TOP 5’s: RANKING OUR FAVOURITE RUGBY TOURNAMENTS, PLAYERS AND MORE

We have all sat around with our mates discussing our rugby Top 5’s. Whether it’s deciding which players are the best goal kickers of all time, to amazing captains or even Premiership Rugby kits, at the flanker we have all bases covered.

It’s only here you could find Brian Lima take on Jonny Wilkinson for the title of Best Pound for Pound Tackler in rugby history or read about whether the England team of 2003 or the New Zealand side of 2015 is the best in Rugby World Cup’s gone by.

See below for our latest content, listicles and Top 5’s.

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Nine of the best scrummagers in modern rugby history
Nine of the best scrummagers in modern rugby history

Dominant scrums can provide points-scoring opportunities, grind down your opposition physically and provide a massive mental boost to a forward pack in games of rugby. With that in mind, we picked nine of the best scrummagers of the modern era.

Top 12 points scorers in Heineken/Champions Cup history
Top 12 points scorers in Heineken/Champions Cup history

Top drawer goalkickers are crucial and can be the difference between winning and losing matches. Here are the top 12 points scorers in Heineken Cup/European Rugby Champions Cup history.

Rugby’s biggest 'passing of the torch’ moments
Rugby’s biggest 'passing of the torch’ moments

From O’Driscoll to Barrett and Wilkinson to Japan, rugby has as it has evolved seen numerous moments where the torch carried by one generation has been handed down to another to bear.

The top 13 points scorers in Premiership Rugby history
The top 13 points scorers in Premiership Rugby history

Good goalkickers in rugby are worth their weight in gold and can be the difference between winning and losing matches. Here are the top 13 points scorers in Premiership Rugby history.

Did World Rugby get their team of the decade right?
Did World Rugby get their team of the decade right?

Last December, World Rugby announced their Team of the Decade and it is fair to say not every rugby fan agreed.

The Flanker went through the XV and made our own changes where needed.

Revisiting England’s 2013 Junior World Championship winning team
Revisiting England’s 2013 Junior World Championship winning team

The England under-20s class of 2013 won the top prize of the Junior World Championship, with the players achieving varying degrees of success. Tragic tales of early retirements, lawsuits against ex-teammates and a sun cream company CFO meant we found out what they were up to now.

Ranking the 33 players Martin Johnson handed debuts to as England Head Coach
Ranking the 33 players Martin Johnson handed debuts to as England Head Coach

During his tenure from 2008 to 2011 as England Head Coach, legendary World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson handed 33 players their debut for the national team. With some more successful than others, The Flanker has ranked them below.

Five Great Moments of Rugby Shithousery
Five Great Moments of Rugby Shithousery

The dark arts, gamesmanship or, as we like to call it, shithousery is as big a part of the sport as a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal or a Phil Bennett sidestep. We have picked out five of the greatest, most controversial and downright devious moments of shithousery in rugby history.

Top 5 European Rugby Champions Cup/Heineken Cup Finals
Top 5 European Rugby Champions Cup/Heineken Cup Finals

The European Rugby Champions Cup final has to be considered the biggest club game of rugby in the world. We rank our Top 5 favourite matches since the tournament came into being in 1995 as the game went professional, with Leicester Tigers, Wasps and Leinster all featuring.

Top 9 worst kits in rugby history
Top 9 worst kits in rugby history

It's something often discussed, but what are the worst kits in rugby union history? We pick our top nine favourites (or worst) jersey's from Stade Francais to Melbourne Rebels.

Rugby’s best coaching meltdowns: From Cheika to Venter
Rugby’s best coaching meltdowns: From Cheika to Venter

Sometimes the pressure just gets the better of you, as these rugby coaches, unfortunately, found out.

See our list of the best coaching meltdowns, as these managers go full Kevin Keegan.

Why have Ireland failed at the Rugby World Cup?
Why have Ireland failed at the Rugby World Cup?

Whether it was due to last-minute heartbreak, or simply coming up against a better team, Ireland have failed to make it to a World Cup semi-final.

Top 5 Celtic League/Pro12/Pro14 Grand Finals
Top 5 Celtic League/Pro12/Pro14 Grand Finals

The Pro14 Grand Final is a date every Welsh, Scottish and Irish rugby fan has marked in their calendar. We rank our top 5 favourite matches since the playoffs were introduced in 2002, returning again in 2010 after a brief hiatus.

Now you see them, now you don’t: Rugby’s modern magicians
Now you see them, now you don’t: Rugby’s modern magicians

We are here for the magicians of rugby - the men who pull rabbits from hats, make themselves disappear entirely and conjure up astounding plays from nowhere before your very eyes.

Rugby’s Greatest Ever Song Lyrics
Rugby’s Greatest Ever Song Lyrics

Rugby fans can sometimes feel a bit in the shadows when it comes to lyrical references. However, some intrepid artists have decided to make reference to our hallowed game…with mixed results.