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Wallabies star Len Ikitau surges past World Cup winners in Top 100 rise
By Finn Morton
Len Ikitau has moved up more places than anyone else so far on the RugbyPass Top 100 in 2025, with the Wallaby rising 66 spots into 29th – now ranked ahead of dual Rugby World Cup-winning centres Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende.
Ikitau became a first-time recipient of the John Eales Medal at Rugby Australia’s night of nights in October, although the midfielder wasn’t there to collect the Wallabies Player of the Year honour, having already moved to Exeter.
The 27-year-old has joined Premiership heavyweights the Exeter Chiefs as part of a sabbatical with Rugby Australia. Ikitau has made four appearances for the Chiefs so far, including a recent start at inside centre against the Cheetahs in the Challenge Cup.
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In the Test arena, Ikitau formed a reliable centre pairing with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. Those two started all three matches against the British & Irish Lions, and combined during the famous comeback win over the Springboks in Johannesburg.
Suaalii is another big mover in the Top 100, shooting up 14 places. Australia’s Angus Bell is up 22 places, Fraser McReight has improved by eight positions, but Rob Valetini and Tom Wright have both dropped at least eight spots.
Ikitau is the big winner from the Top 100 so far, gaining more ground than anyone else. All Blacks scrum-half Cam Roigard is the second-biggest mover by rising 51 places, and France’s Thomas Ramos rounds out this top three after moving up 48 spots into 26th.
Damian Willemse and Caleb Clarke have both improved by at least 40 spots, while Damian McKenzie, Santiago Chocobares and Jasper Wiese are up by at least 30. There are another 20 players who have risen by less than 20 places.
“It’s been an awesome journey,” Ikitau said after winning the John Eales Medal at the 2025 Rugby Australia Awards in Sydney.
“This is probably one of the best years that I’ve enjoyed in the Wallabies jersey, in terms of the way we’ve been playing. You know, the way that we want to play. It’s just been exciting.”
11 journalists had their say after the 2025 international season, with Ikitau ranked one spot ahead of Willemse and one place behind McKenzie. Ikitau is in front of 11 centres in the Top 100, while Sione Tuipulotu and Jordie Barrett are the only midfielders ranked higher so far.
The biggest mover down at the time of writing is All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett, who has dropped by 66 spots. Marcus Smith, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Bundee Aku and Charles Ollivon have also moved a fair way when you compare the 2024 and 2025 lists.
The top 10 will be revealed on Monday, December 15.
Rugby’s best of the best, ranked by experts. Check out our list of the Top 100 Men's Rugby Players 2025 and let us know what you think!
