List of rugby union test caps leaders

This is a list of the appearance leaders in men's rugby union test matches, with a minimum of 90 confirmed test caps. Unlike in cricket, where both countries must grant test status for a match to be considered a test, 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. The British and Irish Lions and Pacific Islanders do not represent one specific nation, but are also considered test teams because they are selected by a group of recognised national unions. Some nations have sometimes granted test caps for matches against teams such as the invitational Barbarians side; these are included only if the player's nation actually granted a test cap for a particular match.

Players who are still active at international level, or who have not yet announced international retirement, are in bold. Players who are still active at club level but have either retired from international rugby or have not been selected for their national team for a year or more are in italics.

List
As of March 2020[1]
RankCapsPlayerInternational teamFirst/Latest
appearance		Primary
position		Ref(s).
1148Richie McCaw New Zealand2001–2015Flanker[2]
2147Alun Wyn Jones Wales (138)
 British and Irish Lions (9)		2006–Lock[3]
3142Sergio Parisse Italy2002–2019Number 8[4]
4141Brian O'Driscoll Ireland (133)
 British and Irish Lions (8)		1999–2014Centre[5][6]
5139George Gregan Australia1994–2007Scrum-half[7][8]
6134Gethin Jenkins Wales (129)
 British and Irish Lions (5)		2002–2018Prop[9]
7132Keven Mealamu New Zealand2002–2015Hooker[10]
8130Ronan O'Gara Ireland (128)
 British and Irish Lions (2)		2000–2013Fly-half[11]
9129Stephen Moore Australia2005–2017Hooker
10127Victor Matfield South Africa2001–2015Lock[12]
Kieran Read New Zealand2008–2019Number 8
12124Rory Best Ireland2005–2019Hooker[13]
Bryan Habana South Africa2004–2016Wing[14]
Florin Vlaicu Romania2006–Centre
15122Davit Kacharava Georgia2006–Centre
16121Adam Ashley-Cooper Australia2005–2019Centre / Wing[15]
17119Martin Castrogiovanni Italy2002–2016Prop[16]
Jason Leonard England (114)
 British and Irish Lions (5)		1990–2004Prop[17]
Alessandro Zanni Italy2005–2020Flanker[18]
19118Fabien Pelous France1995–2007Lock[19]
Tony Woodcock New Zealand2002–2015Prop[20]
22117Tendai Mtawarira South Africa2008–2019Prop
Sam Whitelock New Zealand2010–2019Lock
24116Nathan Sharpe Australia2002–2012Lock[21]
25115Yuri Kushnarev Russia2005–Fullback
Merab Kvirikashvili Georgia2003–2018Fullback
Paul O'Connell Ireland (108)
 British and Irish Lions (7)		2002–2015Lock[22]
28112Marco Bortolami Italy2001–2015Lock[23]
Dan Carter New Zealand2003–2015Fly-half[24]
30111Ross Ford Scotland (110)
 British and Irish Lions (1)		2004–2017Hooker[25]
Philippe Sella France1982–1995Centre[26]
John Smit South Africa2000–2011Hooker[27][28]
George Smith Australia2000–2013Flanker[29][30]
34110Will Genia Australia2009–2019Scrum-half
Stephen Jones Wales (104)
 British and Irish Lions (6)		1998–2011Fly-half[31]
Sekope Kepu Australia2008–2019Prop
37109Jean de Villiers South Africa2004–2015Centre[32]
Cătălin Fercu Romania2005–Fullback
Chris Paterson Scotland1999–2011Full-back[33]
40108Owen Franks New Zealand2009–2019Prop
41107John Hayes Ireland (105)
 British and Irish Lions (2)		2000–2011Prop[34][35]
42106Mauro Bergamasco Italy1998–2015Flanker[36]
43105Sean Lamont Scotland2004–2016Wing[37]
44104Leonardo Ghiraldini Italy2006–2019Hooker
Martyn Williams Wales (100)
 British and Irish Lions (4)		1996–2012Flanker[38]
46103Matt Giteau Australia2002–2016Fly-half[39]
Victor Gresev Russia2006–Flanker
Andrea Lo Cicero Vaina Italy2000–2013Prop[40]
Ma'a Nonu New Zealand2003–2015Centre[41]
Gareth Thomas Wales (100)
 British and Irish Lions (3)		1995–2007Utility back[42][43]
51102Stephen Larkham Australia1996–2007Fly-half[7][44]
Percy Montgomery South Africa1997–2008Fullback[45]
53101David Campese Australia1982–1996Wing[46]
Alessandro Troncon Italy1994–2007Scrum-half[7][47]
Gonçalo Uva Portugal2004–2018Lock
Vasco Uva Portugal2003–2016Flanker[48]
Ben Youngs England (99)
 British and Irish Lions (2)		2010-Scrum-half
57100Valentin Calafeteanu Romania2004–Scrum-half
Giorgi Chkhaidze Georgia2002–2017Number 8
Andrey Garbuzov Russia2005–Flanker
Jamie Heaslip Ireland (95)
 British and Irish Lions (5)		2006–2017Number 8
Adam Jones Wales (95)
 British and Irish Lions (5)		2002–2014Prop[49]
Mils Muliaina New Zealand2003–2011Fullback[50]
Rob Simmons Australia2010-Lock
6599Michael Hooper Australia2012–Flanker
Lasha Malaguradze Georgia2008–Fly-half
Mike Phillips Wales (94)
 British and Irish Lions (5)		2003–2015Scrum-half[51]
6898Dan Cole England (95)
 British and Irish Lions (3)		2010-2019Prop
Cian Healy Ireland2009-Prop
Raphaël Ibañez France1996–2007Hooker[52]
Rob Kearney Ireland (95)
 British and Irish Lions (3)		2007-2019Fullback
George North Wales (95)
 British and Irish Lions (3)		2010-Wing
Donncha O'Callaghan Ireland (94)
 British and Irish Lions (4)		2003–2013Lock[53]
Hitoshi Ono Japan2004-2016Lock[54]
Peter Stringer Ireland2000–2011Scrum-half[55]
7697Dylan Hartley England2008–2018Hooker
Jamie Roberts Wales (94)
 British and Irish Lions (3)		2008–2017Centre
Jonathan Sexton Ireland (91)
 British and Irish Lions (6)		2009-Fly-half
Jonny Wilkinson England (91)
 British and Irish Lions (6)		1998–2011Fly-half[56]
8096Colin Charvis Wales (94)
 British and Irish Lions (2)		1996–2007Flanker[57]
James Slipper Australia2010-Prop
8295Andrea Masi Italy1999–2015Centre[58]
Giorgi Nemsadze Georgia2005–2019Lock
8494Conrad Smith New Zealand2004–2015Centre[59]
8593Vasily Artemyev Russia2009-Fullback
Serge Blanco France1980–1991Fullback[60]
Leigh Halfpenny Wales (89)
 British and Irish Lions (4)		2008-Fullback
8892Kurtley Beale Australia2009-Fullback
Sean Fitzpatrick New Zealand1986–1997Hooker
Martin Johnson England (84)
 British and Irish Lions (8)		1993–2003Lock[61][62]
Gareth Llewellyn Wales1989–2005Lock[63]
Diego Magno Uruguay2008–Lock
Malcolm O'Kelly Ireland1997–2009Lock[64]
Cristian Petre Romania2001–2012Lock[65]
Aaron Smith New Zealand2012-Scrum-half
Rory Underwood England (85)
 British and Irish Lions (7)		1984–1996Wing[66]
9791Neil Jenkins Wales (87)
 British and Irish Lions (4)		1990–2003Fly-half[67]
Shane Williams Wales (87)
 British and Irish Lions (4)		2000–2011Wing[41]
9990Tatafu Polota-Nau Australia2005-2019Hooker

Notes:

  • Of the players known to have earned 90 or more caps, only five (Philippe Sella, David Campese, Serge Blanco, Sean Fitzpatrick, and Rory Underwood) were primarily active in the sport's amateur era. (On 26 August 1995 the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board, declared the game "open" to professionalism.[68]) Only Blanco and Sella played Tests exclusively in the amateur era.

See also

References
  1. "Player Records". ESPN Scrum. stats.espnscrum.com. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  2. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Richie McCaw". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2015-08-15.
  3. "Alun Wyn Jones Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2019-09-07.
  4. "Sergio Parisse". scrum.com. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  5. "Ireland Squad: Brian O'Driscoll". Irish Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  6. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Brian O'Driscoll / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  7. 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.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. "2007 Rugby World Cup Squad Profiles: George Gregan". Australian Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  9. "Gethin Jenkins Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-11-25.
  10. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Keven Mealamu". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  11. "Ireland Squad: Ronan O'Gara". Irish Rugby Football Union. Archived from the original on 2009-12-21. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  12. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Victor Matfield / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  13. "Rory Best". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  14. "Bryan Habana Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
  15. "Adam Ashley-Cooper Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
  16. "Martin Gastrogiovanni". scrum.com. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  17. "Jason Leonard". International Rugby Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2012-09-11. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  18. "Alessandro Zanni". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  19. "Tous les joueurs - PELOUS Fabien" (in French). French Rugby Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  20. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Tony Woodcock / Test matches". All blacks.com. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  21. "Sharpe refuses to lose his edge". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2011-10-21.
  22. "Paul O'Connell". scrum.com. Retrieved 2012-03-06.
  23. "Marco Bortolami". scrum.com. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
  24. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Dan Carter / Test matches". All blacks.com. Retrieved 2011-09-24.
  25. "Ross Ford". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2015-09-27.
  26. "Tous les joueurs - SELLA Philippe" (in French). French Rugby Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  27. 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.
  28. "Statsguru / Player analysis / John Smit / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  29. "Statsguru / Player analysis / George Smith / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  30. "2008 Qantas Wallabies Squad Profiles: George Smith". Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 2008-12-18.
  31. "WRU Player Profile". WRU.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  32. "Jean de Villers Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
  33. "Chris Paterson". ScotlandRugbyTeam.org. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  34. "John Hayes". Irish Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2009-02-13.
  35. "John Hayes". British and Irish Lions. Retrieved 2008-11-10.
  36. "Rugby Union - ESPN Scrum - Statsguru". ESPN. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  37. "Sean Lamont Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  38. "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.
  39. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Matt Giteau". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
  40. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Andrea Lo Cicero Vaina". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
  41. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Shane Williams". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  42. "Wales Player Archive: Gareth Thomas". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
  43. "Gareth Thomas". British & Irish Lions. Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  44. "2007 Rugby World Cup Squad Profiles: Stephen Larkham". Australian Rugby Union. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  45. "Profiles: Percival Colin Montgomery". South African Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  46. "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.
  47. "I giocatori della nazionale - Alessandro Troncon" (in Italian). Italian Rugby Federation. Archived from the original on 2008-01-12. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  48. "Vasco Uva Career figures". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
  49. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Adam Jones". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2013-05-26.
  50. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Mils Muliaina / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  51. "Statsguru / Test matches / Player records". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
  52. "Tous les joueurs - IBANEZ Raphael" (in French). French Rugby Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  53. "Donnacha O'Callaghan". scrum.com. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  54. "Hitoshi Ono". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  55. "Ireland Squad: Peter Stringer". Irish Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
  56. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Jonny Wilkinson". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2011-03-13.
  57. "2003 Rugby World Cup Squad: Colin Charvis". Welsh Rugby Union. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  58. "Andrea Masi". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  59. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Conrad Smith". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2015-10-05.
  60. "Tous les joueurs - BLANCO Serge" (in French). French Rugby Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  61. "Martin Johnson". International Rugby Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
  62. "Lion Legends: Martin Johnson". British and Irish Lions. 2008-02-06. Archived from the original on 2007-10-25.
  63. "Statsguru / Player analysis / Gareth Llewellyn / Test matches". Scrum.com. Retrieved 2009-06-21. This total includes the aforementioned Barbarians match in 1996 that also marked the Wales debut of Martyn Williams.
  64. "Ireland Squad: Malcolm O'Kelly". Irish Rugby Football Union. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
  65. "Cristian Petre". scrum.com. Retrieved 2012-06-10.
  66. "Rory Underwod MBE". UPH Ltd. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  67. "2007-08 Wales Senior Squad Management: Neil Jenkins". Welsh Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 2008-07-20. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
  68. Howitt, Bob (2005). SANZAR Saga - Ten Years of Super 12 and Tri-Nations Rugby. HarperCollins. p. 8. ISBN 1-86950-566-2.
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