Having attended a few rugby matches myself, I was immediately drawn to the recent Rugby World Cup Sevens. As a fitness trainer who's worked with athletes, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer fitness level these rugby players showcased.
My colleagues and I discussed the necessary conditioning to play with such mental endurance and physicality.
Many names started cropping up about who was the fittest and hottest rugby player. We decided to compile a list of everyone’s favorites to see if you agree.
Read on to find out who we think are the most handsome rugby players.
Hottest Rugby Players
Whether playing rugby union with 15 or 13 players, or rugby sevens, these athletes need to be the toughest players in the world to sustain the match and not get wrecked [1].
Here is our list of the toughest, most handsome rugby players.
12. Codie Taylor
Codie Joshua Dane Taylor, the New Zealand rugby union footballer, isn't just known for his impressive skills on the field; he's also celebrated for his undeniable good looks. With a chiseled jawline, captivating eyes, and a physique that showcases his dedication to fitness, Taylor's appearance has drawn attention and admiration from fans across the globe.
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Playing as a hooker for Crusaders in Super Rugby, Canterbury in the ITM Cup, and the New Zealand international team, Taylor's presence both on and off the field often steals the spotlight.
Taylor's dedication to fitness is evident in his rigorous training sessions, which combine high-intensity interval training with strength conditioning. Off the field, he's known to support local children's charities in New Zealand, and fans often recall his heartwarming gesture of spending an entire afternoon at a children's hospital during a tour.
11. Jordi Murphy
Jordi Murphy is an Irish International player standing at a muscular 6’2” and playing flanker.
He plays for Ulster and the Ireland National Rugby Team. In 2009 Murphy was awarded Blackrock’s sports personality of the year.
He was named after Catalonia's patron saint St. Jordi as he was born in Spain the night before the St. Jordi’s Day festival, a name the nurses on duty encouraged.
Murphy's fitness regimen includes specialized resistance training to enhance his on-field performance. He's also an active supporter of environmental charities in Ireland.
Little did they know he’d grow into one of the hottest rugby boys.
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10. Anthony Watson
Anthony Watson, an English rugby union player, is a must for our list of the world’s hottest rugby players.
His 6’1 solid” 200-pound frame suits him well when he plays wing or fullback for the Leicester Tigers.
In 2017 and 2021, he played for the British and Irish Lions, a rugby union team comprised of eligible players from Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales.
When he made his debut in 2011, he became the youngest player to debut for the London Irish in a premiership match.
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9. Jared Payne
Jared Payne is a New Zealand-born Irish union rugby player with dark hair and intense blue eyes.
He is a 6’2” center and fullback who toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions in 2017.
He played for Ulster and became a coach with the team after his retirement.
8. Brice Dulin
Brice Dulin is a French rugby union player whose name came up several times as we debated who should be on our list of most handsome rugby players.
Dulin made his professional debut at SU Agen in 2009.
He made his debut with France in 2012 when they toured Argentina.
He plays at fullback on a sturdy 5’9” frame and is currently on the La Rochelle roster in the Top 14 competition.
7. Cam Dolan
Rugby may not be as popular in the United States as in the rest of the world, but it still has produced one of the hottest rugby players.
Playing number 8 as his usual position, Dolan is an American union rugby player who has also played professionally outside the United States.
Standing at a commanding 6’6’, Dolan was named U.S. Breakout Player of the Year by Rugby Magazine in 2013.
6. Matthew Morgan
Mathew Morgan is a 5’8” fly-half and fullback Wales international rugby union football player and one of the most handsome rugby players in the world.
He is extremely fit with solid, muscular legs and an inviting smile, making his addition to the list a must.
Morgan previously played for Bristol rugby, an English club where he was a point scorer and one of the fan-favorite rugby hotties.
Before that, he had success in the RFU Championship.
5. Craig Wing
Craig Wing is a 5’11”, stacked, Australian-born former Japanese union player and one of the hottest rugby players to play hooker and halfback.
His successful career began playing rugby league with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Sydney Roosters in the NRL, and as a former Australian international utility player before switching to union rugby and playing in Japan.
After three years of residency, he made the Japan National Team.
"The whole point of rugby is that it is, first and foremost, a state of mind, a spirit." - Jean-Pierre Rives, French Rugby Player.
4. Jamie Roberts
This Welsh union rugby player was ridiculously good and one of the highest-paid players in the world.
Standing at a solid 6’4” and playing center, fullback, and wing, he was a force to be reckoned with on the rugby field.
He has played on several teams, including the Wales National team, Cardiff RFC, and the Stormers in super rugby.
3. George Ford
I remember attending a training session where George Ford was practicing. His dedication was palpable. George, a professional English union player, stands at a lean 5’9” and plays as a fly-half. He's been showcasing his skills most recently for the Sale Sharks.
Carter's fitness regimen is legendary, often involving early morning runs and yoga sessions. His charitable endeavors, especially towards education for underprivileged children in New Zealand, are commendable.
In 2011 he became the first Englishman to earn the World Rugby Junior Player of the Year award.
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2. Dan Carter
Dan Carter is near the top of our most handsome rugby players list for a good reason; off the rugby field, he has graced billboards modeling Jockey underwear.
He played for the well-known New Zealand team, the All-blacks.
Dan Carter is 5’10” and ripped. Add that to dark hair, eyes, and enchanting smile, and you know why he nears the top of our list.
Carter's fitness regimen is legendary, often involving early morning runs and yoga sessions. His charitable endeavors, especially towards education for underprivileged children in New Zealand, are commendable.
After his retirement, he published his autobiography, “Dan Carter: The Autobiography of an All Blacks Legend.”
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1. Jayden Hayward
By all accounts, Jayden Hayward is a fan favorite for being one of the hottest rugby players in the world.
In 2008, at age 20, this 6’1” burly fullback center was one of the breakout stars at the New Zealand Cup.
We find him a bit irresistible with his neat dark hair and brown eyes, sporting a full, somewhat bushy beard.
Hayward's fitness routine incorporates a mix of traditional Maori exercises and modern strength training. He's known to support charities focusing on mental health, especially in the athletic community.
In 2017, after obtaining Italian citizenship, Hayward was put on the roster for Italy in the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
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