In a gritty revelation on their 'For The Love Of Rugby' show, England rugby legends Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have unveiled their list of the top 10 'triple hard b***ards' in rugby history, a term reserved for players who are not just tough, but exceptionally formidable. The list is dominated by South Africans, including the number one spot, but also features players from England, France, Namibia, Samoa, and Tonga.
Starting the countdown, Youngs shared that Julian White, now a peaceful farmer, was a feared competitor on the pitch, securing the 10th spot. "I saw him at the Leicester Christmas party... Had a good pint with him and he was on great form. I didn’t see any sign of aggression which means I think he has left that life behind," he explained.
At number nine, Courtney Lawes, who now enjoys life in France, was recognized not just for his impactful hits but also for his comprehensive skillset. "Courtney is renowned for big hits but in terms of being hard and jackalling and work rate and carrying and just mauling, doing the hard stuff, he was unbelievable," Cole added.
The discussion heated up as they ranked Thierry Dusautoir, Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese, and Eben Etzebeth from six to eight. Youngs praised Etzebeth, placing him at eight, "We all know how he plays and everything like that, but Dusautoir is your favourite player of all time and I can’t do that to you," he said to Cole.
"He could play in this era now... there will always be a place on the rugby field for somebody that just goes and hits things and makes it a physical contest,"
As they approached the top four, the names Chris Hala’ufia, Jacques Burger, Henry Tuilagi, and Bakkies Botha were spotlighted. Each player, known for their uncompromising toughness on the field, brought a unique element of fearlessness and physicality. Ultimately, the title of the 'Triple Hardest B***ard' was awarded to Bakkies Botha, noted for being "relentlessly horrible" and a figure you wouldn't want to encounter in a dark alley or on a rugby pitch.
Cole agreed, emphasizing Botha's enduring impact, "Bakkies Botha, I don’t think he ever got a red card. He is physical and tough and there is clips of bits of afters and stuff but you can be hard and clear breakdowns and hard carrying a ball and just defensively be relentlessly horrible and don’t stop coming and if needs be there will be a fight but there is very little fighting in rugby nowadays but there are other ways of doing it."
The list, rich with international flavor, reflects the global nature of rugby and the universal respect for those who exhibit extraordinary toughness and resilience on the field. It's a salute to the warriors of the sport, past and present, who have left an indelible mark through their sheer physicality and unyielding spirit.
For The Love Of Rugby – Ranking Rugby’s Hardest Players Of All Time:
2,100 posts
In a gritty revelation on their 'For The Love Of Rugby' show, England rugby legends Ben Youngs and Dan Cole have unveiled their list of the top 10 'triple hard b***ards' in rugby history, a term reserved for players who are not just tough, but exceptionally formidable. The list is dominated by South Africans, including the number one spot, but also features players from England, France, Namibia, Samoa, and Tonga.
Starting the countdown, Youngs shared that Julian White, now a peaceful farmer, was a feared competitor on the pitch, securing the 10th spot. "I saw him at the Leicester Christmas party... Had a good pint with him and he was on great form. I didn’t see any sign of aggression which means I think he has left that life behind," he explained.
At number nine, Courtney Lawes, who now enjoys life in France, was recognized not just for his impactful hits but also for his comprehensive skillset. "Courtney is renowned for big hits but in terms of being hard and jackalling and work rate and carrying and just mauling, doing the hard stuff, he was unbelievable," Cole added.
The discussion heated up as they ranked Thierry Dusautoir, Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese, and Eben Etzebeth from six to eight. Youngs praised Etzebeth, placing him at eight, "We all know how he plays and everything like that, but Dusautoir is your favourite player of all time and I can’t do that to you," he said to Cole.
"He could play in this era now... there will always be a place on the rugby field for somebody that just goes and hits things and makes it a physical contest,"
As they approached the top four, the names Chris Hala’ufia, Jacques Burger, Henry Tuilagi, and Bakkies Botha were spotlighted. Each player, known for their uncompromising toughness on the field, brought a unique element of fearlessness and physicality. Ultimately, the title of the 'Triple Hardest B***ard' was awarded to Bakkies Botha, noted for being "relentlessly horrible" and a figure you wouldn't want to encounter in a dark alley or on a rugby pitch.
Cole agreed, emphasizing Botha's enduring impact, "Bakkies Botha, I don’t think he ever got a red card. He is physical and tough and there is clips of bits of afters and stuff but you can be hard and clear breakdowns and hard carrying a ball and just defensively be relentlessly horrible and don’t stop coming and if needs be there will be a fight but there is very little fighting in rugby nowadays but there are other ways of doing it."
The list, rich with international flavor, reflects the global nature of rugby and the universal respect for those who exhibit extraordinary toughness and resilience on the field. It's a salute to the warriors of the sport, past and present, who have left an indelible mark through their sheer physicality and unyielding spirit.
For The Love Of Rugby – Ranking Rugby’s Hardest Players Of All Time: