Bold claim: even in a year that wasn’t a breakout season for everyone, two Springboks still prove why they’re among the game’s elite. That’s the core takeaway from RugbyPass’s latest Top 100 men’s players of 2025, where Cheslin Kolbe and Ox Nche earned spots at 13th and 11th respectively. This isn’t a token nod—it's acknowledgment that their impact transcends a single campaign and cements their status in world rugby’s top tier.
Kolbe, often described as having “nitroglycerine in his boots,” continues to be a premier force multiplier. He can flip stagnant ball into scoring chances, turn pressure into points, and transform mismatches into opening lines. Even when defenses feel they’ve pinned him down, he finds gaps that seem almost created for him. His value isn’t limited to attacking bursts; off the ball, he reads play sharply and pursues high balls with relentless aggression, displaying a level of versatility that belies his frame and defies conventional expectations.
Nché’s inclusion is equally remarkable. No prop had ever been nominated for World Player of the Year before this year, and his presence on the shortlist underscores how vital he is to South Africa’s setup. Despite him logging only 434 minutes, about 36% of the Springboks’ total pitch time, his influence feels disproportionate. What he brings to the field is a potent mix: scrummaging supremacy, explosive ball-carries, and a knack for timing momentum-changing interventions. He doesn’t just win scrums; he raises the game’s tempo and shifts the emotional tone of contests the moment he crouches down.
The ranking page for positions 20 through 11 is as follows:
- 20 Will Jordan
- 19 Dan Sheehan
- 18 Caelan Doris
- 17 Jordi Barrett
- 16 Jamison Gibson-Park
- 15 Damian Penaud
- 14 Tadhg Beirne
- 13 Cheslin Kolbe
- 12 Maro Itoje
- 11 Ox Nche
For the full list and detailed explanations, RugbyPass is releasing players progressively here: Top 100 Men’s Rugby Players 2025 (https://www.rugbypass.com/top-100-mens-rugby-players/).
Would you agree with this ranking? Do Kolbe’s all-around contributions or Nché’s set-piece dominance deserve higher positions, in your view? Share your thoughts and alternate rankings in the comments.
