Adam Radwan has been ousted from the top spot, with a different player securing the honour of being the fastest rugby player on the planet
Louis Rees-Zammit is one of the fastest players in world rugby(Image: Photo by Bob Bradford – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes, from big, burly props to towering second row forwards. Then there are the attacking players in the back line, responsible to breaking through the defence using a combination of speed, skill and agility.
While agility and skill can be coached in training sessions, speed is something that, to a degree, cannot and some players are simply gifted with this almighty power from the very beginning. When there is a broken field, a team will rely on their fastest players to exploit the space and score – it’s an incredibly vital asset in the egg-shaped game.
However, there are some players in world rugby who are simply a cut above the rest when it comes to speed. These players are ranked in the world class category based on this and a combination of other skills that can be utilised in the Test arena.
Wales international Louis Rees-Zammit ranks in third place in active players. Despite gaining a large amount of muscle while playing in the NFL, he has been clocked hitting 23.57mph for Bristol Bears. He previously recorded 24.2mph in 2023, which gets him third place.
Louis Rees-Zammit of Bristol Bears(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Speaking about his speed after signing for Bears, Rees-Zammit said: “I got up to like 105 kilos and my playing weight in rugby was probably about 96kg. Over the last couple of months I have really got myself back to about 100kg and now I am actually doing rugby training, I think I can get straight back down to that 96-98 kilo range and that is probably perfect for me.
“On stats it didn’t, I was still hitting 23mph at 105 kilos so it was just the amount of conditioning, they don’t do that much because plays last four to six seconds in the NFL so it is not something they need to have.
“It is all about repeated sprints for the wide receivers. Playing rugby it is different, you have got to be very fit because the ball in play, if that gets high you are going to be running around a lot.”
Taking top spot is former British and Irish Lions tourist Christian Wade, who, like Rees-Zammit, also tried his hand in the NFL. Since returning from rugby league, now plying his trade for Newcastle Red Bulls, Wade claims top spot again with a stunning 25.1mph.
Christian Wade of Newcastle Red Bulls(Image: MI News/NurPhoto)
Now in second place and ousted from top spot by Wade after his return from rugby league, Adam Radwan will have to settle for the silver medal. The Leicester Tigers flyer is one of the most feared wingers in PREM rugby and has been recorded running 24.3mph.
Talking to Mirror Sport, Radwan said: “I was born quite fast – my Dad reckons he was faster than me, which I don’t believe – but yes I was very quick when I was younger. I was always fast and then I got to maybe 13, 14 and everyone had caught up. Then I started going to the gym a lot and getting very quick.
“Got faster, but then when I first went to Newcastle their S&C Kev McShane noticed that my technique was awful. People had said it before but no one had tried to change it, because I was quick anyway, but Kev really worked on my running mechanics. It took a while and I’m considerably quicker now as a result.”
Adam Radwan of Leicester Tigers(Image: Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
A surprising name, perhaps, is Kieran Marmion, Rees-Zammit’s Bears teammate. The 33-year-old former Ireland international played most of his career with Connacht before joining Bears in 2023. He has run at a stunning 23.94mph. An interesting point about Marmion is that despite being born in England to Irish parents, he grew up in Brecon, Wales.
All Blacks icon and Leinster centre Rieko Ioane, one of the most fearsome backs in the sport, offers more than just physicality and skill. Ioane has been clocked running 23.9mph, which means he takes fifth place.
Henry Arundell of Bath and England is an honourable mention. He has been recorded running at 23.7mph, which means he doesn’t make the list, but it is highly likely he has clocked a quicker time, being widely known as one of the fastest players in world rugby.
The top five fastest rugby players
- Christian Wade – 25.1mph (Newcastle Red Bulls/England)
- Adam Radwan – 24.3 mph (Leicester Tigers/England)
- Louis Rees‑Zammit – 24.2 mph (Bristol Bears/Wales)
- Kieran Marmion – 23.94 mph (Bristol Bears/Ireland)
- Rieko Ioane – 23.9mph (Leinster/New Zealand)
Honourable mentions
- Henry Arundell – 23.7 mph (Bath/England)
- Ted Hill (a second row!) – 22mph (Bath/England)
Fastest rugby player of all time
Ex-American Sevens player Carlin Isles is the fastest rugby player to ever take to the field. He was clocked running at 25.7mph.