famous British Rugby Player.  His biography has been translated into 20 different languages.

Shane Mark Williams, (born 26 February 1977) is a Welsh former rugby union player most famous for his long and successful tenure as a wing for the Ospreys and the Wales national team. He also played scrum-half on occasion. Williams is the record try scorer for Wales, and fourth on the international list of leading rugby union test try scorers behind Daisuke Ohata, Bryan Habana and David Campese. In 2008, Williams was selected as the World Rugby Player of the Year, then known as the IRB Player of the Year. Since his retirement from international rugby in 2012, Williams has worked as a presenter on S4C's Six Nations rugby programme Y Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol, and as a pundit on BBC, ITV and Channel 4 broadcasts as well as third party shows such as "Inside Welsh Rugby", commenting on the grassroots of Welsh rugby. Williams was selected to the Barbarians squad that played Wales in June 2012. It was originally planned to be his last appearance as a player, but he shortly thereafter signed a one-year contract to play in Japan with Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars in June 2012. Williams was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to rugby. Williams extended his stay in Japan several times, taking on a role as player-coach and turning down an offer from French Top 14 side Toulon in the process. Before finally announcing he would be returning home at the end of the 2014–15 Japanese Top League season. In November 2016, Williams was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame during opening ceremonies for the Hall's first physical home in Rugby, Warwickshire.

4. Gareth Thomas (b. 1974)

With an HPI of 36.17, Gareth Thomas is the 4th most famous British Rugby Player.  His biography has been translated into 14 different languages.

Gareth Thomas (born 25 July 1974) is a Welsh former professional rugby union and rugby league player, who represented Wales in both codes. Nicknamed "Alfie", he was the first Wales rugby union player to play in 100 test matches, and is currently the sixth-most capped Wales player. He is 15th among international try scorers, and is the third-highest Wales try scorer. He also won four rugby league caps for Wales, scoring three tries. He played rugby union as a fullback, wing or centre for Bridgend, Cardiff, the Celtic Warriors, Toulouse, Cardiff Blues, and Wales. In 2010 he changed codes to rugby league when he transferred from Cardiff Blues to the Crusaders in Super League, and later played for Wales. He retired from rugby in October 2011. Thomas came out as gay in December 2009. The following year he was voted the most influential gay person in the UK in The Independent on Sunday Pink List and received Stonewall's Hero of the Year award.

5. Owen Farrell (b. 1991)

With an HPI of 36.00, Owen Farrell is the 5th most famous British Rugby Player.  His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.

Owen Andrew Farrell (né O'Loughlin; born 24 September 1991) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Saracens. He was the England captain from 2018 to 2023. Although fly-half is his preferred position, he frequently played at inside centre at test level. He has spent the majority of his club career with Saracens. He spent a season on loan with Bedford Blues and played the 2024/25 season with French side Racing 92. He is known for his goal kicking prowess. Making his international debut in 2012, Farrell has represented England internationally. With over 1,200 points scored in over 100 tests, Farrell is one of the highest point scorers in test history, and holds the record for highest points scored as a player at both England and Saracens. He took a break from international rugby following the 2023 Rugby World Cup His father, Ireland's current head coach Andy Farrell, played both rugby union and rugby league for England, and was captain for England rugby league and his club Wigan Warriors.

6. Martin Johnson (b. 1970)

With an HPI of 34.88, Martin Johnson is the 6th most famous British Rugby Player.  His biography has been translated into 14 different languages.

Martin Osborne Johnson CBE (born 9 March 1970) is an English retired rugby union player who represented and captained England and Leicester in a career spanning 16 seasons. He captained England to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, and is regarded as one of the greatest locks ever to have played, and one of England's greatest ever players. Johnson made his debut for Leicester Tigers in 1989 and in 1993 debuted for England as well as being a late call up to the 1993 British Lions tour to New Zealand. He was a try scorer in the final when Leicester won the 1993 Pilkington Cup and a member of the side which won the 1994-95 Courage League. Johnson was an ever-present as England won the Grand Slam in the 1995 Five Nations Championship. In 1997, he was named as captain for the victorious British Lions tour to South Africa, in 2001, he became the first man to captain the Lions twice as he led the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. He became England captain in 1999 and led the side in 39 matches, the third most ever. He was captain as England reached the quarter finals of the 1999 Rugby World Cup, won the Grand Slam in the 2003 Six Nations Championship and as England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup. The 2003 Rugby World Cup Final was his 84th and final international match. During his club career he played 362 games for Leicester, his only senior club, and as well as the cup in 1993 and the league in 1995, he was also captain of the side as they won the 1997 Pilkington Cup and four consecutive Premiership titles between 1999–2002, and became the first side to retain the European Cup, winning in 2001 and 2002. His final season was in 2004–05. On 1 July 2008 he became the England team manager. Under his management England won the 2011 Six Nations Championship, their first since 2003. He left the post in November 2011 following England's quarter final defeat at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and has not taken another management position in the game since.

7. George North (b. 1992)

With an HPI of 34.84, George North is the 7th most famous British Rugby Player.  His biography has been translated into 18 different languages.

George Philip North (born 13 April 1992) is a professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Pro D2 club Provence Rugby. Born in England, he grew up in Wales and represented Wales at international level between 2010 and 2024, as well as the British and Irish Lions on two tours, and is one of the most accomplished players of his generation. He began his professional career with the Scarlets before moving to England to play with the Northampton Saints. Notably, he made Welsh rugby history by being the youngest player to score a try on debut at the age of 18. North also has established himself as one of the top try-scorers at test level, holding the record for the most tries scored by an active international player.

8. Dan Biggar (b. 1989)

With an HPI of 34.53, Dan Biggar is the 8th most famous British Rugby Player.  His biography has been translated into 15 different languages.

Daniel Biggar (born 16 October 1989) is a former Welsh professional rugby union player and current director at United Rugby Championship club Scarlets. A Wales international, Biggar played fly half and was twice selected to tour with the British and Irish Lions.

9. Alun Wyn Jones (b. 1985)

With an HPI of 31.83, Alun Wyn Jones is the 9th most famous British Rugby Player.  His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.

Alun Wyn Jones (born 19 September 1985) is a Welsh former rugby union player who played as a lock. He played most of his career for the Ospreys and for the Wales national team. He is the world's most-capped rugby union player, with 158 caps for Wales and 12 for the British & Irish Lions, and also holds the records for the most Wales caps and the second-most Wales caps as captain. He retired from rugby in 2023. Jones was the captain of the British & Irish Lions for their 2021 tour to South Africa, and is one of only four players to have been selected to play on four Lions tours, in 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021. He is one of seven Wales players to have won three Grand Slams. He was named the best player of the 2019 Six Nations Championship and was nominated for World Player of the Year in 2015 and 2019.

10. Leigh Halfpenny (b. 1988)

With an HPI of 31.38, Leigh Halfpenny is the 10th most famous British Rugby Player.  His biography has been translated into 14 different languages.

Stephen Leigh Halfpenny (born 22 December 1988) is a Welsh rugby union professional rugby union player who plays fullback or wing for Cardiff in the United Rugby Championship. Halfpenny is the third highest points scorer for Wales after Neil Jenkins and Stephen Jones.