Top 50 Women’s Rugby Players of 2025: Who made the cut?

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{{item.name}} Choosing the Best Women’s Rugby Players

As there are so many stars in the women’s game right now, and as the world’s top teams descend on England for the Women’s World Cup, who the best players are is of course a huge talking point, and as such, picking the 50 has to be carefully considered.

There are many different factors to take into account, from hard-built reputations that stem from years of service, to individual leadership qualities, unmatched talent, pure athletic ability and much more – in other words, it’s not a simple task.

This is why we’ve turned to our global panel of expert journalists, who after much discussion, analysis and evaluation have curated and agreed the list for the current Top 50 women’s rugby players in the world. These include: Lucy Lomax, Imogen Ainsworth, Finn Morton, Ned Lester, Franscisco Isaac, Willy Billiard and Joe Harvey.

Have your say on RugbyPass’ Top 50 Women’s Rugby Players

We know there’ll be disagreements and alternatives to what we’ve come up with, but it goes without saying, this isn’t a closed debate but an invitation to converse and celebrate the players that make up the game we love.

We should add there are a few caveats as to who is eligible for the rankings: 

• Players on the list must have played international 15s rugby this calendar year
• Players who are currently injured have been included   
• Off-field influence has not been taken into consideration for this list, sorry Ilona. (Please see our honourable mentions list!)

[{“id”:”7303″,”name”:”Maya Stewart”,”show”:”false”,”link”:”https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/maya-stewart\/”,”country”:”Australia”,”team”:”159″,”copy1″:”Maya Stewart is the most prolific try-scorer in Wallaroos history, breaking that record during a series of standout performances in 2024. Stewart was named the Wallaroos Player of the Year after scoring in seven consecutive appearances, including a try against Scotland that helped Australia take the WXV 2 title.\n\nAt club level, Stewart starred for the NSW Waratahs during their run to a record sixth women\u2019s title. While the winger picked up an unfortunate knee injury during the build-up to this year\u2019s World Cup, head coach Jo Yapp remains confident Stewart will be available to play at the showpiece event.”,”copy3″:”\”Maya Stewart, what she did on the weekend was amazing. The pace, sidestep, power, (this Wallaroos team) has got everything\u201d\n\n- Siya Kolisi, Springboks men\u2019s captain”,”copy2″:”Stewart couldn\u2019t believe it when global music star SZA, with more than 23 million followers on Instagram, shared a highlight reel of the Wallaroos winger. The RugbyPass clip shows Stewart racing away to score a stunning try against Wales in WXV 2″,”image”:”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/players\/head\/7303.png.webp?maxw=444″,”number”:41,”hasCopy1″:true,”hasCopy2″:true,”hasCopy3″:true,”icons”:[“https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/flags\/Australia.png.webp”,”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/team-images\/logos\/png\/1016.png.webp?maxw=60&v=1725877242″]},{“id”:”6694″,”name”:”Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi”,”show”:”false”,”link”:”https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/vittoria-ostuni-minuzzi\/”,”country”:”Italy”,”team”:”111″,”copy1″:”The Italian speedster has starred for the Azzurre since she was 19, scoring two tries in her first Rugby World Cup in 2021 (played in 2022), and has been a standout presence ever since.\n\nOstuni Minuzzi\u2019s vibrant energy pumps life into her backline and despite being only 23, the dynamic full back has deeply impacted Italy\u2019s performances in recent years. She is also great as a defensive unit due to her tenacity, never-give-up spirit, and excellent tactical positioning. Give her the opportunity to counter-attack, especially in broken field, and she will likely punish you.”,”copy3″:”\u201cVittoria embodies unpredictability in rugby. As an attacking option, she is sharp, and you never know, until the last moment, where or how she will strike. Because of it, she can be a thorn in the opposing team\u2019s plans. A modern, fast and complete player.\u201d \n\n-Davide Macor, Community coordinator of \u2018Delinquenti Prestati al Mondo della Palla Ovale\u2019″,”copy2″:”Although Ostuni Minuzzi started playing rugby at a young age, a serious injury aged 10\n\nforced her to switch to athletics for four years becoming talented at the long jump and long-distance running”,”image”:”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/players\/head\/6694.png.webp?maxw=444″,”number”:42,”hasCopy1″:true,”hasCopy2″:true,”hasCopy3″:true,”icons”:[“https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/flags\/Italy.png.webp”,”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/team-images\/logos\/png\/907.png.webp?maxw=60&v=1725877786″]},{“id”:”7249″,”name”:”Alev Kelter”,”show”:”false”,”link”:”https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/alev-kelter\/”,”country”:”United States of America”,”team”:”160″,”copy1″:”A three-time Olympian who has represented her country at two 15s Rugby World Cups to date, Alev Kelter is a consistently high performer across both codes of the game. The top USA points scorer as part of the Paris 2024 bronze medal-winning team, which included team mate Ilona Maher, Kelter moved back to 15s in time to play at WXV 1, where she was a standout performer and beat a tournament-high 20 defenders.\n\nThe first American woman to win an English Premiership title (with Saracens), the centre was named in the 2024\/25 PWR team of the season whilst playing her trade further north for Loughborough Lightning. Her sustained performance at the highest level across sevens and 15s makes her one of the world\u2019s best.”,”copy3″:”\u201cShe is an extremely good ball carrier, a very powerful player but most of all she knows how to win and I want that sort of mindset in the Loughborough environment.\u201d\n\n-Nathan Smith, Loughborough Lightning Head Coach”,”copy2″:”A former ice hockey player, Kelter captained the USA at the 2009 IIHF World Women’s U18 Championship, and played NCAA D1 hockey and soccer. She\u2019s also a twin!”,”image”:”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/players\/head\/7249.png.webp?maxw=444″,”number”:43,”hasCopy1″:true,”hasCopy2″:true,”hasCopy3″:true,”icons”:[“https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/flags\/United-States-of-America.png.webp”,”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/team-images\/logos\/png\/1014.png.webp?maxw=60&v=1725877570″]},{“id”:”16435″,”name”:”Erin King”,”show”:”false”,”link”:”https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/erin-king\/”,”country”:”Ireland”,”team”:”115″,”copy1″:”King announced herself on the 15s stage at WXV 1 in 2024. In her fifth game of senior 15s and in only her second cap, King scored a brace against New Zealand, the second of which levelled the scores to allow the winning conversion for Ireland. Such was her impact, she was named Breakthrough Player of the Year just 10 weeks after her first cap.\n\nKing\u2019s meteoric rise to 15s stardom is unsurprising, with over 100 SVNS appearances and having played at the Paris 2024 Olympics, many will recognise the forward after going viral for an impressive display of strength at a kick-off lift.\n\nShe will miss this year\u2019s Rugby World Cup due to injury, but as one of the game\u2019s top performers when fit, keep an eye out for her as her burgeoning career progresses.”,”copy3″:”\u201cShe\u2019s a phenomenal athlete. Her energy, her commitment, her ability to deliver in the big moments- it\u2019s everything you want in a player\u201d\n\n- Scott Bemand, Ireland Women\u2019s Head Coach”,”copy2″:”Born in Sydney to English parents, she was taken to Rugby World Cup 2003 games as a one-month-old. She could have played for England or Australia, but fell in love with Ireland, qualifying through her grandmother.”,”image”:”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/players\/head\/16435.png.webp?maxw=444″,”number”:44,”hasCopy1″:true,”hasCopy2″:true,”hasCopy3″:true,”icons”:[“https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/flags\/Ireland.png.webp”,”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/team-images\/logos\/png\/911.png.webp?maxw=60&v=1725877515″]},{“id”:”7241″,”name”:”Rachel Johnson”,”show”:”false”,”link”:”https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/rachel-johnson\/”,”country”:”United States of America”,”team”:”160″,”copy1″:”When the whistle blows this USA Eagle is a force to be reckoned with. An abrasive carrier, Johnson is a well-established member of the squad and their leadership team. Her combined contributions for ruck hits, carries, and tackles were more than any player at 2024\u2019s WXV 1 competition, which is a true display of her ferocious work rate and unwavering commitment.\n\nShe made an immediate impact upon joining England\u2019s PWR as part of the first ever Exeter Chiefs Women\u2019s squad, scoring on debut and eventually earning the role of vice-captain, with 64 appearances and 25 tries to her name.”,”copy3″:”\u201cShe is the sweetest person off the field but terrifying on it\u2026exactly what you want from a Number 8!\u201d\n\n- Susie Appleby, Former Exeter Chiefs Women\u2019s Head Coach”,”copy2″:”She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health from Portland State University, and only picked up rugby as a 19-year-old for extra physical education credit”,”image”:”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/players\/head\/7241.png.webp?maxw=444″,”number”:45,”hasCopy1″:true,”hasCopy2″:true,”hasCopy3″:true,”icons”:[“https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/flags\/United-States-of-America.png.webp”,”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/team-images\/logos\/png\/1014.png.webp?maxw=60&v=1725877570″]},{“id”:”7289″,”name”:”Sylvia Brunt”,”show”:”false”,”link”:”https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/sylvia-brunt\/”,”copy1″:”It beggars belief that Sylvia Brunt is just 21 years old heading into her second Rugby World Cup campaign. The midfield game-breaker has been a star for the Black Ferns since the age of 18, and has looked right at home throughout.\n\nAfter a World Rugby Dream Team selection in 2024, Brunt has won another Super Rugby Aupiki title in 2025 and then scored the Black Ferns\u2019 83rd-minute try to level the score against Canada in the Pacific Four Series.\n\nBrunt\u2019s character is well represented by the story of her first Test try: It came in a 2022 clash with the USA, a game in which Brunt fractured her foot in the first minute, and played through the pain to claim the first of many five-pointers in a black jersey.”,”copy3″:”\u201cShe’s very intelligent. She picks things up really quickly when you coach her, but on top of that, she’s also very natural. She does things that are difficult to coach with some people.\u201d\n\n-Wesley Clarke, Former Black Ferns assistant coach”,”copy2″:”At just 14 years of age, Brunt would join her local club training sessions. Those trainings were also attended by Black Fern Charmaine McMenamin, who noted, \u201cWe didn\u2019t go easy on her back then because she was one of those kids that could handle it.\u201d”,”country”:”New Zealand”,”team”:”158″,”image”:”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/players\/head\/7289.png.webp?maxw=444″,”number”:46,”hasCopy1″:true,”hasCopy2″:true,”hasCopy3″:true,”icons”:[“https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/flags\/New-Zealand.png.webp”,”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/team-images\/logos\/png\/965.png.webp?maxw=60&v=1725875775″]},{“id”:”7267″,”name”:”Lana Skeldon”,”show”:”false”,”link”:”https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/lana-skeldon\/”,”country”:”Scotland”,”team”:”116″,”copy1″:”Skeldon is the top try-scoring hooker of all time for any Scotland side and is the most-capped hooker in Scotland women\u2019s history, as well as being in their top 10 cap holders.\n\nA reliable figure in the set piece, the 31-year-old can often be found muscling her way over the try line off the back of a rolling maul or well-worked lineout.\n\nShe\u2019s appeared in an impressive 10 Six Nations campaigns and has become a strong leader in the Scottish pack as one of the squad\u2019s senior players.\n\nSkeldon has a mixed bag of tricks and is one of the few forwards in the game who can goal kick, and has previously taken on this responsibility for Scotland.”,”copy3″:”\u201cLana is a tremendous servant to this group. She’s an infectious character on and off the field. She’s somebody the youngsters look up to and one we can trust week in, week out.\u201d\n\n-Bryan Easson, Scotland Women\u2019s head coach”,”copy2″:”Away from rugby, she enjoys cooking and baking, and more recently can be found at the driving range or out in nature taking photographs as her escape from the pressures of international duty”,”image”:”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/players\/head\/7267.png.webp?maxw=444″,”number”:47,”hasCopy1″:true,”hasCopy2″:true,”hasCopy3″:true,”icons”:[“https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/flags\/Scotland.png.webp”,”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/team-images\/logos\/png\/1046.png.webp?maxw=60&v=1725878606″]},{“id”:”12600″,”name”:”Rose Bernadou”,”show”:”false”,”link”:”https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/rose-bernadou-1\/”,”country”:”France”,”team”:”114″,”copy1″:”Part of the France squad who made the 2021 World Cup semi-finals, Rose \u201cRosie\u201d Bernadou\n\ncould have taken a completely different path. Her parents first signed her up for judo\u2014her father used to say: \u201crugby isn\u2019t a sport for girls\u201d, but didn\u2019t she prove him wrong!\n\nAnchoring Les Bleues scrum, the tighthead provide stability and power in the scrum, but is also highly active in open play, whether that be clearing out at the ruck, tackling players off their feet, or linking up the play with sharp, accurate passes.”,”copy3″:”\u201cHer power in the scrum is simply unmatched in the global game. Putting it herself, Rose says she loves doing the dirty work, \u2018rucks, scrums, everything in the shadows\u2019\u201d \n\n-Marc Duzan, journalist for Midi Olympique”,”copy2″:”One unique feature? You might spot her wearing a black face mask – worn to protect her nose. Injuries during the 2023\/24 season kept her from adding to her 21 caps”,”image”:”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/players\/head\/12600.png.webp?maxw=444″,”number”:48,”hasCopy1″:true,”hasCopy2″:true,”hasCopy3″:true,”icons”:[“https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/flags\/France.png.webp”,”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/team-images\/logos\/png\/910.png.webp?maxw=60&v=1725877406″]},{“id”:”13251″,”name”:”Aoife Dalton”,”show”:”false”,”link”:”https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/aoife-dalton\/”,”country”:”Ireland”,”team”:”115″,”copy1″:”Named in the 2025 Women’s Six Nations Team of the Championship, quietly spoken Dalton packs a big punch on the field despite her small stature.\n\nTaking down opposition bigger and heavier, the centre never shies away from contact and despite being only 22, does a lot of organising on the pitch defensively.\n\nShe\u2019ll suddenly po\u00dfp up with ball in hand as a threat in attack as well as being a work horse in defence. Miss consistent, she does the unseen work, and rarely misses a tackle.”,”copy2″:”Hailing from Clara, County Offaly, Dalton initially made her mark in Gaelic football before switching to rugby at age 15, playing for Tullamore RFC”,”copy3″:”\u201cAoife Dalton is the glue to our defence, she is hard working, hard hitting and a defensive guru! The little pocket rocket explodes through opposition lines with utter power and flare.\n\n-Neve Jones, Ireland team mate”,”image”:”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/players\/head\/13251.png.webp?maxw=444″,”number”:49,”hasCopy1″:true,”hasCopy2″:true,”hasCopy3″:true,”icons”:[“https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/flags\/Ireland.png.webp”,”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/team-images\/logos\/png\/911.png.webp?maxw=60&v=1725877515″]},{“id”:”13814″,”name”:”Desiree Miller”,”show”:”false”,”link”:”https:\/\/www.rugbypass.com\/players\/desiree-miller\/”,”country”:”Australia”,”team”:”159″,”copy1″:”Desiree Miller was named the Super Rugby Women\u2019s Player of the Final back in April. Miller scored an unbelievable solo effort for the Waratahs in the Grand Final, but it\u2019s not like the winger\u2019s ability to score incredible tries is anything new.\n\nIn 2024, the 23-year-old made headlines, scoring four tries in a dominant win over Fijiana at Sydney\u2019s Allianz Stadium. At just five foot three inches tall, Miller is often the shortest player on the field, but also one of the most dangerous and lethal threats with the ball.”,”copy3″:”\u201c\u2018Des\u2019 is an extremely professional athlete\u2026 she\u2019s just so professional in her attitude and constantly wanting to learn.\n\n- Jo Yapp, Wallaroos Head Coach”,”copy2″:”Miller is a former gymnast who started playing rugby union at 19 during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a gymnast, Miller was a young state representative on the beam, bars, vault and floor”,”image”:”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/players\/head\/13814.png.webp?maxw=444″,”number”:50,”hasCopy1″:true,”hasCopy2″:true,”hasCopy3″:true,”icons”:[“https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/flags\/Australia.png.webp”,”https:\/\/eu-cdn.rugbypass.com\/webp-images\/images\/team-images\/logos\/png\/1016.png.webp?maxw=60&v=1725877242″]}]