All Blacks great suffers huge plummet in 2025 RugbyPass Top 100 from last year

The countdown to discover RugbyPass’ top men’s player in the world for 2025 has begun with the launch of the Top 100 this week, and All Blacks great Beauden Barrett has been one of the major casualties from last year.

The two-time World Rugby player of the year finished in 11th place in the 2024 Top 100, but has slumped 66 places to 77 in the rankings this year after RugbyPass announced the first 40 names (100 to 61), with the top 10 to be revealed on Monday, December 15.

The 34-year-old has largely held the All Blacks No.10 jersey this year, but saw Damian McKenzie handed the playmaking role by Scott Robertson from the start on three occasions, all of which resulted in victories.

A team of 11 journalists have compiled the list following an eventful 2025. France scrum-half Antoine Dupont currently holds the crown from 2024, but a lot has unfolded over the past 12 months.

In a year where France won the Six Nations, South Africa retained the Rugby Championship and the British and Irish Lions were victorious in Australia, plenty of players have thrown their hat into the ring.

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Dupont pipped Springboks duo Cheslin Kolbe and Pieter-Steph du Toit last year, who trailed behind the Frenchman in the top three. The world champions contributed five names to the top 10, with Eben Etzebeth, RG Snyman and Ox Nche featuring at the top of the pile.

A total of 11 nations are represented so far on the list, with 11 players making their first appearance, one of which is Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit, who returned to rugby union in August following 18 months in the NFL.

While Barrett has comfortably suffered the greatest fall thus far in the rankings, the biggest climber on the list is Wallabies loosehead Angus Bell, who has climbed to 67 after finishing 89th last year.

The next 20 players will be revealed on Wednesday.