List of leading Rugby union Test try scorers
Encyclopedia
This is a list of the leading try scorers in rugby union
Test match
es, with a minimum of 30 Test tries. Rugby statistician Stuart Farmer of SFMS Limited, which provides an extensive database of international rugby statistics for the ESPN-owned rugby site Scrum.com, gives the following definition of a "Test match":
Table including matches played to 21 October 2011
Players who are still active at international level are in bold. Players who are active in rugby union at club level, but not at international level, are in italics.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
Test match
Test match (rugby union)
Test match in rugby union is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport....
es, with a minimum of 30 Test tries. Rugby statistician Stuart Farmer of SFMS Limited, which provides an extensive database of international rugby statistics for the ESPN-owned rugby site Scrum.com, gives the following definition of a "Test match":
Top try scorers
Some caveats must be noted:- Two of the three countries that participate in the Tri Nations, namely AustraliaAustralian Rugby UnionThe Australian Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Australia. It was founded in 1949 and is a member of the International Rugby Board the sport's governing body. It consists of eight member unions, representing each state and territory...
and New Zealand, have fairly rigid policies that prohibit the selection of players for Test squads who are not competing in domestic rugby (the Super 14Super 14Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
and/or Air New Zealand CupAir New Zealand CupThe ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
). The other Tri Nations participant, South AfricaSouth African Rugby UnionThe South African Rugby Union is the governing body for rugby union in South Africa and is affiliated to the International Rugby Board...
, has a similar though somewhat less rigid policy. Four listed players, New Zealanders Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Jonah Lomu and Tana Umaga and Australian Chris Latham, are currently ineligible for national selection because they are playing club rugby outside their home countries. Lomu, Latham and Umaga have declared international retirement. Howlett, Rokocoko and Sivivatu have not formally declared international retirement, but have signed a contracts with foreign clubs and are thus not elegible at this point. - Sources differ as to the number of tries scored by ArgentinaArgentina national rugby union teamThe Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
wing José María Núñez PiossekJosé María Núñez PiossekJosé María Núñez Piossek is an Argentine rugby union footballer, currently playing for Scottish club Glasgow Warriors in the Magners League. He has also represented the Argentina national team, including being a part of their 2003 Rugby World Cup squad...
. His national federation, the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR), credits him with 30 tries in 28 Tests. Scrum.com credits him with 29 tries in 28 Tests. A closer examination of both sources indicates that the difference is due to another match—the Pumas' Test against ChileChile national rugby union teamThe Chile national rugby union team is a rugby union nation representing Chile. They first played in 1935 and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Chile is administered by the Federación de Rugby de Chile...
on 25 April 2004. The UAR credits him with 3 tries in that match, while Scrum.com credits him with only two. The correct number seems to be 2, since the points do not add up to the correct total when counting three tries. Núñez Piossek scored one try against the British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
in 20052005 British and Irish Lions tour to New ZealandIn 2005 the British and Irish Lions rugby union team toured New Zealand for the first time since 1993, playing 7 tour matches against first and second division clubs from the National Provincial Championship series, 1 tour match against the national New Zealand all Māori club, and 3 official test...
, which would bring his total to 30, but the UAR did not award test caps for this game (unlike the Home Unions).
Table including matches played to 21 October 2011
Players who are still active at international level are in bold. Players who are active in rugby union at club level, but not at international level, are in italics.
| Rank | Caps | Tries | Player | International team | Position | Source(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58 | 69 | Daisuke Ohata Daisuke Ohata Daisuke Ohata is a former Japanese rugby union player. He usually played rugby at wing, and sometimes centre, for Japan national rugby union team. He made his name internationally as a speedy ace in the IRB World Sevens Series, and went on to become a regular member of the national team... |
Wing | ||
| 2 | 101 | 64 | David Campese David Campese David Ian Campese , also known as Campo, is a former Australian rugby union player. Campese was capped by the Wallabies 101 times, and held the world record for the most tries in test matches until Daisuke Ohata scored his 65th try playing for Japan on 14 May 2006... |
Wing | ||
| 3 | 90 | 59 | Shane Williams Shane Williams Shane Mark Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Ospreys and who can also play scrum-half. Williams is the record try scorer for the Wales national team and he is third on the international list of leading Rugby union Test try scorers behind Daisuke Ohata... |
(57) British and Irish Lions British and Irish Lions The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... (2) |
Wing | |
| 4 | 91 | 50 | Rory Underwood Rory Underwood Rory Underwood MBE is a former English rugby union footballer who played wing for, most notably, Leicester Tigers and Bedford. He represented England and the British Lions and is a former Royal Air Force pilot.... |
(49) British and Irish Lions British and Irish Lions The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... (1) |
Wing | |
| 5 | 62 | 49 | Doug Howlett Doug Howlett Douglas Charles Howlett is a professional New Zealand rugby union player of Tongan descent. He is primarily a wing but he has also covered fullback at national and international levels. He currently plays in Ireland with Munster. He is the brother of former Tongan rugby league international Phil... |
Wing | ||
| 6 | 58 | 46 | Christian Cullen Christian Cullen Christian Mathias Cullen is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. He played most of his rugby at fullback for New Zealand , for the Hurricanes in the Super 12, and for Manawatu, Wellington and later Munster at first-class level. He was nicknamed the Paekakariki Express... |
Fullback | ||
| = | 68 | 46 | Joe Rokocoko Joe Rokocoko Josevata Taliga "Joe" Rokocoko is a professional New Zealand rugby union player. Rokocoko is known for his speed and strength which has accounted for his prolific try strike rate... |
Wing | ||
| = | 123 | 46 | Brian O'Driscoll Brian O'Driscoll Brian O'Driscoll is an Irish professional rugby union player. He is the current captain of the Ireland Rugby team and captained Leinster Rugby until the start of 2008 season. He also captained the British and Irish Lions for their 2005 tour of New Zealand... |
(45) British and Irish Lions British and Irish Lions The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... (1) |
Centre | |
| 9 | 60 | 44 | Jeff Wilson Jeff Wilson (sportsman) -Cricket career:Wilson played his provincial cricket for Otago, as an all-rounder - both a hard-hitting batsman and a right-arm fast-medium pace bowler. His international appearances were in four games of a One Day Internationals series against Australia in the 1992-93 season, and again in an ODI... |
Wing / Fullback | ||
| 10 | 68 | 43 | Hirotoki Onozawa Hirotoki Onozawa Hirotoki Onozawa plays rugby union at wing for Suntory Sungoliath in the Top League... |
Wing | ||
| 11 | 103 | 41 | Gareth Thomas Gareth Thomas (rugby player) Gareth Thomas , known as Alfie, is a retired Welsh professional rugby footballer who played rugby league for the Crusaders RL in the Super League. He also previously played rugby union for the Cardiff Blues and as a fullback, wing or centre.On 26 May 2007, Thomas surpassed Gareth Llewellyn as the... |
(40) British and Irish Lions British and Irish Lions The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... (1) |
Utility back | |
| 12 | 74 | 40 | Bryan Habana Bryan Habana Bryan Gary Habana is a South African rugby union player who plays as a wing for the Western Province in the Currie Cup, the Stormers in Super 14, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup champions Springboks... |
Wing | ||
| = | 78 | 40 | Chris Latham Chris Latham (rugby player) Chris Latham is an Australian rugby union player, who played fullback for the Worcester Warriors, following a long career with the Queensland Reds and Australia.... |
Fullback | ||
| 14 | 89 | 38 | Joost van der Westhuizen Joost van der Westhuizen Joost van der Westhuizen is a former South African rugby union footballer who was the Springboks' first choice scrum-half in the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2000s. He was capped 89 times for the Springboks and scored 38 tries... |
Scrum-half | ||
| = | 93 | 38 | Serge Blanco Serge Blanco Serge Blanco is a former rugby union footballer who played fullback for Biarritz Olympique and the French national side, gaining 93 caps, 81 of them at fullback. His alternative position was wing.... |
Fullback | ||
| 16 | 63 | 37 | Jonah Lomu Jonah Lomu Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game... |
Wing | ||
| 17 | 74 | 36 | Tana Umaga Tana Umaga Jonathan Ionatana Falefasa "Tana" Umaga, ONZM is a New Zealand rugby union footballer and former captain of the national team, the All Blacks. He played for the Hurricanes starting with the Super 12's inception in 1996 and took over the captaincy in 2003... |
Wing / Centre | ||
| 18 | 63 | 35 | John Kirwan | Wing | ||
| 19 | 79 | 34 | Ieuan Evans Ieuan Evans Ieuan Evans is a former rugby union footballer who played on the wing for Wales. He is regarded as one of the best Welsh wingers of all time, despite playing through a disappointing era of Welsh rugby. A prolific try scorer at International level, Evans is listed 19th in the world on the all-time... |
(33) British and Irish Lions British and Irish Lions The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... (1) |
Wing | |
| = | 100 | 34 | Mils Muliaina Mils Muliaina Junior Malili Muliaina , better known as Mils Muliaina, is a rugby union player. He plays for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and New Zealand at international level. He was born in Salesi, Samoa, then moved with his family to Invercargill, New Zealand, at the age of two... |
Fullback | ||
| 21 | 48 | 33 | Sitiveni Sivivatu Sitiveni Sivivatu Sitiveni Waica Sivivatu is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, playing on the position of a wing. He was largely successful in the 2005 Super 12 season playing for the Chiefs, and acquired a starting position in the All Blacks. He has scored 29 tries in 45 tests... |
Pacific Islanders Pacific Islanders rugby union team The Pacific Islanders rugby union team is an international rugby union team, started in 2004, that represents Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. While Niue and the Cook Islands are not members of the Pacific Tri-Nations competition, they did supply players to the squad for the Pacific Islanders' tour in 2004... (4) (29) |
Wing | |
| 22 | 69 | 32 | Jaque Fourie Jaque Fourie Jaque Fourie is a South African rugby union footballer. He is a versatile backline player whose usual position is in the centres... |
Centre | ||
| = | 69 | 32 | Philippe Saint-André Philippe Saint-André Philippe Georges Saint-André is a former French rugby union footballer who earned 69 test caps for France between 1990 and 1997, 34 of them as captain. His preferred position was wing but he could also play at Fullback. After retiring, Saint-André found success as a rugby coach in both England and... |
Wing | ||
| 24 | 57 | 31 | Vincent Clerc Vincent Clerc Vincent Clerc is a French rugby union player who plays on the wing.-Biography:Born in the city of Échirolles, suburb of the south of Grenoble , Clerc first played rugby at FC Grenoble, helping them reach the Top 16 before moving to Toulouse in 2002, where he has been playing ever since... |
Wing | ||
| = | 57 | 31 | Ben Cohen | Wing | ||
| = | 58 | 31 | Will Greenwood Will Greenwood William John Heaton "Will" Greenwood, MBE is an English former rugby union footballer of the 1990s and 2000s.-Career:... |
(31) British and Irish Lions British and Irish Lions The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... (0) |
Centre | |
| = | 73 | 31 | Jeremy Guscott Jeremy Guscott Jeremy Clayton Guscott is a former rugby union outside centre who played for Bath, England and the British and Irish Lions. On rare occasions, he has also appeared for England on the wing.... |
(30) British and Irish Lions British and Irish Lions The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... (1) |
Centre | |
| 28 | 58 | 30 | Drew Mitchell Drew Mitchell Drew Alan Mitchell is an Australian rugby union player. He usually plays on the wing or as fullback. Up to the 2006 season he played for the Queensland Reds. He played for the Western Force for the 2007–2009 Super 14 seasons. In 2010 he is playing for the New South Wales Waratahs franchise... |
Wing | ||
| = | 56 | 30 | Jason Robinson Jason Robinson Jason Thorpe Robinson OBE is an English former international rugby union and rugby league player of the 1990s and 2000s. Playing at wing or fullback, he won fifty-one rugby union international test caps in total for England, and in rugby league he won twelve caps for Great Britain and seven for... |
(28) British and Irish Lions British and Irish Lions The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales... (2) |
Wing / Fullback | |
| = | 67 | 30 | Lote Tuqiri | Wing / Centre | ||
| = | 80 | 30 | Tim Horan Tim Horan Tim Horan AM is a former Australian rugby union footballer. He played for the Queensland Reds in the Super 12, and represented Australia, he was one of the best centres in the world throughout the 1990s due to his attacking prowess, formidable defence and playmaking ability.As well as inside... |
Centre | ||
| = | 86 | 30 | Joe Roff Joe Roff Joe Roff is a retired Australian rugby union footballer and a product of the Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Union Club in Canberra, who played on the wing or at fullback for Brumbies and Australia and played 5 tests as a centre in the early part of his test career... |
Wing | ||
| = | 111 | 30 | Philippe Sella Philippe Sella Philippe Sella is a French former rugby union player, who held the record for most international appearances until beaten by Jason Leonard. He became a member of the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1999, and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2008.Sella joined Saracens in 1996 from French side Agen... |
Centre | ||
| Sources other than those already cited: http://www.sportsrecords.co.uk/rugbyunion/rugbyunion5x.htm. Last updated: October 21, 2011. | ||||||
Players nearing 30 tries
This secondary list is limited to players currently active at international level with at least 25 Test tries. It is current as of July 17, 2011.- Dan Carter, - 29
- Stirling MortlockStirling MortlockStirling Austin Mortlock is an Australian professional rugby union player. He has scored over 1,000 points in Super Rugby, and nearly 500 test points for the Wallabies. Mortlock is a former Wallaby and Brumbies captain, and the current captain of the Melbourne Rebels.-Early life:Mortlock began...
, – 29 - Matt GiteauMatt GiteauMatthew Giteau is an Australian rugby union footballer, a former international who now plays for the French Top 14 side Toulon. He attended St Edmund's College, Canberra, which has produced other Wallabies including George Gregan, Matt Henjak and the former rugby league star and now coach Ricky...
, – 29
Forwards with the most tries
Nearly all the top try scorers are backline players, but some forwards have scored numerous tries. Here is a non-comprehensive list:- Takashi KikutaniTakashi Kikutaniis a Japanese rugby union player. He plays as number-eight or flanker for Toyota Verblitz.He has currently 33 caps for Japan, with 18 tries scored, 90 points on aggregate. His first match was a 44-29 win over Spain, at 5 November 2005, in Tokyo, in a friendly match, aged 25 years old. He is also...
, - 23 tries in 48 tests (2005-) - Colin CharvisColin CharvisColin Charvis is a former captain of the Welsh national rugby union team and also played for the British and Irish lions. A back row forward, Charvis was equally adept as a flanker or as the no...
, and British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
- 22 tries in 96 tests (1996–2007) - Carlo ChecchinatoCarlo ChecchinatoCarlo Checchinato was an Italian rugby union player and is the current team manager for the Italian national team....
, - 21 tries in 83 tests (1990–2004) - Richie McCawRichie McCawRichard Hugh "Richie" McCaw is a New Zealand rugby union player, and is the current test captain. He plays in the openside flanker position for the New Zealand, Crusaders and Canterbury rugby teams...
, - 19 tries in 103 tests (2001-) - Mamuka GorgodzeMamuka GorgodzeMamuka Gorgodze is a Georgian rugby union footballer, currently playing in the top French professional rugby competition, the Top 14, for the Montpellier Hérault club. He joined Montpellier in 2005. His usual position is lock or number eight.Gorgodze is also an international player for the...
, - 19 tries in 41 tests (2003-) - Rolando MartinRolando MartinRolando Abel Martín is an Argentine rugby union footballer. He was a part of the Pumas' famous back row of the modern era. His career includes three Rugby World Cups and 76 Tests for the national side...
, - 18 tries in 86 tests (1994–2003) - Zinzan BrookeZinzan BrookeZinzan Valentine Brooke is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer who played at number eight...
, - 17 tries in 58 tests (1987–1997) - Semo SititiSemo SititiSemo Sititi is a rugby union footballer in Samoa. He was born in Moto'otua.-Career:He is a flanker and currently plays for Ricoh in Japan, having previously played for Celtic League side Border Reivers and Manu Samoa internationally. He made his test debut in 1999 against Japan in Apia, Samoa...
, - 17 tries in 63 tests (1999–2009) - Neil BackNeil BackNeil Antony Back is a former international rugby union footballer for England, who also played for Leicester Tigers, and captained both England and Leicester during his career....
, and British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
- 17 tries in 71 tests (1994–2005) - Lawrence DallaglioLawrence DallaglioLorenzo Bruno Nero "Lawrence" Dallaglio, OBE is a retired English rugby union player and former captain of the English national team. He played as a flanker or number eight for London Wasps and never played for another club, having arrived at Sudbury as a teenager...
, and British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
- 17 tries in 88 tests (1995–2007) - Ian KirkpatrickIan KirkpatrickIan Andrew Kirkpatrick is a former New Zealand rugby union player, who was captain of the All Blacks.Kirkpatrick began his first-class career in 1966 at the age of 20 playing for Poverty Bay. One year later in he moved to Canterbury and established himself in the local provincial team...
, - 16 tries in 39 tests (1967–1977) - Diego OrmaecheaDiego OrmaecheaDiego Ormaechea is a former Uruguayan rugby union player and a current coach. He played as a number eight. His profession is Veterinary Surgeon specialised in Racing Horses. He is one of the top veterinary surgeons in South America in his discipline.Ormaechea is considered the greatest Uruguayan...
, - 16 tries in 73 tests (1989–1999) - Keith WoodKeith WoodKeith Gerard Mallinson Wood and educated at St Munchin's College, Limerick is a former international rugby union footballer who played hooker for Ireland, the Lions, Garryowen, Harlequins and Munster....
, and British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
- 15 tries in 64 tests (1994–2003) - Vyacheslav Grachev, - 14 tries in 40 tests (1993-)
- Marius TincuMarius TincuMarius Tincu is a Romanian rugby union footballer. He plays as a hooker. Since 2007, he holds dual French-Romanian citizenship....
, - 14 tries in 50 tests (2002-) - Josh KronfeldJosh KronfeldJoshua Adrian Kronfeld is a former rugby union footballer who represented New Zealand at international level and Otago, the Highlanders and Leicester at first-class level...
, - 14 tries in 54 tests (1995–2000) - Mauro BergamascoMauro BergamascoMauro Bergamasco is an Italian rugby union footballer. He predominantly plays as an open-side flanker, although his versatility means has also played a number of international games on the wing, and started at scrum-half in an infamously error-prone performance...
, - 14 tries in 88 tests (1998-) - Jeremy PaulJeremy PaulJeremy Paul is a New Zealand-born Australia rugby union player. He played hooker and prop for the wallabies and the ACT Brumbies.At the end of 2005, Paul was awarded the John Eales Medal, receiving 194 votes from his teammates...
, - 14 tries in 72 tests (1998–2006) - Pedro SporlederPedro SporlederPedro Luis Sporleder is a former rugby union footballer and currently businessman from Argentina.He played for the Argentina national rugby union team on 77 occasions, scoring 12 tries....
, - 14 tries in 78 tests (1990–2003) - Olivier MagneOlivier MagneOlivier Claude C. Magne is a French former rugby union footballer and a current coach.Magne was a rugby god and back row forward, known especially for his speed and handling in open field play. He represented 89 times, scoring 14 tries.He joined his hometown team, Stade Aurillacois, as a boy in...
, - 14 tries in 89 tests (1997–2007) - Martyn WilliamsMartyn WilliamsMartyn Elwyn Williams is a Welsh international rugby union player. A flanker, he plays for Cardiff Blues and the Wales national rugby union team as an open-side flanker...
, and British and Irish LionsBritish and Irish LionsThe British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
- 14 tries in 103 tests (1996-) - Federico MendezFederico MendezFederico Mendez , also known as Freddie Mendez is an Argentine rugby union footballer.Méndez played professional rugby in South Africa, England and France...
, - 14 tries in 73 tests (1990–2004)
See also
- List of leading Rugby union Test point scorers
- List of leading Rugby union drop goal scorers
- List of rugby union Test caps leaders
- List of top England international rugby union points scorers and try scorers