Who Are The Greatest Six Nations Players Ever?
The Six Nations is known to be one of the pillars of rugby and is extremely popular throughout rugby betting, with the very best players battling it out to claim the title. With the 2025 tournament marking 25 years since the beginning of the Six Nations era, we are going to look at some of the best Six Nations players who drove their team and country to success or are seen as cultural heroes due to their impact on the team and nation.
Current France captain Antoine Dupont, who played a role in his side this year’s triumph to become champions for the 19th time despite suffering an injury against Ireland, is taking the game to the next level. He is one of the many names on this list! Even those who are not massively interested in the sport are still familiar with these cultural legends!
Antoine Dupont
Since his France debut in 2017, Dupont has been a player who has taken the French side to another level with his awe-inspiring skill set. A scrum-half who matches 20 try assists in the Six Nations with 20 turnovers is truly incredible, and with the frame of a bull, rapid acceleration and brilliant technical skills, he stands out as one of the best players in the Six Nations.
With the nickname of ‘The Martian’ because he is too good to be from Earth, Dupont is not just a legend throughout the Six Nations but also a gold medal holder. Dupont scored two tries as France beat Fiji to win gold at the Paris Olympic Games. With a win of the Six Nations Grand Slam and two Six Nations Championships, Antoine Dupont is one of the best players in sports history.
Jonny Wilkinson
One of England’s best Six Nations players, he won a whopping four Six Nations titles across his career, including one Grand Slam. He is synonymous with bringing England World Cup glory in Sydney in 2003, but his Six Nations record is incredibly impressive. In 2001, he won back-to-back titles with England, and he set overall records for points and conversions that are yet to be beat!
With incredible game management and a fierce work ethic, the fly-half was known to be one of the most dangerous opponents around. England’s Six Nations win rate with Wilkinson was 74%, a stat that truly shows just how dominant and impressive Jonny Wilkinson was.
Alun Wyn Jones
What makes Alun Wyn Jones stand out as one of the most impressive Six Nations players ever was his longevity and ability. Being the most-capped player in history, Alun Wyn Jones had a huge 67 appearances for Wales, with five Six Nations titles and three Grand Slams! As he made his Six Nations debut in 2007, his tally of 67 appearances in the championship itself is the second-most of any player, whilst he is the top tackler in the tournament’s history with 752 at a 93% success rate.
Brain O’Driscoll
Known to be elusive and formidable, O’Driscoll played with ease and was one of the most terrifying opponents to play due to his rapid pace and relentless nature! With one Grand Slam, two Six Nations titles, and 26 tries, he holds many records, such as 163 defenders beaten, 82 offloads, 53 turnovers, and 45 wins.
The centre’s final Six Nations campaign in 2014 provided a fairytale ending in Paris that saw O’Driscoll win his second championship on his 133rd and last cap for Ireland.
Sergio Parisse
Known as one of Italy’s greatest captains and described as a player who could have played in any of the Six Nations teams, Sergio Parisse was a bright spark on the poor Italian side. With only nine wins in over 16 years, Sergio never stopped with 785 carries, which is a whopping 244 more than any other player in the history of the competition, a testament to his resilience and determination.
Parisse was there for all the incredible Italian Six Nations moments, including their first away point against Wales in 2006, their first back-to-back wins in 2007 and their maiden away victory in Scotland.
With so many brilliant Six Nations players, it is no surprise that there is no ‘official’ undisputed best player. Each player brings their own unique traits and abilities, and with the Six Nations continuing, we are sure to see many more brilliant and fantastic players develop throughout the years and cement themselves into the history of the competition.
