Top 10 England rugby union players

The likes of Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson and Rory Underwood have shone for the Red Rose.

Published Mar 28, 2020

As with all sports English rugby union has been brought to a halt by the coronavirus crisis, offering the opportunity to reflect on some of the greats the nation has produced down the years.

Here the PA news agency picks 10 of the finest players to have worn the Red Rose.

Wavell Wakefield (1920-27, 31 caps)

Wavell Wakefield (left) manned the barricades against professionalism, PA

David Duckham (1969-76, 39 caps)

David Duckham was at home in the 1973 Barbarians team populated with Welsh genius (PA)

Peter Winterbottom (1982-93, 58 caps)

Other players may have grabbed the headlines, but Peter Winterbottom was a rare talent (Adam Butler/PA)

Rory Underwood (1984-96, 85 caps)

RAF pilot Rory Underwood was the most devastating finisher of them all (Danny Lawson/PA)

Jeremy Guscott (1989-1999, 65 caps)

There were few more gifted players than Jeremy Guscott (Tom Hevezi/PA)

Martin Johnson (1993-2003, 84 caps)

Martin Johnson - probably the greatest of them all — Martin Johnson – probably the greatest of them all (David Davies/PA)

Lawrence Dallaglio (1995-2007, 85 caps)

Few players have been more passionate about playing for England than Lawrence Dallaglio (David Davies/PA)

Jason Robinson (2001-2007, 51 caps)

Jason Robinson was the most successful dual code international — Jason Robinson remains the most successful dual-code international (David Davies/PA)

Jonny Wilkinson (1998-2011, 91 caps)

Jonny Wilkinson mentor's England's current fly-halves — Jonny Wilkinson mentor’s England’s current fly-halves (Clive Gee/PA)

Maro Itoje (2016-present, 38 caps)

Maro Itoje is a towering presence for Eddie Jones' England — Maro Itoje is a towering presence for Eddie Jones’ England (David Davies/PA)