Top 10 centres in rugby: All Blacks hero stretches ahead of Springboks star while Scotland ‘powerhouse’ not far behind
Top 10 centres in rugby: All Black hero stretches ahead from Springbok star while Scotland 'powerhouse' leads the charge
Planet Rugby have named the top 10 centres in the world right now, and it’s an All Black who controls the midfield.
Here are our top 10 centres.
Top 10 centres
10 Len Ikitau (Brumbies, Australia): The Wallabies centre was named in the 2025 World Rugby Dream Team of the Year shortly after being awarded the John Eales Medal for his contributions to the gold jersey. The 27-year-old is back with the Brumbies after an injury-hit stint at English Prem side Exeter Chiefs, in which he missed four months due to shoulder surgery in December. Since returning from injury, he excelled in the latter stages of the season, helping Chiefs reach an unlikely Prem final, before regaining his Wallabies 12 shirt in the Nations Championship.
9 Fabien Brau-Boirie (Pau, France): He may only be 20, but he’s already one of the most talked-about midfielders in the game. He only made his France bow this year, but the Pau centre has made the number 13 shirt his own. Two tries in his debut against Italy in February, and two tries off the bench for the ‘A’ side in June, saw Brau-Boirie issued the outside centre position for the Nations Championship opener against the All Blacks. He continued his dominance over the shirt with wins over Australia and Japan, beating off competition from fellow young stars Kalvin Gourgues and Nicolas Depoortère.
8 Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Begles, France): Where Brau-Boirie owns the French 13 shirt, Moefana owns the 12. He’s had to bide his time before being given the reins at inside centre, having appeared on the wing multiple times in the past, but France finally appear to have made him the long-term solution at inside centre. The Bordeaux-Begles centre had a terrific season with his club, winning the Champions Cup and playing some of Europe’s most exciting and expansive rugby. For France, he was a key member of the Nations Championship squad, providing the second pair of hands as he linked up with both Matthieu Jalibert and Romain Ntamack in the 10 channel.
7 Juan Ignacio Brex (Toulon, Italy): Born in Argentina, plays in France, and performs for Italy. The veteran centre has become a key member of the Toulon backline since arriving from Benetton in 2025, with his powerful frame creating quite the attacking weapon for the French side. Similarly, for Italy – for whom he qualifies for through his father – he’s one of their key threats. Interestingly, Brex only made his Italy debut at 28 after failing to make the Argentine squad, despite appearances for the U20s and second-string side. The 34-year-old enjoyed his first Champions Cup run this season, scoring a brace in both the pool stage win against Bath and then the quarter-final victory over Glasgow Warriors. Although Toulon lost in the semi-finals, and Italy lost all three of their July Nations Championship matches, Brex performed excellently in all.
6 Stuart McCloskey (Ulster, Ireland): He’s always sort of simmered below the surface in the international game. Ulster fans have been aware of his excellence for many years, but he’s had to make do with sporadic appearances for Ireland. Sadly for the 34-year-old, he’s been sat behind a very good midfield trio of Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and Bundee Aki for many years, and their performances have been so reliable that McCloskey never really got a good look in. Well, thanks to a combination of injuries and suspensions, he’s seen a lot more action in recent months. He was nominated for the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Player of the Championship after starting in all five matches, and continued his good form at club level, helping Ulster to the Challenge Cup final. Despite the return of their traditional midfield, McCloskey kept his spot in the Ireland team for the Nations Championship, starting all three matches and once again showing that alongside his immense power, he possesses an all-round game.
5 Tommaso Menoncello (Toulouse, Italy): The Italian star will top this list in years to come, but for the time being, he’ll have to settle for fifth. In 2022, he became the youngest-ever Six Nations try-scorer at 19 years and 170 days, and just two years later he was named the 2024 Six Nations Player of the Championship. Still only 24, he’s become one of the world’s premier centres, dominating the midfield for both Italy and Benetton, with an impressive try-scoring tally to match. It’s his athletic ability that truly sets him apart, with his power allowing him to stay on his feet in the tackle to give his team front-foot possession.
4 Damian de Allende (Saitama Wild Knights, South Africa): A mainstay of the Springboks, and a member of the most capped South African midfield partnership of all time alongside Jesse Kriel. He’s a two-time World Cup winner and one of the most complete players in the game. His physicality is as effective as his link play, making him the perfect mould for an inside centre. He plays for the Saitama Wild Knights in Japan, winning the bronze final against Tokyo Sungoliath in the 2025/26 season, before earning his 100th Springbok cap in their recent opening Greatest Rivalry Test against the All Blacks.
Top 3 centres
3 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland): A wrecking ball of an inside centre, he was a huge part of Glasgow Warriors’ 2022/23 United Rugby Championship success, and is the key attacking weapon in the Scotland backline. Born in Victoria, he appeared for the British and Irish Lions against his home country in 2025 when touring Australia, winning the series 2-1. In 2026, he was a part of an impressive Scotland display that saw victories over France, Wales and England, while also turning over Argentina and Fiji in July.
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2 Jesse Kriel (Yokohama Canon Eagles, South Africa): A defensive master who has shown in recent matches that he can also really turn it on in attack. He made his South Africa debut in 2015 while playing for the Bulls, but has since moved to Japan to turn out for the Yokohama Canon Eagles, where he played alongside fellow Springbok, Faf de Klerk. He recently struggled for the Springboks against the All Blacks after being shifted to left wing in the early stages of the game, but he generally excels when in charge of the midfield.
1 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes, New Zealand): When he moved over to Leinster for six months in 2025, many questioned whether his Southern Hemisphere form would transfer over to European rugby. As it turned out, there was no question. He was truly brilliant for the Irish province, dominating the 12 shirt and guiding them to yet another URC title. The great All Black moved to the midfield in 2022, and it was arguably one of the best decisions he ever made, as his size, playmaking ability, kicking and general understanding of the game suit the position perfectly.