It almost an impossible task to try and successfully quantify the individual impact of some remarkable international rugby captains who have graced the game.
Nevertheless, this is how we would rank the top three of all time.
1 Siya Kolisi
When Siya Kolisi was first appointed as Springbok captain in 2018, it was a decision that even he admitted caught him by surprise. Yet, since then, he has truly redefined the role of a global leader. Besides having truly united the nation in a golden era of Springbok rugby, he has led the team to back-to-back World Cup titles, three Rugby Championship crowns and a British & Irish Lions series victory among a host of other special achievements. As a philanthropist and global icon, he has redefined what can be achieved as a sportsman and leader, and that is why we believe he can already be ranked as the game’s greatest captain of all time.
2 Richie McCaw
When you think of all the greats that have been produced by the All Blacks, one name stands out head and shoulders above the rest: Richie McCaw. Besides leading the team to a record 131 victories under his leadership, the All Blacks also incredibly won the Rugby Championship 10 times, the Bledisloe Cup 13 times, and the Rugby World Cup in both 2011 and 2015. In so many ways, he set the standard for inspirational captaincy and global domination by leading from the front on and off the field. Another true global ambassador for the sport who delivered so much blood, sweat and tears for the All Blacks.
3 Martin Johnson
When it comes to captains who teammates would go to ‘war’ for, Martin Johnson has to rank right up there. The iconic England skipper played a crucial leadership role in the successful British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 1997, while leading England to a Grand Slam in the 2003 Six Nations, the same year they won the Rugby World Cup for the first time. Johnson was both feared and revered as player, while his tactical acumen as a captain remains the stuff of legend. He was a true Hall of Famer.
