Fantasy rugby is one of the fastest growing online games available to fans of the sport. However, building a team of the best fantasy players available can often be a daunting challenge to newcomers.
Including players that regularly score high numbers of points throughout the season can often be the difference between your team excelling and falling behind the competition.
There has been no shortage of top fantasy players throughout history, with some of the brightest players being must-have inclusions in order for teams to remain competitive throughout the season. But, which players rank among the best fantasy players of all-time?
The Best Fantasy Rugby Players Of All Time
Jonah Lomu
There’s little doubt that Jonah Lomu ranks among the best fantasy players in the history of the game. The All Black superstar is widely considered to be the first global rugby star and was renowned for his impact on the field. He rose to prominence during the 1995 World Cup, as he scored a staggering seven tries in five matches, with his standout performance coming in the last four against England, as he scored four tries.
His dominance on the field would continue at the following edition of the World Cup, as he scored 15 tries across the 1999 tournament. At international level, there were few better fantasy sports players to include in your team, as he scored 37 tries in 63 appearances for New Zealand, meaning that we could guarantee at least an average of a try per game for fantasy players.
Richie McCaw
There are potentially few more legendary figures in the world of New Zealand rugby that Richie McCaw. The flanker was revered for his longevity in the game, as he enjoyed a 14-year career as the All Blacks captain. McCaw led New Zealand to back-to-back World Cups in 2011 and 2015 and was regularly ranked among the best fantasy players due to his prowess in the breakdown.
McCaw was one of the most influential rugby stars on the planet throughout his career, and his record at the top level ensured that he was a regular points scorer in fantasy rugby. During his career, he scored a staggering 135 points in 140 matches for the Crusaders and scored 135 points in 148 appearances for New Zealand between 2001 and 2015.
Dan Carter
Fly-halves are always a key player in a fantasy team, as they can be among the highest points scorers in the game. Therefore, it is little surprise to see Dan Carter rank among the best fantasy players in history. Carter is revered as one of the greatest backs in the modern era, and he helped shape what the perfect fly-half should look like. His pinpoint kicking was trademark of the dominant New Zealand team, and his ability to rise to the pressure saw him frequently score high points in big matches throughout his career.
That was evident against the British & Irish Lions in 2005, as he scored a staggering 33 points. Carter also leads New Zealand in terms of international points, as he scored 1598 throughout his career, and was a standout star as the All Blacks won back-to-back World Cups in 2011 and 2015. Carter is undeniably one of the top fantasy players in history.
Jonny Wilkinson
Aside from the All Black stars that have ranked among the best fantasy players in history, Jonny Wilkinson was regularly a points scorer in fantasy rugby. Wilkinson immortalized himself in English sporting history in 2003, as he scored the match-clinching drop goal to seal a memorable World Cup final victory over Australia.
His career was made on that famous left boot, which scored an English-record of 36 drop goals at international level. However, he would also rank among the best fantasy players at club level, scoring 2,049 points for the Newcastle Falcons, and 1,884 points for Toulon. Wilkinson also retired from the sport having scored 1,179 points in 91 appearances for England.
Brian O’Driscoll
Many of the best fantasy players of all-time will be those that regularly score tries or conversions. However, important extras throughout the season can be picked up through players that break up the match. There were few better defensive players in history than Brian O’Driscoll, who led Ireland throughout one of their most dominant periods on the field.
The Irishman was revered for his offload, dummy passes, and interceptions throughout his career, and was a prominent member of the team that won the 2009 Grand Slam in the Six Nations. O’Driscoll was the key member of that dominant Irish side, as he scored 26 tries in the Six Nations as Ireland won the Triple Crown on three occasions.
Best Fantasy Rugby Players: Honorable Mentions
While the five previously mentioned players always ranked high as the best fantasy players in the world, there are some other huge stars omitted from the list despite impressing throughout their careers in the game.
Bryan Habana is a very obvious player that could have easily ranked among the top fantasy players in the world. The South African superstar was one of the fastest players to ever play the sport, and was a try-scoring machine throughout his career. Is 12-year career at international level saw him scored 67 tries, which included a staggering 15 tries at the World Cup, which is a joint-record.
One of the very best modern players in the world may one day make the list among the top fantasy players of all time. Antoine Dupont is the world’s best scrum-half, and is among the regular fantasy sports players to score points frequently. The Frenchman has already scored 65 points in 51 international matches, including ten points in just five matches at the Rugby World Cup.
Oval3: The Ultimate Fantasy Rugby Platform
Oval3 is the best fantasy rugby game on the planet, with users able to take their rugby knowledge to the next level. Users are able to collect, play and win official cards to use and trade with other players from across the world. The site has quickly become one of the most popular among rugby fans from across the world, with players able to assemble teams of five players to compete against other users from across the world.
Users can opt to participate in an all-star league, which is focused on major competitions such as Top14, Premiership, and Super Rugby. Meanwhile, players can instead opt to join other competitions that are focused purely on one competition, such as the Rugby World Cup. All users must create a team before being added to a league, with each roster being made up by a front row, a 2nd/3rd row, a half, a back, and an extra.
Oval3 enables players to make knowledgeable picks before confirming their team, as all users are able to assess the best fantasy players by examining the key information surrounding each player, which as key attributes, last five scores, and stats. Before finalizing your team, users will then determine their captain, which will score 20% points on their future scores.
The key rewards that come at Oval3 will be determined on performances in fantasy rugby. Players can expect to win a number of money-can’t-buy prizes, including tickets to live rugby matches, and unique digital cards for some of the world’s very best players. Fantasy sports players can expect to find an unrivalled experience at Oval3, creating a fun and safe gaming experience against family, friends and other rugby fanatics from across the world.
Conclusion
We have gone through some of the best fantasy players in the world of rugby above, examining their key skills and what ensured that they would be a regular high scorer in the world of fantasy rugby. Players can now sign up and begin playing at Oval3 to unearth the next future stars that will rank among the top fantasy players in rugby.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Considered The Best Fantasy Rugby Player of All Time?
We have gone through some of the best fantasy players in history above. However, Dan Carter and Jonah Lomu rank very high on the fantasy sports players list.
What Statistics Are Crucial to Be Listed as One of the Top Fantasy Rugby Players of All Time?
Regular points are a key factor in order to be ranked among the best fantasy players in the world. Therefore, players will be looking to select players that score tries and conversions frequently.
Are There Any Current Fantasy Rugby Players Who Have the Potential to Become Legends in the Future?
There are a number of current players that have potential to rank among the best fantasy players. However, Antoine Dupont could be a standout player for years to come.
How Has Fantasy Rugby Influenced the Way Fans Perceive the Sport?
Fans that follow the fantasy sports players throughout the year are now more influencied by points than they have been previously. Stats could be the difference-maker when it comes to making a final decision on a player.
Are There Any Historical Fantasy Rugby Performances That Still Stand Out Today?
Dan Carter’s staggering 33-point haul against the British & Irish Lions in 2005 is one of the standout historical rugby performances.
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