Women's rugby has exploded onto the global stage with sold-out stadiums, Olympic medals, and players who've become household names. The 2025 Rugby World Cup showcased a generation redefining excellence in the sport.

After analyzing expert rankings, community discussions, and game footage, I've compiled the 25 most electrifying female rugby players dominating right now. These aren't just trophy collectors—they're trailblazers combining raw athleticism with rugby intelligence that makes coaches' eyes light up.

Let's dive into who's making women's rugby unmissable.

25 Best Female Rugby Players Dominating 2025 (GOAT Rankings)

1. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (New Zealand, Wing)

If there's a GOAT conversation in women's rugby, it starts and ends with Portia Woodman-Wickliffe. The New Zealand winger is the all-time leading try scorer in Rugby World Cup history—men's and women's combined. Let that sink in for a second.

Her resume reads like a fantasy: two Rugby World Cups (2017, 2022), two Olympic gold medals, two Sevens World Cups, and the 2017 World Rugby Player of the Year award. She's scored three or more tries in a single Test seven times, including a jaw-dropping record as the Black Ferns' all-time leading try scorer with 48 tries in just 28 Tests.

What makes Portia truly special? She came out of retirement in 2024 and immediately reminded everyone why she's the standard. As teammate Ruahei Demant explained, "She's a powerful player, a fast player, and that's what people see. How is she going to go from great to great? That's exactly what she's doing, she's evolving, she's continuing to evolve."

Coming from a family of sporting internationals—her father and uncle played for the All Blacks, her aunt for the Silver Ferns—rugby excellence literally runs in her blood.

2. Sophie de Goede (Canada, Number 8)

Here's where it gets controversial. Sophie de Goede won the 2025 World Rugby Player of the Year award, and Reddit users are pretty vocal about her being the current best in the world. One fan described her as a "fucking unreal player" who kicks for goal, captains at a young age, and does "the whole shabang."

The Canadian powerhouse represents everything modern rugby demands. She's a complete player—dominant in the breakdown, powerful in the carry, and yes, she can kick conversions when needed. That versatility makes her virtually impossible to game plan against.

3. Ellie Kildunne (England, Fullback)

The 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year has stated her ambition clearly: she wants to be the best player in the world, male or female. After watching her play, you start to believe she might actually pull it off.

Kildunne's speed and footwork are absolutely lethal. She topped the 2025 Six Nations in metres carried, metres gained, and line breaks, essentially putting on a masterclass every time she stepped on the field. Rugby commentator Nick Heath perfectly captured her essence: "Ellie's attitude to wanting to better her best is what has made her truly world class and at times, unplayable."

Her attacking flair has drawn comparisons to some of the greatest fullbacks the game has ever seen. When she gets the ball in space, defenders collectively hold their breath.

4. Emily Scarratt (England, Centre)

If Portia Woodman-Wickliffe is the Sevens GOAT, Emily Scarratt might be the 15s equivalent. England's all-time leading points scorer with over 100 caps, a 2014 World Cup winner's medal, and the 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year award.

YouTube analyst SquidgyGoat made a bold claim that resonated across the rugby community: "Emily Scarratt has a shout at just being the best rugby player I've watched, period. She's like a perfect melting of Brian O'Driscoll and Conrad Smith, maybe the two best 13s in the men's game over the last 40 years."

Her kicking game is unmatched, her defensive reads are textbook, and her ability to unlock defenses with a single pass or perfectly weighted kick makes her one of the most complete players the game has ever seen.

5. Zoe Aldcroft (England, Lock)

The 2021 World Rugby Player of the Year and current England captain doesn't say much off the field, but her actions on it speak volumes. Aldcroft's work rate is legendary—she's typically the first player arriving at every breakdown, her defense is rock solid, and she leads from the front with quiet determination.

England Head Coach John Mitchell captured it perfectly: "She's a winner. She demonstrates quality actions in every performance. She's very, very consistent. Her words aren't cheap. When she speaks, they're very powerful."

Fun fact? She carries a hand-knitted Jonny Wilkinson doll in her bag to every game as a good luck charm. That blend of superstition and supreme confidence is what champions are made of.

6. Gabrielle Vernier (France, Centre)

The French centre has become so dominant that some people jokingly suggested she should play every position. Vernier was the 2023 Six Nations Player of the Championship, and her ability to break through tackles, offload in contact, and create opportunities defines modern center play.

Despite being small in stature, her explosiveness and timing make her nearly impossible to contain. Sharp, cutting runs are her trademark—she sees space before it exists.

7. Pauline Bourdon Sansus (France, Scrum-half)

Known as "Popo," Bourdon Sansus has fundamentally changed how France plays rugby. The French newspaper Le Figaro noted, "Pauline's arrival probably changed the French team's game more than any other player. For years, France fell just short—often for lack of variety. A scrum-half who can shift to fly-half with ease and kick brilliantly, she changed everything."

Her vision, tactical kicking, and audacity (she'll slot a 50-metre drop goal just because the moment calls for it) make her one of the most complete scrum-halves in the game.

8. Sarah Bern (England, Prop)

Here's something you don't see every day: a prop with the footwork of a sevens player and the pace of a winger. Bern's bulldozing runs regularly require three or four defenders to bring her down, and she holds her own in the scrum against anyone in the world.

England scrum-half Natasha Hunt summed it up: "She's an unbelievable athlete. The work that she gets through, how quick she can run and then hold up a scrum like she does, is remarkable." Bern started in the backs before moving to the front row—that journey explains her unique skill set.

9. Marlie Packer (England, Flanker)

The 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year and England captain is a defensive nightmare for opponents. Packer led all players in try-scoring in 2023 while anchoring the Red Roses' relentless defensive system.

Her leadership transformed England's pack into an unstoppable force. She's the kind of player who sets the tone from the first whistle—aggressive, uncompromising, and absolutely fearless.

10. Ruahei Demant (New Zealand, Fly-half)

The 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year was named Player of the Final after guiding the Black Ferns to their unforgettable World Cup triumph on home soil. As the Black Ferns' co-captain and chief playmaker, Demant controls games with precision and composure.

She and her sister Kiritapu made history as the first Māori sisters to both represent the Black Ferns, adding another layer to her legacy as a cultural ambassador for the sport.

11. Aoife Wafer (Ireland, Number 8)

At just 22 years old, Wafer became the first Irish woman named Women's Six Nations Player of the Championship. She's scored 12 tries in 15 Tests—ridiculous numbers for a forward—and was instrumental in Ireland's historic WXV win over New Zealand in 2024.

One of the game's most destructive number eights around the ruck, she's instinctive and unrelenting in her ball carrying. Defenses know her name, and that fear factor shows every time she touches the ball.

12. Alex Matthews (England, Flanker/Number 8)

A cornerstone of the English pack for over a decade, Matthews was the youngest member of the 2014 World Cup-winning squad at just 20 years old. She's heading into her fourth World Cup this year, a testament to her sustained excellence.

13. Abby Dow (England, Wing)

When Dow gets the ball out wide, opposition fans collectively wince. She topped the 2025 Six Nations try-scoring charts while also leading in metres carried, metres gained, and line breaks. The 27-year-old is fast, elusive, and has world-class finishing ability.

Off the field, she's known for her crocheting hobby and holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Imperial College London. That combination of athletic brilliance and academic achievement represents the modern professional athlete perfectly.

14. Meg Jones (England, Centre)

The two-time Olympian battled back from multiple serious injuries to become PWR Player of the Season. Jones was described by commentator Claire Thomas as someone who "oozes threat, charisma, and the sort of talent you can't coach."

Her resilience story resonates beyond rugby—she's proof that setbacks don't define careers; how you respond to them does.

15. Ruby Tui (New Zealand, Wing/Centre)

Reddit captured the Ruby Tui phenomenon perfectly: "She's just so damn likeable it's hard to objectively appraise her rugby performance, but she's also clearly outstanding."

Tui won Olympic gold in Tokyo (2020) before switching to 15s to win the 2021 Rugby World Cup. She's become a role model for the next generation, representing everything that makes rugby special—fierce competition combined with infectious joy for the game.

16. Hannah Botterman (England, Prop)

Known as the "turnover Queen," Botterman has built a reputation for producing crucial turnovers on her defensive five-metre line seemingly at will. Her jackaling ability is so feared that opposition game plans specifically target her.

A Quora user shared a telling story: their daughter competed against Botterman for county selection, and "it was obvious who was getting the county shirt—it was Hannah." That early dominance has translated to international excellence.

17. Hope Rogers (USA, Prop)

The most-capped women's Eagle of all time, Rogers is exactly what you'd expect from someone described by their coach as someone who, if he "had 15 Hope Rogers, we would be world number one."

Some confessed: "Hope Rogers genuinely scares the shit out of me. If she ran at me I would move out the way." That physical dominance, combined with her prolific try-scoring as a prop, makes her one of the most formidable forwards in the game.

18. Katelyn Vaha'akolo (New Zealand, Wing)

The 2023 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year switched from rugby league in 2023 and immediately made an impact. She's scored 24 tries in just 18 Black Ferns appearances, a conversion rate that's almost unheard of.

What's remarkable? She only picked up a rugby ball with the intention of playing in 2020. Within a year, she was in New Zealand's national rugby league team. Within three years, she was breaking records in rugby union.

19. Alex Tessier (Canada, Fly-half/Centre)

The 2024 World Player of the Year nominee has been the lynchpin in Canada's charge to second in the World Rugby rankings. She's essential to Canada's success—a driving force in attack and the tactical brain behind their confounding style of play.

Canada head coach Kévin Rouet noted, "Alex has grown as a leader and made huge strides as a rugby player, especially in the last three years since fully committing to rugby as a full-time player."

20. Sadia Kabeya (England, Flanker)

Rugby fans rave about Kabeya's "simply unreal work rate," with one hoping "may she have a longgg career." Her engine never stops, her tackles are ferocious, and she's emerged as one of England's most important forwards.

21. Madoussou Fall (France, Lock)

Standing at 1.87 metres tall, Fall is the tallest player in the French squad. Born in Guinea and raised in Paris, she switched from basketball to rugby and turned her height into a weapon. It's now a familiar sight to see multiple defenders clinging to her when she drives forward with ball in hand.

She was named to the 2022 World Rugby Dream Team and earned the nickname "the giraffe," which became the symbol of her wellness clothing brand, Imani.

22. Stacey Waaka (New Zealand, Wing)

Dubbed "The Smiling Assassin" during her legendary sevens career, Waaka has a trophy collection that includes multiple world titles and two Olympic gold medals. In 15s, she's a two-time Rugby World Cup winner, scoring a crucial try in the 2022 final that effectively ended England's hopes.

Her running style, pace, and ability to read the game make her a threat from anywhere on the field—all while wearing her trademark smile.

23. Alev Kelter (USA, Centre)

A three-time Olympian and former ice hockey player, Kelter represents the multi-sport athlete pathway to rugby excellence. She was the top USA points scorer in the Paris 2024 bronze medal-winning team and became the first American woman to win an English Premiership title with Saracens.

24. Morgane Bourgeois (France, Fullback)

At just 22 years old, "Momo" was the top points scorer in the 2025 Women's Six Nations. Her exceptionally accurate kicking game and nose for the try line make her a match-winner.

She's often compared to compatriot Jessy Trémoulière (Women's Player of the Decade 2010-2020), but she's carving her own path. With a journalism Master's degree, she's also chronicling her World Cup journey, giving fans unprecedented inside access.

25. Neve Jones (Ireland, Hooker)

Despite measuring only five foot two inches, Jones has made a career out of challenging the impossible. The formidable tackler consistently disrupts opposition attacks and gets over the gain line despite being smaller than most players on the field.

A three-time PWR champion with Gloucester-Hartpury, teammate Tatyana Heard explained: "She's just an absolute warrior! She gets through so much work, she's fearless. You want people that other teams don't want to play against and Neve is definitely that girl."

Final Thoughts

Ranking the best female rugby players is nearly impossible—excellence looks different across positions and eras. Portia Woodman-Wickliffe's try-scoring prowess, Zoe Aldcroft's work-rate dominance, and Pauline Bourdon Sansus's tactical genius represent entirely different forms of brilliance.

That diversity is what makes women's rugby so compelling right now. From powerful props like Hope Rogers to speedsters like Ellie Kildunne and tactical masterminds like Sophie de Goede, the game has never been more exciting. If you haven't been watching, you're missing some of the best rugby being played anywhere in the world.