The FASTEST Rugby Players of All Time! (Lightning Speed)

Here are the best highlights from the fastest rugby players in history, all put into one video for your viewing pleasure.
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Let us know who/what you want to see next.
Music: non copyright music from infraction.
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Tags: rugby, rugby tries, who is fastest rugby player, rugby speed, the fastest rugby player, rugby fastest player, fastest players in rugby, rugby highlights, rugby step, rugby fastest runs, great rugby tries, rugby big hits, rugby fastest, rugby fastest sprints, rugby fast, rugby foot race, Bryan habana, best rugby tries, best rugby plays, best rugby steps, best rugby players, best rugby highlights, rugby race, Rieko Ioane best rugby runs, fastest rugby players, All Blacks, rugby union

[@vitamingreen4815]

Bryan Habana. He was not just fast, he was a brilliant rugby player. He had such good instinct

[@ryanwaugh1]

In 2005 his pace was unreal.

[@TGA-88]

@@ryanwaugh1 Correct. He was in his prime in 2005. He was at his quickest also

[@ripped00nananu5]

I'LL put my money on Rupeni in a game situation...change of direction without losing pace...in his prime no one could touch him...able to change a game all by himself

[@YallNotWhite_YourPINK]

Actually many team mates including rupeni have said themselves that lomu and cullen were quicker the rupeni

[@joperokodravu5689]

Yep........got dat right. He was the best

[@whokilledjr3719]

Out of that list, rupeni by a country mile, but only when he's fit. If cullen and lomu were on that list though.... Edit, oh cullen is in that list. I'm for cullen then😊

[@scottsmith2148]

For outright speed, I think Rupeni wins it. The most elusive ball runner has to go to Cullen. But I played jnr rugby & went school with Joe Rokocoko so he's my favorite of all time. Such a humble person & anyone that knows him personally, could not think of a bad word to say about him!

[@mj_1232]

@@YallNotWhite_YourPINK Whattttt

[@rogergamini6773]

Rupeni was above all. He was was just classic the way he attacked

[@lr7589]

Rupeni all day, even when he put on all that weight playing in the european league he was still fast

[@johnnyshoo5448]

Rupeni for me, closely followed by Habana. Both lightning quick 🔥🔥🔥

[@cerievans4099]

I played at amateur level and a chap named Ray Young joined us for half a season before me moved to Scotland. He tore a hamstring when about to score his sixth try in the first match I played with him. In the bar I said, "You've clearly done some sprinting in your time." "Yes, I won the British Universities 100M, 200M and 400M three years running." Rupeni for me, in this video.

[@geronimo7834]

Rupeni Caucau is probably the best & fastest winger of all time . Hands Down🙌

[@muliparu]

Awesome video bro, I'd pick Rupeni to be fastest, he was an absolute freak, when he dismantled the Crusaders and Warratahs, Amazing!

[@foxxymorony]

Caucau had an amazing ability to change direction and not lose any speed. You just don't see that in other rugby players

[@pdvjourno5893]

Reckon the quickest bloke ever hasn't made the list here - Tonderai Chavanga.

[@Vid4you365]

yea he def the fastest

[@attilathehunny486]

Yeah, this list is a joke without 1) Chavanga, 2) Zee Ngwenya & 3) Doug Howlett. They were way faster than anyone else shown here.

[@reddragon1572]

@@attilathehunny486 the quickest in the early pro era are probably Vunibaka, Chavhanga, Rupenni, Ngwenya, Paulse, Shane Williams (up to 40m), Rokocoko, Howlett, Mils Mul, Anesi, Cedric Heymans, Habana. that's off the top of my head. The guy that played for Wasps and England was also supposed to have a crazy top end speed.

[@loots0533]

@@reddragon1572yeah and Jongi Nokwe who played for the Cheetahs and a couple of games for South Africa was pretty rapid too.

[@kokochipssyd7686]

Its between Rupeni and Cullen, efficient running style, these 2 look like they were gracefully galloping.

[@loveadventures88]

I never seen anyone to be like Rupeni Caucau.

[@kumulsfan8090]

Lol what!! What's different about rupenis running style?

[@AisVT94]

Yep! For Sure! When He Scored Those Super Rugby Tries For Blues.

[@Andy_M986]

Rupeni was damn quick, shame his work rate wasn't the best.

[@bobbuilder7946]

Cullen. Maybe not the out and out fastest but something about him.. just seemed to make an extra few inches every step from somewhere. Such a gifted runner.

[@GunKaraka]

It was like he used to float above the pitch as he ran. Just so damn graceful.

[@TheT4Kproductions]

I saw him outpace Breyton Paulse in stopping a run away try in NZ, ABs v RSA... 2001 ish. He was well behind Breyton and caught him, came from no where. Was amazing to see, as I thought at the time... no one was faster than Breyton Paulse, apparently Cullen was 🔥🔥🔥

[@zatoichi3134]

his speed was deceptive, he would have been a brilliant track and field 200m runner maybe 400m, his style of running suited it perfectly imho.

[@bodybalanceU2]

he wasnt called the "Paekakiriki Express" for nothing - christian was pure poetry in motion

[@django4427]

Rupeni Caucaunibuca in his prime wasn’t even his prime is the scary thing. Had the man bother to train & sharpen his God given talent. Same as Jonah Lomu playing his whole career with kidney problems. Rupeni for me.

[@Wayaboy10]

Marika Vunibaka in his prime would blitz em all

[@tombutcher3021]

Vidiri, Vunibaka, Rupini all have something in common

[@kumulsfan8090]

Rupeni looks like hes floating across the ground, very efficient, smooth running style

[@tasha1307]

I knew rieko was fast, tend to forget these days that he was top 10 fastest wingers when he was there. Fastest centre rn!

[@redhillriders4882]

I miss the days he played on the Wing!

[@petasmith6258]

Sosene Anesi is still the quickest in Nz Rugby over 40m. As quick as Doug Howlett was (Nz age group 100m champ.) he said on TAB Sports Cafe that he couldn't hold a candle to Rupeni & that Sosene was deceptively quicker than him. As a side note, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi ran 100m @ 10.7 while still at high school. He also scored a 100m try against the Australian under-17 League School Boys.

[@solomonevuli4957]

Doug howlett couldn't catch rupeni ...him and mils muliaina were outpaced an npc game

[@petasmith6258]

@@solomonevuli4957 That's exactly what I said...🤦

[@floziq8117]

T.t.t the maori halfback? Are you a comedian? So he's faster than xavier savage.. yh right

[@petasmith6258]

@@floziq8117 Believe it or don't, I don't give a shit. Doesn't change the fact that, that's is TTT's official time.

[@floziq8117]

@@petasmith6258 bahahahaha whatta crack up guy. "Official time"... yeeaahhh riiightttt 🙄🤣 must've been a hurricane behind him

[@markrutherford6010]

Christian Cullen lines he runs are incredible. Ripeni runs beautiful lines too. I am not saying they are fastest.

[@malligrub]

With the exception of Rupeni and Habana and maybe Wade, this is a list of normal fast guys- not the fastest ever. All the actual fastest guys ever are not in here - Tonderai Chavangha, prime Marika Vunibaka, Joeli Latuimalagi, Zee Ngwenya, Ricky Nalatu, Nigel Walker, Sebastien Carret et al

[@thomas_corbet]

Thanks for mentioning Carrat, who might actually be the fastest of them all with an official time of 10.13 indoors (if memory serves me right) on the 100m. Well he was a sprinter before he was a rugby player, so that helps.

[@rugbycrazyfijian3806]

For Fijian wingers Sireli Bobo is the fastest ever and also if we are talking fastest ever we should also mention Brenton Pulse of SA...that MF was fast as hell

[@SportZFan4L1fe]

Prime Lome Faatau was fast AF too.

[@Cashbarni]

Two Zimbabweans on your list

[@malligrub]

@@SportZFan4L1fe 100% - he was lightning - and actually really good at the game too

[@lukenaca722]

This winger should dominate both southern hemisphere and northern hemisphere's Rugby, so I'll put my money on" Rupeni Caucau".

[@aporosatiliva9673]

You forgot Vunibaka.

[@boldbeam4534]

Chavanga, Ngwenya or Perry Baker. For outright speed these 3 are unmatched

[@attilathehunny486]

Yeah, if we’re talking pure speed and not overall rugby ability, then those dudes were a cut above everyone else on here.

[@carltruter]

Nice list, but there are many more speedsters like: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Will Jordan, Tonderai Chavanga, Jongi Nokwe, Zee Ngwenya, Doug Howlett, Jason Robinson, Shane Williams Just to name a few. There are still a lot more to add. :) Well done for making this video. I like it.

[@nathanmitchell9695]

Are we counting 7s? If so there's Carlin Isles, Perry Baker, Dan Norton, Senatla (I forget his first name) amongst others as well. I believe Carlin Isles has clocked in at 10.13s for 100m at some point in his career. I believe there is a Jamaican sprinter called Warren Weir who took either Olympic or World Championship Bronze (can't remember which) in the 200m in a year when Jamaica took a clean sweep of medals in the event. He made the switch to rugby after falling into obscurity as a sprinter because season after season he was getting consistently slower. He was in his early 20s when he won that medal, I believe he was 30 when he made the switch to rugby so he was well past his best when he first laced up his boots professionally but he might well have the best 100m PB out of any rugby player ever, I don't have an exact time but it was below 10s.

[@carltruter]

@nathanmitchell9695 i think only 15s apply in this list. It would be a never ending list i we include 7s aswell. But my all time top 3 in 15s would be. Tonderai Chavanga, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, Bryan Habana

[@20165776YEAR]

@@carltruter Cobus Reinach still has it and was faster younger. TOP 14 - Essai de Cobus REINACH (MHR) - Racing 92

[@floziq8117]

@@nathanmitchell9695 if we counting 7s then surely trae Williams is the faster rugby player o.a.t running a 100m of 10.10

[@aldobonaso3481]

what about Mvovo? The guy was insanely fast! Didn't get the recognition he deserved imho

[@nicgeld]

Tonderai Chavanga

[@mugweruwanji2904]

tonderai was absolute rockets, even faster than habana, i believe even faster than ngwenya, injuries rocked him

[@ablocd]

Habana was a speed demon is his hayday 💨

[@brentmeistergeneral6074]

Got skinned by the yank though!

[@ablocd]

@@brentmeistergeneral6074 that try is a classic 😂

[@MadMarchTaffy]

For a fast guy he had a really poor running style - no knee lift at all

[@aldobonaso3481]

@@MadMarchTaffy tell that to his try record...and the people that couldn't catch him! 🤣

[@aldobonaso3481]

@@brentmeistergeneral6074 he slipped slightly as he tried to change direction, great speed by the yank, but everybody gets burned or skinned at some point in their careers.

[@thomas_corbet]

Sébastien Carrat might have been faster than all of them, hard to tell without official times... but he ran 100m in 10.13, so I'd say his chances are good! Cool vid!

[@masteryoda498]

Even as a former football (soccer)player, I am in awe at the athleticism, strength and speed of Rugby players, they are incredible athletes.

[@raintreerefuge4679]

Interesting, former soccer player wasn't in your lore, master yoda... and you can do 100 flips per minute, how are you in awe?

[@thenorseprodigy7466]

@@raintreerefuge4679 Soccer players are much better athletes than rugby players.

[@biggest23]

@@thenorseprodigy7466 …..No.

[@robertcottam8824]

@@thenorseprodigy7466 That simply isn’t true. Soccer players are slower, weaker and in some instances literally half the size. In ANY sporting competition - other than soccer itself - soccer players would lose.

[@thenorseprodigy7466]

@@robertcottam8824 Soccer players are faster, more agile and fit

[@stona9222]

On speed alone, Tonderai Chavhanga, not mentioned here, was quicker than most, but to me Cullen stands out with his deceptive style of running.

[@thebossiam2960]

Good list. I’d rather see a rugby player who can run fast than a sprinter who can play rugby.

[@shanegilbert6574]

Perry Baker USA sevens is the latter

[@JacquesHolliday]

This clip makes Kolbe look the fastest, but Caucau against the men of his day was out of this world. Agree with Tonderai comments by many - out-and-out pace without equal

[@iniaguaniago4845]

There is another I guess you should include in this Baker from USA 7s team and(vinaya Habosi from the drua team ) just check it out.

[@ydhddhfhdbd7438]

Christian Wade🔥 Take a look at his Performances and Tributes for Wasps, Buffalo Bills on the NFL and now Racing 92 in both 7s and 15s🔥. Outstanding Stats🔥

[@faanross]

glad you included rupeni caucaunibuca, man on a day his cylinders were firing he was SOMETHING ELSE!

[@hayfron]

Takudzwa Ngwenya! He could even burn Habana..

[@RassieErasmustheGOAT]

Means nothing without stats.Bryan made history

[@mosreloaded]

Was waiting for Cullen the whole vid and then he arrived..lol He was lightning fast. Bauden Barret could have made the vid as well? Out of my playing days some guys are just faster in rugby boots than on the track. Cullen might have been one?

[@Cuchufly]

great video bro

[@therugbyspot2575]

Thanks bro I’m glad you enjoyed it!

[@miriamatinairatu-vk6dm]

In the 90s and early 2000.Fijians were and still the best finishers in the game and were among the quickest.. Marika Vunibaka Filimoni Delasau Rupeni Caucaunibuca Sireli Bobo Joe Rokocoko Fero Lasagavibau to name a few.. Only wished to see Caucau and Habana square off... But unfortunately when Caucau left for France, Habana debuted in Super Rugby.. Vunibaka was one of the quickest wingers of all time.. It was said the longer the yard the quicker he became.. He took names as in ran around the likes of .. Cullen Wilson Paulse France winger..white hair .. Dominici Name a few..

[@TGA-88]

Habana wasn't the fastest in the SA domestic set up. In 2006, he was just behind Danwell Demus and Trompie Nontshinga at the Bulls in sprint tests. Was behind Alshaun Bock,Nokwe, Chavhanga, Rylands, Aplon and Mentz in the domestic setup. Habana was the best though

[@donovanvallance2632]

I think all of us cab agree tendai chavanga from the Stormers and Springboks was the fastest of all time!

[@naisyjohns]

I think someone that deserves an honorable mention is Anthony Tuitavake. He didn't play much for the abs, but man was that dude fast

[@filipekaisuva1489]

Rupeni Caucau was fast...he had bulk (looked heavy), but speed was there. Speed + weight (momentum) he is same as Lomu. But add in side step, he is the best in that category. It is funny that x-factors do not last.....something always crop up.. Rupeni is a classic story. I always wanted him to play consistently for Fiji, he never did.Always a black sheep...:😗

[@dianewilson6673]

NO ONE is as graceful and lethal as Cullen

[@InsideJust]

when bryan habana started sprinting, everyone else just jogged because they know, there's no keeping up.

[@juniorjaybrown7465]

I believe that there are a lot of guys that should be on that list but maybe look at doing a list regarding speed in their respective numbers starting from Number 1 loose head prop through to 15 fullback.

[@andrewcarter7503]

Megali Harvey. Her try in RWC 2014 Canada v France is a joy.

[@cytu1198]

Including 7s players? Baker from the USA team is real quick. There’s also that USA winger that burned Habana at the World Cup? 2007?

[@AliAli-vc2fj]

Rupeni all day the guy was fast i was at that game (the try against crusaders) 🤘🤘🤘

[@christiantopping4386]

Prime jonny May needs to be on that list

[@mugweruwanji2904]

Put hosea gear in there, he had some awesome sprints when he played 7s and when he was with the hurricanes

[@Anonymous.13342]

Rupeni Caucau🔥

[@Wham0]

Fred Owsley, Christian Wade, and Adam Radwan are most probably the fastest players at the professional Union level

[@ablocd]

Rieks fastest 13 in the world atm

[@NzNicK253]

One of the fastest players in the world period.

[@derickwilliams2195]

Hempas Rademeyer was like lightning ...

[@rosihantu1]

Habana for straight line speed, Rupeni for shifty speed and Kolbie for 0-60 acceleration

[@jackieking1522]

Cullen, always Cullen.....I know I'm biased but he is the one whose clips give me goosebumps.

[@federxv]

Great video, but the misspelled names was a little annoying

[@sweetmana23]

So I guess Jonah was slow? Nice vid all the same.

[@VonDutch68]

Well without a match race over 100 yards we will never know, who indeed was/is the fastest.

[@davewilson9738]

Interesting selection devoid of a single French player? France has had some of the best backs in world rugby and I am a biased Englishman xD

[@cozzyinternet4706]

can please you make one for Fast Rugby Players, regardless of their positions......

[@TrinityMentality]

Os Du Randt

[@stevenkingsley7781]

How about a series showing a video of the fastest for each of the 15 positions?

[@cozzyinternet4706]

@@stevenkingsley7781 Brilliant Idea for a Happy New Year!!!!! 😃👍

[@smudge6831]

Missed Doug Howlett. Cullen for my money was the best. Could step and swerve without losing any pace. A try scoring machine

[@greenplasticgun]

Isles, Baker, Chavanga. Top 3 of all time.

[@dariankrieger4813]

With Cullen it was the hands the step and the lighting quick acceleration. With Kolbe it's the step and acceleration. If Habana runs on to the ball his gone. If Riko starts to stride you are in the dust. Caleb Clark getting that amount of speed in just a couple of meters is a hazard to those who wants to tackle him. But man oh man if Will Jordan takes off it's like watching a racing stallion gunning for the finish line.

[@dzidzaichidumba5435]

Tonderai Chavhanga 🇿🇼🇿🇼🇿🇼

[@daviddbell1987]

Tom varndell is missing off the list also tom croft too

[@napstersmall1806]

I'll put my money on Rupeni, his explosive and fast

[@AnelePoni]

Habana🎉

[@robertpicton1]

I miss those Habana intercept tries.

[@jasonwatson2948]

Rieko Ioane is the third fastest but still freakishly fast

[@nmp_optic6823]

I dont know if i just missed them but how the hell is jai field, greg eden, niall evalds and regan grace not on here

[@Brianthehomeinvaderlewis]

aphiwe dyantyi

[@rikimackey7984]

Shame he is out

[@johnchristie6195]

Michael Cleary a Wallaby winger, was a sprinter who clocked 9.3 for 100 yards .

[@johnlewis2972]

That is faster than Mr bolt olympic record think again

[@justinstephenson9360]

@@johnlewis2972 Not true, Bolt record is over 100 metres not 100 yards (100 yards is 91.44 metres). 9.3 for 100 yards is roughly 10.20 for 100 metres

[@johnchristie6195]

John Lewis :You think again ,read correctly 100yards Not a 100metres ! .yesteryear there was athletics races over 100yards . It’s a shorter distance than 100 metres .

[@zonicaloggenberg2869]

Ioane 💥💨

[@melranamu2895]

Caucau and only Caucau

[@itsinthetreesitscoming7431]

Caucau was an absolute freak - mad pace, frightening power and great elusiveness. If he could have been arsed in the slightest he would have been the best attacking player in history...

[@MrIncorr3ct]

In all my years playing rugby I've never played with/against me (maybe my younger brother) yet these dudes are next level. A man doing flat out is an absolute thing of beauty. I say "man" cos the fastest women are the speed of an average guy, plus they run like girls 😆

[@user-fz7qr2iv6o]

Shane Williams voted the best winger in the world

[@Ivanoskyao]

Kurt-Lee Arendse

[@militoupercut3607]

Prime Lome fa’atau would smoke 💨 everyone on this list ✊🏾

[@abatesnz]

No Beauden Barrett? Doug Howlett was an actual sprinter and skinned Jason Robinson. I can't believe you've excluded him, Carlin Isles and Perry Baker - all sprinters. Another would be Takudzwa Ngwenya, the American winger that skinned Habana in 2007 RWC's try of the tournament.

[@davidhogg657]

As far as the fastest..I'd say isles, ngwenya and chavanga were/are quicker than all these. But the best, the one in his prime who you'd want to give the ball to if you needed a score was surely Rupeni

[@tracyharrington6976]

Habana the man who raced a cheetah for charity.. Class act ❤

[@miriamatinairatu-vk6dm]

But was beaten by the winger for USA in a pool game WC 07

[@charles952]

Undoubtedly Rupeni Caucau is the fastest and at 110kg, he will run between, through and around anybody on this list

[@user-oe9hw9oc4k]

Bryan habana he had. Brilliant speed and let's not forget he scored more trys than jonu lomu

[@KekeHimona]

Habana said post-match. "I said in 2007, I don't think I can ever be compared to Jonah. The way he changed the game, you know he was a class act. He did it in two tournaments; it's taken me three. Also don’t forget Jonah’s health was deteriorating even while he played for All Blacks. I’m not knocking Habana at all as he is exceptional. My comment is directed at “you” for even daring to compare a fit player against a very ill player who lost his battle too soon and passed away.

[@SpotlightShowdown]

Breyton Paulse arguably the fastest of all time and not included? Forgotten legend

[@mfp4136]

Lomu was also very quick.

[@tharu_-vn9eo]

How can catch rupeni?

[@mattkey4404]

Jason Robinson ?

[@vishnupillay3373]

Cheshlin kolbe

[@44tank255]

The disrespect on Lome Fa'atau 😠😠😂😂

[@Harry-fc5qd]

Where's Jonah Lomu? The guy was 6' 4" 125kgs & could crack the 100 metres in full rugby gear in just over 10 seconds.!!!

[@stephendavies6209]

Lomu’s 100m time was 11.2s

[@timorum]

Some great players here but the Fastest all black was doug howlett 100m - 10.38sec, fastest player ever was Carlin Isles - 100m in 10.14 sec

[@FredTS]

For me Caucau was the fastest out of any player I've seen. It was elegant speed because it didn't look like he was trying and his running technique is textbook.

[@rob8863]

No Cobus Reinach??

[@user-mm1qo3tj7z]

Cobus Reinach!

[@mikeneemia3678]

You forgot about Doug Howlett an actual sprinter🤦‍♂️

[@bordercollie1140]

Don't usually leave comments, but where in the name of God is Jonah Lomu?

[@timn6864]

Rocket Rod Davies?

[@paullanda8268]

you missed a few. actually quite a few.