Greatest South African Rugby Union Players of All Time
The greatest South African rugby union players in history — ranked by career achievements, honours and legacy.
South AfricanAll South African Rugby Union Athletes
Browse all 18 south african rugby union athletes in our database.
South African
Bryan Habana
Wing
77 Test tries — the joint world record holder for Test tries by a back.…
South African
Cheslin Kolbe
Wing/Back
Rugby World Cup winner 2x — the smallest, fastest and most dangerous finisher in world rugby.…
South African
Damian de Allende
Centre
South African centre whose powerful carrying, physical dominance in contact and consistency across i…
South African
Danie Gerber
Centre
South African centre widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted midfield backs the game has…
South African
Duane Vermeulen
Number 8
South African number eight and World Cup final man-of-the-match in 2019, a powerful carrying force a…
South African
Eben Etzebeth
Lock
The most physically dominant lock in world rugby — two World Cup winner.…
South African
Faf de Klerk
Scrum-half
South African scrum-half who formed the half-back partnership at the heart of the Springboks' 2019 W…
South African
Francois Pienaar
Flanker
The Springbok captain who shared the World Cup trophy with Nelson Mandela — Francois Pienaar's momen…
South African
Handré Pollard
Fly-half
South African fly-half and World Cup-winning goal-kicker whose composure under pressure, reliable bo…
South African
John Smit
Hooker/Prop
South Africa's most-capped captain — led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007.…
South African
Joost van der Westhuizen
Scrum-half
South Africa's greatest scrum-half and a World Cup winner in 1995, whose electric service, powerful …
South African
Lukhanyo Am
Centre
South African outside centre whose brilliant footwork, instinctive decision-making and try-scoring a…
South African
Malcolm Marx
Hooker
South African hooker widely regarded as the most explosive number two in the game, whose extraordina…
South African
Naas Botha
Fly-half
South African fly-half of the pre-professional era whose extraordinary goal-kicking prowess, tactica…
South African
Os du Randt
Prop
South African loosehead prop who became one of the rare players to win two World Cups, in 1995 and 2…
South African
Pieter-Steph du Toit
Flanker
South African loose forward and 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year whose exceptional versatility, o…
South African
Siya Kolisi
Flanker
The first Black Springbok captain — World Cup winner in 2019 and 2023, a symbol of a transformed Sou…
South African
Victor Matfield
Lock
The finest lineout forward in rugby history — two World Cup winner with South Africa.…