5 Rupeni Caucaunibuca

At his peak, Rupeni Caucaunibuca was one of the most devastating attacking forces rugby had ever seen. Nicknamed the Bua Bullet, the powerful Fijian winger possessed the rare combination of explosive pace and strength.

He captured global attention at the 2003 Rugby World Cup with spectacular solo tries against France and Scotland, earning a reputation as one of the most dangerous players of his era.

His career was later disrupted by disciplinary issues, injury and illness, but his ability was never in doubt.

Caucaunibuca reportedly recorded a personal best of 10.4 seconds over 100 metres, while his extraordinary pace was also reflected in Rugby 06, where he was given a speed rating of 99.

4 Cheslin Kolbe

Cheslin Kolbe may not have the physical size of some of the players on this list, but few have combined raw speed, acceleration and footwork as effectively.

After beginning his career with Western Province and the Stormers, Kolbe also represented South Africa in sevens and won bronze at the 2016 Olympic Games before making his Springboks debut in 2018.

He has since played a major role in South Africa’s Rugby World Cup victories in 2019 and 2023, including scoring a memorable try in the 2019 final against England.

With a recorded top speed of 36.2km/h, or 22.5mph, Kolbe remains one of the most dangerous runners in world rugby.

3 Jonny May

Few England players could match Jonny May for outright pace during his prime. The former Gloucester and Leicester Tigers winger won 78 caps and scored 36 tries, leaving him as England’s second-highest try scorer.

May retired from international rugby in October 2023, but his speed was always one of his greatest weapons. During an England training session, he was reportedly clocked at 10.49 metres per second, or around 23mph, with his estimated 100-metre time sitting at approximately 10.71 seconds.

2 Will Jordan

Will Jordan has developed into one of the most lethal finishers in world rugby, combining outstanding acceleration with genuine top-end speed.

The All Blacks star reached a major milestone in July when he scored a hat-trick against Italy in Wellington, taking his international tally to 50 tries and moving beyond Doug Howlett as New Zealand’s record try scorer.

Jordan has reportedly reached speeds between 37km/h and 38.6km/h, or around 24mph, and has been tracked as the fastest player at the Crusaders.

1 Louis Rees-Zammit

Still only 25, Louis Rees-Zammit has already enjoyed an extraordinary career across two sports.

After leaving rugby union to pursue an NFL opportunity, the former Gloucester winger announced his return to the sport in July 2025 before joining Bristol Bears the following month.

His pace has always been his defining attribute. During Wales’ Test against Fiji in 2021, Rees-Zammit recorded a top speed of 24.2mph, placing him at the top of this list based on the speed figures provided.

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