New Zealand's rugby team, the All Blacks, are generally considered one of, if not the greatest, rugby teams ever. Against every other international side, the All Blacks have a winning record, and while the team isn't the most successful ever at the Rugby World Cup (that honour goes to South Africa, which has won it 4 times), they've been crowned champions 3 times. At the Tri Nations and The Rugby Championship, however, New Zealand are untouchable, having won the tournament an incredible 20 times. Australia and South Africa have each won the tournament 4 times, and Argentina has never won it.
Arguably, the best rugby nation, New Zealand's side, is regularly made up of incredible players. While rugby is certainly a team sport and you can't win without a good team, some of the greatest ever rugby players have also contributed to the team's success. Here are some of the greatest ever All Blacks. We could have easily included more and rather than ranking the 10 that we've chosen here, we've kept them in alphabetical order by their first name. This list features some of the most famous All Black players, celebrating All Blacks legends who helped shape rugby history.
Key Takeaways
- Famous All Black players have helped establish New Zealand as one of the most successful teams in rugby history
- All Blacks legends like Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, and Jonah Lomu are known for both their records and their influence on the game
- The All Blacks have maintained a win rate of over 75 per cent in international rugby
- Success comes from a combination of individual talent, strong team culture, and consistent development systems
- Many famous All Blacks have succeeded across different eras, adapting to changes in the modern game
- Skills such as decision-making, fitness, and mental resilience are common across All Blacks legends
- The legacy of these players continues to shape how rugby is played and coached worldwide
| Player | Position | Caps | Points | World Cups Won | Era |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beauden Barrett | Fly-half/Fullback | 119 | 705 | 1 (2015) | Modern |
| Christian Cullen | Fullback | 60 | 266 | 0 | Professional Era |
| Colin Meads | Lock | 55 | 0 | 0 | Early Era |
| Dan Carter | Fly-half | 112 | 1598 | 2 (2011, 2015) | Professional Era |
| Grant Fox | Fly-half | 46 | 645 | 1 (1987) | 1980s |
| Jonah Lomu | Wing | 73 | 215 | 0 | Professional Era |
| Kieran Read | Number 8 | 127 | 130 | 2 (2011, 2015) | Modern |
| Richie McCaw | Flanker | 148 | 135 | 2 (2011, 2015) | Modern |
| Sean Fitzpatrick | Hooker | 92 | 60 | 1 (1987) | 1990s |
| Zinzan Brooke | Number 8/Flanker | 58 | 89 | 1 (1987) | 1990s |
Beauden Barrett (1991- )
Beauden Barrett was World Rugby Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017 and was nominated in 2018. Only Richie McCaw has won the award in consecutive years. He was part of the New Zealand team that won the 2015 Rugby World Cup, came third in 2019 in Japan, and was the runner-up in 2023 in France. Since 2012, he's represented the All Blacks over 100 times (119 at the time of writing) and usually plays as a first five-eighth or a fullback. In domestic Rugby, he's played for Taranaki, Hurricanes, and Blues in New Zealand and then for Suntory Sungliath and Toyoa Verblitz in Japan.
The All Blacks have built their reputation on consistency, discipline, and a strong rugby culture. From grassroots development to elite international performance, New Zealand produces players who understand the game at a high level. Their ability to adapt, maintain fitness, and perform under pressure has enabled the famous All Blacks to succeed across eras. The team also places a strong emphasis on humility and collective responsibility, which helps maintain standards over time.
Christian Cullen (1976- )
Christian Cullen usually played as a fullback and is one of the highest try-scorers in international rugby. He played for the All Blacks between 1996 and 2003, earning 60 caps and scoring 266 points. In the Tri Nations Series, only Richie McCaw has scored more tries. Cullen was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express due to his speed, agility, and seemingly unstoppable try-scoring ability. He'd exploit gaps in defence using his speed and acceleration. This came in particularly useful when counter-attacking. He was the International Rugby Board Player of the Year in 1997.
in international rugby
Colin Meads (1936-2017)
Colin Meads mostly played in the lock forward position for the All Blacks between 1957 and 1971, earning 55 caps. Many consider Meads to be New Zealand's greatest-ever rugby player and he is part of the World Rugby Hall of Fame and the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame. At 1.92m and 102kg, Meads was a force to be reckoned with, famous for being incredibly tough. In a match against South Africa, he fractured his arm and played on. He only missed two matches due to this injury and went on to return to playing the third match with his arm still broken! In a sport where players are incredibly tough, Meads wasn't just tough; he was incredibly good. His nickname was Pinetree because of his toughness and stature.
Dan Carter (1982- )
Dan Carter played as a first-five-eighth and second-five-eighth, and represented New Zealand between 2003 and 2015, with 112 caps and 1,598 points. Carter won the Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 2011 and 2015 and the Tri Nations/The Rugby Championship 9 times between 2003 and 2014. He is the highest-scoring rugby union player of all time, averaging over 14 points per match. During his 112 caps, he scored 29 tries, 293 conversions, 281 penalties, and 8 drop goals. The English player Owen Farrell is currently over 300 points behind Dan Carter and is unlikely to come close to beating Carter's record. In domestic rugby, he played for Canterbury, the Crusaders, Perpignan, Racing 92, and the Kobelco Steelers.
points for New Zealand.
Grant Fox (1962- )
Grant Fox, nicknamed “The Iceman”, was particularly famous with the All Blacks for his kicking. Between 1984 and 1993, he earned 46 caps for the All Blacks and scored 645 points (1 try, 118 conversions, 128 penalties, and 7 drop goals). With New Zealand, Fox won the Rugby World Cup in 1987. In this tournament, he was the leading point scorer.
Jonah Lomu (1975-2015)
Jonah Lomu is not only often considered New Zealand's greatest rugby player, but also the greatest rugby player of all time. In most conversations, the top spot is hotly debated between him and Richie McCaw. Lomu was influential both on and off the pitch, and for those outside of the world of rugby, Jonah Lomu was an ambassador for the sport and often the only rugby player they could name.
He earned 73 caps for New Zealand between 1994 and 2002, scoring 215 points. Despite the All Blacks' success at the Rugby World Cup in other eras, Lomu played at a time when New Zealand finished runners-up in 1995 in South Africa and third in 1999 in Wales. Not only one of New Zealand's greatest players (if not the greatest), Lomu is definitely the greatest All Black to never have lifted the Rugby World Cup.
The lack of success at the Rugby World Cup doesn't take anything away from Lomu's achievements. He was a surprising player, combining size and speed in a way that seemed counterintuitive. His playing was best described as a “freight train in ballet shoes”. Sadly, Lomu passed away aged just 40 following a heart attack caused by a kidney condition.
All Blacks legends have shaped how rugby is played around the world. Players like Jonah Lomu changed expectations around size and speed, while Richie McCaw influenced how breakdown play is approached. These famous All Blacks didn’t just perform well individually; they shifted tactics, inspired coaching changes, and influenced younger generations of players. Their influence can still be seen in modern rugby systems and playing styles today.
Kieran Read (1985- )
Kieran Read captained the All Blacks and, during his international career, represented New Zealand 127 times. Read was an incredible leader for New Zealand, and his knowledge and understanding of the game made him tactically brilliant. On the pitch, he worked incredibly hard and was a consistent part of a hugely successful New Zealand side. With the All Blacks, he won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015 and was with the team in 2019 when they finished third in Japan. He won the Tri Nations/The Rugby Championship 9 times with New Zealand between 2010 and 2018.
Richie McCaw (1980- )
When it comes to debating the greatest All Black and the greatest rugby player of all time, Richie McCaw and Jonah Lomu are the two that are almost always in the conversation. Between 2001 and 2015, McCaw represented New Zealand 148 times, scoring 135 points.
He played as a flanker and a number 8. McCaw is one of the most-capped players of all time and won two Rugby World Cups with the All Blacks as well as seven tri-nation titles. He holds the record for the most matches as a captain with 110 and the most matches won with 131. In terms of stats, Richie McCaw is easily worthy of the title of New Zealand's greatest-ever rugby player, but rugby isn't just about numbers and the greatest rugby players back up their numbers with more qualitative aspects of the game.
He also showed amazing qualities on the pitch in tackling, ball-carrying, breakdown work, and decision-making, aspects of the game that aren't as measurable as appearances and points. He was also resilient, showing incredible mental toughness under pressure, and hardworking.
Sean Fitzpatrick (1963- )
Sean Fitzpatrick played for the All Blacks between 1986 and 1997. During that time, he made 92 appearances and scored 60 points. He was part of the side that won the Rugby World Cup in 1987 and two Tri Nations titles in 1996 and 1997. In 1992, he was made captain of the All Blacks and remained their captain until he retired. He played as a hooker, and his leadership skills were put to good use both on and off the pitch.
Zinzan Brooke (1965- )
Zinan Brooke is a number 8 and flanker who played for New Zealand between 1987 and 1997. In 58 appearances, he scored 89 points. His handling skills, kicking ability, and running with the ball were unusual for a forward at the time, but he inspired future generations of rugby players with his innovative approach to the game. Following a drop goal at Wembley Stadium in England, where football is usually played, he remains the only rugby player to "score a goal" at Wembley.
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While each player has their own strengths, many famous All Black players share core attributes. These include strong decision-making, technical ability, and a deep understanding of positioning. Fitness and endurance are also crucial, especially given the pace of international rugby. On top of that, All Blacks legends are known for their mental resilience, allowing them to perform consistently in high-pressure matches. These shared qualities are part of what makes the team so successful over time.
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Michael Jones would rate higher than many on this list
Great little read 👍 so many amazing talented players for sure that list although be hard to choose a top 10 All Blacks players this list looks pretty good to me 👌👌