The best 10 players in Welsh rugby right now

There are plenty of quality players in Wales

The 2025/26 campaign is heading into its closing stages and it’s been another bruising season for Welsh rugby.

A third-straight Six Nations Wooden Spoon underlines the scale of the challenge, but there are at least signs of life. Under Steve Tandy, Wales look to have steadied the ship and, at last, are showing hints of progress.

Results may not yet reflect it, but there is still genuine quality within the ranks and performances at club level have improved.

WalesOnline rugby correspondent Steffan Thomas has picked out the top 10 players currently leading the way in Welsh rugby.

10. James Botham (Cardiff)

The 28-year-old proved his quality with a few top-class performances for Wales during the Six Nations.

Botham is now a high-class international player and would have won more caps if it weren’t for injuries.

The backrower has been a consistent performer for Cardiff over a number of years; his physicality, effectiveness at the breakdown and defensive prowess make him a huge asset to the Arms Park club.

9. Ryan Smith (Ospreys)

The 29-year-old Australian has made a huge impact since joining the Ospreys from the Queensland Reds last summer.

Those in and around the Ospreys camp describe Smith as a natural leader who drives high standards and have been waxing lyrically about the influence he has had on the squad.

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The powerful second-row is an excellent lineout forward and a strong carrier, while his work rate is through the roof.

All the young forwards at the Ospreys will have benefitted from Smith’s influence.

8. Ben Carter (Dragons RFC)

The 25-year-old has been outstanding for the Dragons over the past couple of seasons and has developed into one of the better second-rows in the United Rugby Championship.

Carter has taken his game to another level over the past few months, establishing himself as a first-choice player for Wales.

Those who watched the Dragons’ famous victory over Stade Francais without commentary on EPCR TV would have been impressed with the way Carter handles the referee and he clearly commands respect.

If the Dragons are to be consistently competitive moving forward, Carter will be front and centre of any improvements.

7. Dan Edwards (Ospreys)

The 22-year-old is a key player for the Ospreys and has put in a number of standout performances in the URC.

Edwards has a commanding presence on the field and is developing a strong, all-round game.

The rising Ospreys star has a good kicking game, and he is also a threat with ball in hand.

Edwards has played an influential role in most of the Ospreys’ most notable victories in recent times and bounced back well after initially losing his Wales place to put in an outstanding performance in the victory over Italy.

6. Alex Mann (Cardiff)

You’d struggle to find a more consistent performer in the URC than the 24-year-old Cardiff backrower.

Mann is an all-action loose forward who puts his body on the line and gets through a mountain of unseen work which allows others to shine.

He is now a top-class Test player and put in a huge shift for Wales throughout the Six Nations.

In the defeat to Ireland in Dublin Mann made 32 tackles which is a record by any player in a single Six Nations match.

5. Sam Costelow (Scarlets)

The 25-year-old is a class act and the Scarlets are a significantly better side with Costelow pulling the strings at 10.

Costelow proved his worth with an outstanding individual performance in Wales’ narrow Six Nations defeat to Scotland and they may even have won if the Scarlets man hadn’t been forced off with an injury in the second half.

The man from Pencoed always seems to be the subject of unfair criticism on social media but anyone who understands rugby knows how good a player Costelow is when at his best.

Costelow is a triple-threat player who is the best 10 in Wales when it comes to getting a back-line moving. After a bumpy start to his international career expect Costelow to kick on over the next couple of years if he stays injury-free.

4. Dewi Lake (Ospreys)

The Wales captain was outstanding during the latter part of the Six Nations and is equally as influential for the Ospreys.

Wales’ lineout functioned very well after the opening round defeat to England and this was in large part down to Lake.

The 26-year-old brings a huge amount of physicality and is a powerful ball carrier who regularly makes significant post-contact metres.

Lake will be a huge loss to the Ospreys when he departs for Gloucester at the end of this season.

3. Fletcher Anderson (Scarlets)

Few had heard of the 23-year-old when the Scarlets announced his signing last October but he has been a revelation since arriving in west Wales from New Zealand.

The former Tasman and Crusaders No 8 is an outstanding player who has made a huge impact for the Scarlets.

Anderson is one of the best ball-carrying backrowers in the URC; he crosses the gain-line with ease, and his work rate is top class.

In the Scarlets’ recent URC defeat to Leinster in Dublin Anderson was the best player on the park and that’s quite the compliment considering the Kiwi was sharing the field with the likes of Caelan Doris.

2. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons RFC)

Wales’ best player throughout the Six Nations and if there was a British & Irish Lions tour this summer Wainwright would be a nailed- on selection.

The 28-year-old is the perfect blend of athleticism and physicality, while he is an explosive carrier who has consistently got over the gainline for Wales this season.

Wainwright also put in a sensational performance in the Dragons’ Challenge Cup victory over Stade Francais in Paris on Easter Sunday.

A class act who will be sorely missed by the Dragons when he joins Leicester Tigers next season.

1. Jac Morgan (Ospreys)

The Ospreys star is a genuine world-class player who very rarely drops below nine out of 10 on a weekly basis.

Morgan has been a standout player for Wales through all the bad times and shone on last summer’s British & Irish Lions tour of Australia.

He has also hit the ground running for the Ospreys since returning from a dislocated shoulder which kept the 26-year-old out of action for the best part of four months.

Morgan is a player who would start for most tier one nations.

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