Top 10 full-backs in rugby: Springboks star in ‘form of his life’ ahead of ‘competitive animal’
Top 10 fullbacks in rugby: Springbok star in 'form of his life' ahead of 'competitive animal'
Planet Rugby have named the top 10 full-backs in the world right now, and it’s a Springbok who controls the airwaves.
Here are our top 10 full-backs.
Top 10 full-backs
10 Salesi Rayasi (Bordeaux-Begles, Fiji): A hot-stepping back three player with as much business dotting the ball over the line as he does setting others up. The elusive Fijian international developed his game in New Zealand with Auckland in the National Provincial Championship (NPC) and the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, before moving to France in 2024. After a semi-successful season on the wing for Vannes, he moved to Bordeaux Begles, where – competing with Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud – he eventually found a new home at full-back. His transition to the 15 jersey has been hugely successful, establishing himself as the key man at the back for both club and country. In 2026, he secured Champions Cup success, scoring a hat-trick of tries in the round of 16 against Leicester and delivered an impressive 80-minute performance in the final.
9 Cheslin Kolbe (Stormers, South Africa): Arguably one of the most diverse players the game has seen. His ability to slot in literally anywhere along the backline is almost unparalleled in the world game, and it’s for this reason that he finds himself in the full-back category as well as wing. He’s played almost 30% of his entire professional career at full-back, and even though he’s known predominantly as a winger, his ability to marshal the backfield and control those around him is world-class. The decision to place him at full-back for the third Test of the Greatest Rivalry tour may have been viewed as a bit of a gamble for some, but the majority of his matches for Tokyo Sungoliath in Japan this season have been at 15. The real question rugby fans should be asking is: should Kolbe be given more time at full-back?
8 Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse, Scotland): He is a giant of a man, and the perfect build for a full-back. He’s incredibly secure under the high ball, has a boot that can rival anyone’s, and isn’t afraid to run at the defence. The 29-year-old had to wait many years behind Stuart Hogg to gain international recognition, but once the former Scotland international was out of the way, Kinghorn shoehorned himself in. If it weren’t for injury, he’d have likely been the British and Irish Lions’ first-choice full-back in 2025, but as it was, he had to watch on as the ever-reliable Hugo Keenan started all three Tests. He returned to form in 2026, winning the Top 14 with Toulouse and even starting ahead of the great Thomas Ramos, who was returning from a slight injury.
7 Tom Wright (Brumbies, Australia): The Aussie star only returned to action in April after struggling with an injury, which caused him to miss the entire opening of the 2025/26 season. Despite the Brumbies’ poor domestic form, he looked incredibly sharp on his return. Internationally, he found better favour. After a couple of losses to Ireland and France respectively, he was then an important part of their next four victories over Italy, Japan and Argentina. Now back at the peak of his powers, he will be crucial for the Wallabies as they look to host the World Cup next year.
6 Santiago Carreras (Bath, Argentina): Despite an out-of-sorts season with Bath, he remains one of the most effective and elusive playmakers in the game. His ability to create moments out of very little, and skirt around defenders, is what sets him apart from many out there. For Argentina, he’s put in some brilliant displays, despite their overall lack of success, and at Bath, for the most part, he was pretty solid, although he did struggle with the physicality at times. Arguably a hot-or-cold player: if he’s on, he’s one of the best in the world; if he’s not, it’s best to take him off.
5 Damian McKenzie (Chiefs, New Zealand): He’s never really settled into the All Black team. With competition from Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo’unga, the number 10 shirt was never his for more than a short-term loan. But now, aged 31, he finally appears to have found his home. At full-back, McKenzie brings all the playing ability he displays at the Chiefs, and combines it with the extra space he gets at 15 to become one of the most trusted and attacking-minded players in the game. His added quality from the boot comes in extremely handy, particularly when the All Blacks need a long-range goal slotted. For club, McKenzie was once again a part of a Chiefs’ loss in the Super Rugby final, but was – as always – a key part of getting them there.
4 Hugo Keenan (Leinster, Ireland): The Leinster full-back took a little while off 15s rugby in 2024 to focus on sevens, as he competed for Ireland in the Olympic Games. After a relatively successful time in France, he returned to the full-sized game, gaining more success with both Leinster and Ireland. His re-engagement with the game saw him tour with the British and Irish Lions in 2025, when he returned from injury to start all three Tests against Australia. Again in 2026, he was out with injury, only returning in round 13 of the United Rugby Championship (URC). Still, after bowing out of the Champions Cup final and winning the league with Leinster, he returned to the Ireland starting team, winning two further caps against Australia and New Zealand, and scoring a try against both.
Top 3 full-backs
3 Will Jordan (Crusaders, New Zealand): One of the most reliable players in the game and probably the best try scorer. His work in the air is also excellent, while his athleticism is almost unmatched on this list. Although he’s reverted to the wing for the All Blacks, for the Crusaders he remains the number one choice at the back. His key strength is knowing exactly where the ball will end up in attack, and ensuring he is the man to collect it. Perhaps he is more effective on the wing due to the lack of constraints, but he can be equally effective at 15.
2 Thomas Ramos (Toulouse, France): Despite looking like the most relaxed man on the field, he is far from the calmest. The Toulouse and France star is one of the most competitive animals in the game, and will fight for every last inch of the field. His winning mentality is part of what makes him such an effective player, and why he’s so highly rated. The 31-year-old is technically superb too, with a place-kicking ratio that exceeds almost all other top-level kickers, and hands that make him an equally effective fly-half. Combine his match-winning mentality, brilliant handling skills, calmness under pressure, and expert kicking abilities, and you have a world-class player.
1 Damian Willemse (Stormers, South Africa): He may have been injured midway through the Greatest Rivalry series, but before that he was in the form of his life. There’s not a full-back alive who would fancy themselves against him in the air, and not a defender around who would trust their chances in a one-on-one. He’s held the Springbok 15 shirt for quite some time now, and at 28, he’s coming into the form of his life. He can play anywhere in the back line and has done so multiple times for the Stormers and South Africa over the years, proving that he is an all-round back.