List of rugby union test caps leaders
Male rugby players with the most test appearances
This is a list of the appearance leaders in men's rugby union test matches, listing the 92 players with over one hundred test caps. Rugby union requires only one nation to recognise a match as a test in order for it to be included in test statistics for that nation.[citation needed] The British and Irish Lions and Pacific Islanders do not represent a single country, but they are selected by a group of national unions and are recognised as test teams. Some national teams have sometimes granted test caps for matches against teams such as the invitational Barbarians side; these are included only if the union granted test caps for a particular match.
List
- As of 7 September 2024[1]
Bold | Player is still active at international level. |
Italics | Player is still active at club level but has either retired from international rugby or has not been selected for their national team over a year. |
Player has the record number of caps for their national team. |
Rank | Caps | Player | International team | First/Latest appearance | Primary position | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 171 | Alun Wyn Jones | Wales (158) British and Irish Lions (13) | 2006–2023 | Lock | [2] |
2 | 153 | Sam Whitelock | New Zealand | 2010–2023 | Lock | [3] |
3 | 148 | Richie McCaw | New Zealand | 2001–2015 | Flanker | [3] |
4 | 142 | Sergio Parisse | Italy | 2002–2019 | Number 8 | [3] |
5 | 141 | Brian O'Driscoll | Ireland (133) British and Irish Lions (8) | 1999–2014 | Centre | [4][5] |
6 | 139 | George Gregan | Australia | 1994–2007 | Scrum-half | [6][7] |
James Slipper | Australia | 2010–present | Prop | [8] | ||
8 | 134 | Gethin Jenkins | Wales (129) British and Irish Lions (5) | 2002–2018 | Prop | [9] |
9 | 132 | Keven Mealamu | New Zealand | 2002–2015 | Hooker | [10] |
10 | 131 | Cian Healy | Ireland | 2009–present | Prop | [11] |
11 | 130 | Beauden Barrett | New Zealand | 2012–present | Fly-half | [12] |
Ronan O'Gara | Ireland (128) British and Irish Lions (2) | 2000–2013 | Fly-half | [13] | ||
13 | 129 | Stephen Moore | Australia | 2005–2017 | Hooker | [14] |
Florin Vlaicu | Romania | 2006–2022 | Centre | [15] | ||
Ben Youngs | England (127) British and Irish Lions (2) | 2010–2023 | Scrum-half | [16][17] | ||
16 | 127 | Victor Matfield | South Africa | 2001–2015 | Lock | [18] |
Conor Murray | Ireland (118) British and Irish Lions (9) | 2011–present | Scrum-half | [19][20] | ||
Kieran Read | New Zealand | 2008–2019 | Number 8 | [21] | ||
19 | 126 | Eben Etzebeth | South Africa | 2012–present | Lock | [22] |
20 | 125 | Michael Hooper | Australia | 2012–2023 | Flanker | [23] |
Aaron Smith | New Zealand | 2012–2023 | Scrum-half | [24] | ||
22 | 124 | Rory Best | Ireland | 2005–2019 | Hooker | [25] |
Bryan Habana | South Africa | 2004–2016 | Wing | [26] | ||
George North | Wales (121) British and Irish Lions (3) | 2010–2024 | Wing | [27][28] | ||
Johnny Sexton | Ireland (118) British and Irish Lions (6) | 2009–2023 | Fly-half | [29][30] | ||
26 | 122 | Davit Kacharava | Georgia | 2006–2020 | Centre | [31] |
27 | 121 | Adam Ashley-Cooper | Australia | 2005–2019 | Centre / Wing | [32] |
28 | 120 | Yuri Kushnarev | Russia | 2005–2021 | Fly-half / Fullback | |
29 | 119 | Martin Castrogiovanni | Italy | 2002–2016 | Prop | [33] |
Owen Farrell | England (112) British and Irish Lions (7) | 2012–2023 | Fly-half | [34][35] | ||
Jason Leonard | England (114) British and Irish Lions (5) | 1990–2004 | Prop | [36] | ||
Alessandro Zanni | Italy | 2005–2020 | Flanker | [37] | ||
33 | 118 | Dan Cole | England (115) British and Irish Lions (3) | 2010–present | Prop | |
Fabien Pelous | France | 1995–2007 | Lock | [38] | ||
Tony Woodcock | New Zealand | 2002–2015 | Prop | [39] | ||
36 | 117 | Tendai Mtawarira | South Africa | 2008–2019 | Prop | [40] |
36 | 116 | Dan Biggar | Wales (112) British and Irish Lions (4) | 2008–2023 | Fly-half | [41][42] |
Nathan Sharpe | Australia | 2002–2012 | Lock | [43] | ||
38 | 115 | Merab Kvirikashvili | Georgia | 2003–2018 | Fullback | [44] |
Paul O'Connell | Ireland (108) British and Irish Lions (7) | 2002–2015 | Lock | [45] | ||
41 | 114 | Alexander Todua | Georgia | 2008–present | Wing | |
42 | 112 | Marco Bortolami | Italy | 2001–2015 | Lock | [46] |
Dan Carter | New Zealand | 2003–2015 | Fly-half | [47] | ||
44 | 111 | Ross Ford | Scotland (110) British and Irish Lions (1) | 2004–2017 | Hooker | [48] |
Courtney Lawes | England (105) British and Irish Lions (6) | 2009–2023 | Flanker | |||
Philippe Sella [a] | France | 1982–1995 | Centre | [50] | ||
John Smit | South Africa | 2000–2011 | Hooker[51] | [52] | ||
George Smith | Australia | 2000–2013 | Flanker | [53][54] | ||
49 | 110 | Agustin Creevy | Argentina | 2005–2024 | Hooker | [55] |
Taulupe Faletau | Wales (104) British and Irish Lions (6) | 2011–present | Number 8 | [56][57] | ||
Will Genia | Australia | 2009–2019 | Scrum-half | [58] | ||
Stephen Jones | Wales (104) British and Irish Lions (6) | 1998–2011 | Fly-half | [59] | ||
Sekope Kepu | Australia | 2008–2019 | Prop | [60] | ||
54 | 109 | Jean de Villiers | South Africa | 2002–2015 | Centre | [61] |
Cătălin Fercu | Romania | 2005–2020 | Fullback | [62] | ||
Chris Paterson | Scotland | 1999–2011 | Fullback / Wing | [63] | ||
Brodie Retallick | New Zealand | 2012–2023 | Lock | |||
58 | 108 | Owen Franks | New Zealand | 2009–2019 | Prop | |
Peter O'Mahony | Ireland (107) British and Irish Lions (1) | 2012–present | Flanker | |||
Florin Surugiu | Romania | 2008–2024 | Scrum-half | |||
61 | 107 | Leonardo Ghiraldini | Italy | 2006–2020 | Hooker | |
Victor Gresev | Russia | 2006–2022 | Flanker | |||
John Hayes | Ireland (105) British and Irish Lions (2) | 2000–2011 | Prop | [64][65] | ||
Diego Magno | Uruguay | 2008–2024 | Lock | |||
65 | 106 | Mauro Bergamasco | Italy | 1998–2015 | Flanker | [66] |
Rob Simmons | Australia | 2010–2020 | Lock | |||
67 | 105 | Leigh Halfpenny | Wales (101) British and Irish Lions (4) | 2008–2023 | Fullback | |
Sean Lamont | Scotland | 2004–2016 | Wing | [67] | ||
Pablo Matera | Argentina | 2013–present | Flanker | |||
70 | 104 | Mihai Macovei | Romania | 2006–2023 | Flanker | |
Nicolas Sanchez | Argentina | 2010–2023 | Fly-half | |||
Martyn Williams | Wales (100) British and Irish Lions (4) | 1996–2012 | Flanker | [68] | ||
73 | 103 | Matt Giteau | Australia | 2002–2016 | Fly-half | [69] |
Andrea Lo Cicero Vaina | Italy | 2000–2013 | Prop | [70] | ||
Shalva Mamukashvili | Georgia | 2011–2023 | Hooker | |||
Ma'a Nonu | New Zealand | 2003–2015 | Centre | [71] | ||
Merab Sharikadze | Georgia | 2012-present | Centre | |||
Gareth Thomas | Wales (100) British and Irish Lions (3) | 1995–2007 | Utility back | [72][73] | ||
79 | 102 | Jonathan Davies | Wales (96) British and Irish Lions (6) | 2009–2022 | Centre | |
Stuart Hogg | Scotland (100) British and Irish Lions (2) | 2012–2023 | Fullback | |||
Stephen Larkham | Australia | 1996–2007 | Fly-half | [6][74] | ||
Percy Montgomery | South Africa | 1997–2008 | Fullback | [75] | ||
Alessandro Troncon | Italy | 1994–2007 | Scrum-half | [6][76] | ||
84 | 101 | David Campese [a] | Australia | 1982–1996 | Wing | [77] |
Danny Care | England | 2008–2024 | Scrum-half | |||
Keith Earls | Ireland | 2008–2023 | Wing | |||
Gonçalo Uva | Portugal | 2004–2018 | Lock | |||
Vasco Uva | Portugal | 2003–2016 | Flanker | [78] | ||
89 | 100 | Valentin Calafeteanu | Romania | 2004–2019 | Scrum-half | |
Giorgi Chkhaidze | Georgia | 2002–2017 | Number 8 | |||
Andrey Garbuzov | Russia | 2005–2020 | Flanker | |||
Jamie Heaslip | Ireland (95) British and Irish Lions (5) | 2006–2017 | Number 8 | |||
Adam Jones | Wales (95) British and Irish Lions (5) | 2002–2014 | Prop | [79] | ||
Lasha Malaghuradze | Georgia | 2008–2023 | Fly-half | |||
Julian Montoya | Argentina | 2014-present | Hooker | |||
Mils Muliaina | New Zealand | 2003–2011 | Fullback | [80] |
Notes
- ^ a b Primarily active during rugby's amateur era, before the IRB declared the game "open" to professionalism on 26 August 1995.[49]
See also
- List of leading rugby union test try scorers
- List of leading rugby union test point scorers
- List of leading international rugby union drop goal scorers
- International rugby union player records
References
- ^ "Player Records". ESPN Scrum. stats.espnscrum.com. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ "Alun Wyn Jones Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
- ^ a b c "Statsguru / Player analysis / Richie McCaw". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
- ^ "Ireland Squad: Brian O'Driscoll". Irish Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Brian O'Driscoll / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
- ^ a b c Bond, Karen, Rugby News Service (2007-10-19). "Thanks for the memories". International Rugby Board. Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ "Gethin Jenkins Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Keven Mealamu". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
- ^ "Cian Healy". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "BEAUDEN BARRETT". All Blacks. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Ireland Squad: Ronan O'Gara". Irish Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Stephen Moore". Scrum.com. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
- ^ "The retired class of 2022". World Rugby. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "BEN YOUNGS". espnscrum. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "#799 BEN YOUNGS". British & Irish Lions. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Victor Matfield / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
- ^ "Conor Murray". Irish Rugby. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "CONOR MURRAY". Lions Rugby. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Kieran Read Scrum.com". Scrum.com. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
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- ^ "Michael Hooper". Wallabies rugby. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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- ^ "Rory Best". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
- ^ "Bryan Habana Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
- ^ "GEORGE NORTH". WRU. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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- ^ "DAVIT KACHARAVA". espnscrum. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Adam Ashley-Cooper Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
- ^ "Martin Gastrogiovanni". scrum.com. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
- ^ "OWEN FARRELL". england rugby. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "#780". Lions Rugby. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Jason Leonard". International Rugby Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ "Alessandro Zanni". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
- ^ "Tous les joueurs - PELOUS Fabien" (in French). French Rugby Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Tony Woodcock / Test matches". All blacks.com. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
- ^ "TENDAI MTAWARIRA". espnscrum. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "DAN BIGGAR". espnscrum. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
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- ^ "Sharpe refuses to lose his edge". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2011-10-21.
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- ^ "Paul O'Connell". scrum.com. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
- ^ "Marco Bortolami". scrum.com. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Dan Carter / Test matches". All blacks.com. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
- ^ "Ross Ford". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
- ^ Howitt, Bob (2005). SANZAR Saga - Ten Years of Super 12 and Tri-Nations Rugby. HarperCollins. p. 8. ISBN 1-86950-566-2.
- ^ "Tous les joueurs - SELLA Philippe" (in French). French Rugby Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ Smit returned to hooker in the Springboks' final 2009 Test against Ireland after having spent about a year as a tighthead prop. All but two of his caps from his debut through the 2008 mid-year Tests were at hooker. See his main reference for details.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / John Smit / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / George Smith / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
- ^ "2008 Qantas Wallabies Squad Profiles: George Smith". Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
- ^ "NUMEROS HISTÓRICOS". Unión Argentina de Rugby. 14 May 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
- ^ "TAULUPE FALETAU". WRU. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "TAULUPE FALETAU". Lions Rugby. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "WILL GENIA". espnscrum. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "WRU Player Profile". WRU.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
- ^ "SEKOPE KEPU". espnscrum. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Jean de Villers Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
- ^ "CATALIN FERCU". espnscrum. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- ^ "Chris Paterson". ScotlandRugbyTeam.org. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
- ^ "John Hayes". Irish Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
- ^ "John Hayes". British and Irish Lions. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
- ^ "Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
- ^ "Sean Lamont Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Martyn Williams / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-02-06. His international debut was a match against the Barbarians on 24 August 1996 for which Wales granted Test caps.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Matt Giteau". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Andrea Lo Cicero Vaina". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Shane Williams". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
- ^ "Wales Player Archive: Gareth Thomas". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
- ^ "Gareth Thomas". British & Irish Lions. Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ "2007 Rugby World Cup Squad Profiles: Stephen Larkham". Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ "Profiles: Percival Colin Montgomery". South African Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ "I giocatori della nazionale - Alessandro Troncon" (in Italian). Italian Rugby Federation. Archived from the original on 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ "Australia's Top Tens: Leading Australia Test Caps". Australian Rugby Union. 2008-09-19. Archived from the original on 2006-05-14. Retrieved 2008-11-03.
- ^ "Vasco Uva Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Adam Jones". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
- ^ "Statsguru / Player analysis / Mils Muliaina / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
External links
- Scrum.com