The 50 best rugby players of the year, part five: 10-1

And here it is! The final part of our countdown of the 50 best rugby players in the world this year.

Last week saw the likes of Cheslin Kolbe, Richie Mo’unga, Dan Sheehan and Greg Alldritt succeeding, with Thomas Ramos and Franco Mostert the week before that.

Some big names have already gone. But there are 10 left to go and so here they are, counting down to Planet Rugby’s Player of the Year for 2023!

10. Levani Botia

Fiji’s outstanding performer almost dragged the team over the line single-handedly when it looked as though Georgia could spring a surprise. But not just for Fiji, Botia has been a one-man blitz of ball-poaching, tackling and thunderous carries for European champions La Rochelle also. A career year for a superb player.

9. Aaron Smith

8. Charles Ollivon

Also a career year of the Toulon giant, who finally returned from a horrible knee injury late last year and has remained blessedly injury-free since, save the occasional wear-and-tear issues. No longer national team captain, but a leader in deed in every way and a key part of the back-row for both club and country.

7. Damian Penaud

Once described as being too laid-back to succeed despite his talent, club and country have managed to focus his free spirit and have created a try-scoring monster. Now with Serge Blanco’s try-scoring record for France firmly in his sights, the Bordeaux winger is not just a lethal finisher but a creator, and is a critical part of France’s squad.

6. Will Jordan

New Zealand’s answer to the afore-mentioned Penaud, who was the top try-scorer at the World Cup just past. Jordan is a rare attacking talent who seems to be moving in a slightly different time-frame to others.

5. Bundee Aki

Ireland’s favourite Kiwi had a career year, culminating in being Ireland’s best player at the World Cup by some distance. So hard to put down in the centre and such a good tackler, Aki has also seemingly put away his occasional ability to tackle too high or let aggression get the better of him to become a fully-rounded squad leader.

4. Pieter-Steph du Toit

28 tackles in one match, where the ball was in play for less than 40; that’s a little under a tackle per minute. This was Du Toit’s stat line in the World Cup final of all places, an heroic effort from a tremendous player with a huge engine.

3. Antoine Dupont

Sometimes you wonder if France don’t over-burden their singular talent at scrum-half with the hopes of a nation, but Dupont will always let you know, in every game, with some moment of inspiration, just why he is so crucial. Good service is one thing, as is accurate kicking off both feet, but there are few scrum-halves who are left to play 80 minutes week in, week out. But Dupont always has something game-breaking to offer.

2. Eben Etzebeth

His try against France in the quarter-final was one of the defining moments of both his career and his country’s campaign. The fiercest competitor in a team full of them, Etzebeth’s bloody-mindedness and strength at the crucial moment in Paris have also been a feature of his year.

1. Ardie Savea

Ok, he didn’t win the World Cup. But he probably won every other honour going that he could have done this year. At times he seemed to be carrying New Zealand on his back in the final, but his measured leadership, consistency over the 12 Tests he started in the year, and his man-of-the-match performance in the defeat of Ireland mean he scoops our title for 2023.

READ MORE: The 50 best rugby players of the year, part four: 20-11