Can You Identify These UK Rugby Players?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Identify These UK Rugby Players?
Image: Harlequins via YouTube

About This Quiz

The UK certainly cannot claim to produce all of the best players in the history of rugby, either rugby league or rugby union, but it has more than its share of them. British rugby players, born or naturalised, made their mark in statistics and team records. Both on the club level and in international play, rugby players from Wales, England and Scotland etched their names in legend, putting their bodies on the line in the sport called "a hooligan's sport played by gentlemen."

Wales certainly has a history of feverish love of rugby, and this is born out in its long roll of fabulous rugby stars. From hometown boys who played in their local clubs to international stars, the number of Welsh names in the rugby hall of fame is startling. That said, the rest of the UK certainly produced other stars known just as well for their aggression, discipline and teamwork. The year 2003 saw England triumphant and made many English rugby players famous stars of the game.

Names are often spoken, faces are often seen, but these two things do not always go together. The familiar name and the familiar face may not connect for everyone, and thus many stars of rugby still go through life in relative anonymity. Could you put the name to the face? Now is the time to find out.

Kevin Sinfield
Gerard Barrau via WikiCommons
This hooker is also a stand-off. What name is his?
Aaron Wainwright
Chris Harris
Tomos Williams
Kevin Sinfield
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Kevin Sinfield played for the Leeds Rhinos from 1997 to 2015, an incredible run by any measure. He captained Leeds to seven Super League Championships, and on the international stage, he played for England 26 times with five tries.

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Tomos Williams
Premiership Rugby via YouTube
Do you recognize this astonishing talent?
Tomos Williams
Aaron Wainwright
John Eales
Blair Cowan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tomos Williams is one of the young faces of Welsh rugby, destined for greatness. Gifted with tremendous speed, strength and aggression, Williams will likely feature prominently in any team for which he plays, provided he can remain healthy.

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Blair Cowan
London Irish via YouTube
Back-row or not, we demand you tell us this man's name! Can you remember who he is?
Alex Murphy
Josh Adams
Blair Cowan
Sam Burgess
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cowan is versatile, capable of playing as a number eight, and as a flanker. An example of the peculiar rules around nationality in the rugby union game, Blair Cowan was born in New Zealand, but his Scottish mother means that, per the rules, he is considered Scottish.

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Aaron Wainwright
WRU Official via YouTube
This flanker's smile can light up a stadium. But do you recognize him from his style of play?
Roger Millward
Chris Harris
Aaron Wainwright
Phil Burleigh
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A young player to keep an eye on, Dragon Aaron Wainwright displays versatility, physicality and aggression in his style of play, finding ways to contribute even when coming off the bench. Born only in 1997, Wainwright will remain in the game for a while, which will be a treat for everyone.

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Sam Burgess
Rugby Jubbly via YouTube
Some players are born, and others are imported. Who is this one?
Andy Gregory
Alex Murphy
Sam Burgess
Jake Kerr
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Australian import Sam Burgess played British rugby league in Great Britain before switching to rugby union, in which he also excelled. What he is perhaps best known for is his performance in the 2014 NRL Grand Final, when he broke his cheekbone at the beginning of the game but stayed in and led his team to victory.

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Chris Harris
Premiership Rugby via YouTube
This is one of the top wings in the UK. What is his name?
Jake Kerr
Chris Harris
Andy Gregory
Josh Adams
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Centre Chris Harris is an English player who plays for Scotland at the international level, thanks to having a grandmother from Edinburgh. A journeyman, he has played for several clubs since joining the amateur circuit in 2009, and any team is glad to have him.

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Roger Millward
EllisXVRugby via YouTube
Fourteen years in Hull? Sign this man! What's his name?
Martin Offiah
Andy Gregory
Josh Adams
Roger Millward
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Roger "The Dodger" Millward was only 11 stone, but in 14 years at Hull, he showed he was worth his weight in gold. 1967 saw Millward score his first Test try against Australia in Great Britain's 16-11 victory, and three years later, he helped Great Britain win the Ashes.

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Phil Burleigh
Canterbury Community Rugby via YouTube
This centre has only been playing for a few years. Do you know him?
Billy Batten
Martin Offiah
Adam Beard
Phil Burleigh
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Phil Burleigh is a Scottish player, according to the rules of international rugby union play, and has played for the Scottish national team. Though he has lived in Edinburgh, at the time this is written, he plays for the Sunwolves, in Japan.

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Alex Murphy
Rugby League via YouTube
St. Helens R.F.C. hold this man in high esteem. Who is he?
Alex Murphy
Tommy Reffell
Adam Beard
Martin Offiah
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alex Murphy made his name as a scrum-half in 1958 as one of the Lions for their tour of Australia at the tender age of 19. This epic run was only one part of his 19-year run. St. Helens may have only laid claim to the first 10 years of his career, but being a local, he will always be their lad.

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Jake Kerr
Leicester Tigers via YouTube
How familiar is this hooker? Can you name him?
Tommy Reffell
Jake Kerr
Adam Beard
Billy Batten
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Scottish player Jake Kerr was always a great player, playing on championship teams even before graduating to the adult level of the game. Since that time, he has shown his value in the Six Nations games and for the Leicester Tigers.

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Andy Gregory
Rugby AM via YouTube
Fifteen incredible seasons of Rugby are credited to this legend. Can you recall his name?
Billy Batten
Harrison Keddie
Shaun Edwards
Andy Gregory
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Andy Gregory played from 1980 to 1995 for a total of six teams, any of whom should be chuffed to have had him. Despite being only 5 feet, 5 inches tall, Gregory signed for £130,000 with Wigan, his hometown club, and played his best years with them.

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Josh Adams
Worcester Warriors via YouTube
The man you see here plays two positions. Who is he?
Josh Adams
Billy Boston
Harrison Keddie
Shaun Edwards
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Josh Adams is a wing and fullback who is noted for, among other things, scoring a hat trick in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. Currently a member of the Cardiff Blues, Adams began his career in 2013 and played for four other teams in his career.

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Martin Offiah
Fleets via WikiCommons
Wigan saw the best this player had to offer. Who is he?
Martin Offiah
Tommy Reffell
Harrison Keddie
Shaun Edwards
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Five hundred one career tries make Martin “Chariots” Offiah truly one of the greatest in the game. With the speed of a sprinter, he has a strike rate of more than one per game when he was with Wigan in the 1990s, a period in which he was in his prime.

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Adam Beard
OspreysTV via YouTube
Do you recognize this enormous player?
Adam Beard
Sam Tomkins
Billy Boston
Will Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Over two meters tall, it is no surprise that Adam Beard was an explosive force for the Ospreys from the time he was brought up from the under-20s. With four caps by the end of 2019, this young player is on his way up.

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Harrison Keddie
World Rugby via YouTube
The player you see here can play two positions! What's his name?
Harrison Keddie
Dan Davis
Billy Boston
Sam Tomkins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Harrison "Harri" Keddie is a proud product of the Dragon Academy. A highly touted prospect while he was in the under-20s, Keddie, a back row with great range, debuted for the Dragons in 2016 in their game with Zebre Rugby.

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Shaun Edwards
National Assembly for Wales via WikiCommons
There's something to be said for being born where you play. Who is this native son?
Shaun Edwards
JPR Williams
Garry Schofield
Will Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Shaun Edwards and Wigan are synonymous. He was born there, and he played the best years of his stellar career for Wigan. The most decorated player in the domestic rugby league, he is among the most capped players of all time.

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Tommy Reffell
Leicester Tigers via YouTube
Pencoed Rugby Football Club was where this player's career began. Do you know his name?
Garry Schofield
Sam Tomkins
Dan Davis
Tommy Reffell
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It was Pencoed Rugby Football Club that first recruited Tommy Reffell in 2003, when he was only four years old, growing to be the captain of the under-18 Welsh national rugby team. Since then, the Welsh player has turned into a promising adult player.

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Billy Boston
Rugby League Cares via YouTube
The player you see here went from rugby union to rugby league. Who is he?
Billy Boston
Taine Basham
Will Jones
Garry Schofield
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Billy Boston may have started in rugby union, but he made his biggest impression in rugby league, joining Wigan in 1953 and playing there for 15 seasons. With 31 test matches for Wales, 478 tries from 488 appearances, and his name coming up in any conversation about the greatest players in rugby, his place in history is assured.

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Dan Davis
Minded via YouTube
Not all Welsh rugby players were born; some were made! Who is this one?
Ellery Hanley
Dan Davis
Jonny Wilkinson
Taine Basham
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Born in 1998, Dan Davis is a promising young rugby player who grew up and was developed in Wales, having been born in England. With handling skills sharped with Llandeilo, he has shown flashes of talent with his play as one of the Scarlets.

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Sam Tomkins
JBP Sports Edits via YouTube
This journeyman shows flashes of greatness. Do you remember his name?
Ellery Hanley
Taine Basham
Sam Tomkins
Jonny Wilkinson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sam Tomkins won three Super League Grand Finals and two Challenge Cup finals, having, by 2019, played for four clubs. Currently with the Catalan Dragons, Tomkins was a part of England's Four Nations team in 2009 as a replacement for an older team that had faltered earlier in the year but was replaced later in the games.

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Will Jones
OspreysTV via YouTube
Judo gave this player his instincts. Who is he?
Jonny Wilkinson
JPR Williams
Martin Johnson
Will Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Former Judo champion Will Jones has shown that his Bushi Damashi (warrior spirit) extends outside of the dojo. Injury hobbled his career for a stint, but his overall toughness, skill and aggressive instincts make him a prospect to reckon with.

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Garry Schofield
Rugby AM via YouTube
Once named the greatest rugby player in the world, who is this man?
Alun Wyn Jones
Martyn Williams
Martin Johnson
Garry Schofield
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When Garry Schofield retired in 1990, he was the most capped British player of all time, with 46 appearances, a tie with Mick Sullivan. He was given the 1990 Rugby League World Golden Boot Award as the best player in the world for, among other achievements, his part in the victory over Australia.

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Taine Basham
Dragons Rugby via YouTube
At 15 stone, this player brings a presence to the pitch. What's his name?
Taine Basham
Martyn Williams
Scott Quinnell
Alun Wyn Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Six foot Taine Basham exploded into the world of rugby with a performance against Australia in the under-20s that made everyone take notice: 17 ball carries and four turnovers. Today, everyone has their eyes on him.

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Ellery Hanley
Rugby AM via YouTube
Stand-off and loose forward were both old hat to this player. Who is he?
Ellery Hanley
Martin Johnson
Martyn Williams
Alun Wyn Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mr. Magic was a stalwart force in rugby for 19 years, showing a talent for nearly every position on the pitch. With 416 tries and three Man of Steel awards, it should come as no shock that Ellery Hanley was named the greatest rugby player of all time.

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Jonny Wilkinson
David Sedlecký via WikiCommons
This player is perhaps the most iconic English player of all time. Can you recall who he is?
Jonny Wilkinson
Alun Wyn Jones
Scott Quinnell
Will Greenwood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jonny Wilkinson is, without a doubt, the most iconic English rugby star of all time, having played an integral role in conquering France in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, even winning over the French fans in Toulon. With 91 caps for England, his accomplishments are legendary.

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JPR Williams
BBC
Those old enough to remember this player remember it all. What's his name?
Rob Howley
Scott Gibbs
Adam Jones
JPR Williams
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For rugby fans in the 1970s, the initials JPR mean only one thing: one of the greatest full backs of all time. JPR Williams was not only a remarkable defender, but he was also an intimidating attacker. JPR Williams is one of the very few players to have won three grand slams.

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Martin Johnson
Patrick Khachfe via WikiCommons
World Cup viewers may remember this player from 2003. Do you?
Gethin Jenkins
Martin Johnson
Scott Quinnell
Will Greenwood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Martin Johnson was instrumental in England's 2003 Rugby World Cup victory. His coaching career hasn't gone as well as he might have hoped, but as a player, his powers as a leader and a player willing to put it all on the line are legendary.

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Martyn Williams
World Rugby via YouTube
This back row forward is Wales's most capped! Who is he?
Rob Howley
Martyn Williams
Scott Gibbs
Adam Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Certain proofs show one's rugby talent without any doubt. For Martyn Williams, it is his three tours with the British and Irish Lions in 2001, 2005 and 2009. Given the years, it shows not just his raw talent, but also his longevity.

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Alun Wyn Jones
Chris Jobling via WikiCommons
This player is the most capped Welsh player of all time. Who is he?
Will Greenwood
Rob Howley
Adam Jones
Alun Wyn Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The world's most capped lock forward, Alun Wyn Jones is also Wales's most capped player of all time, as of 2019. The 2019 Six Nations Championship named him the best player, and with three grand slams under his belt, who is to argue?

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Scott Quinnell
The Telegraph via YouTube
Some players made their mark in both union and league play. Do you know who this example is?
Scott Quinnell
Gethin Jenkins
Will Greenwood
Adam Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Scott Quinnell was a star in both rugby union and rugby league play, noted for being one of the great ball-carrying number eights in the world. Going between the rugby league and union throughout his career, which lasted from 1990 to 2005, his name is won't be forgotten by the fans.

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Rob Howley
National Assembly for Wales via WikiCommons
In or out of uniform, this man made an impact on the game. Who is he?
Gethin Jenkins
Richard Hill
Rob Howley
Jason Robinson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rob Howley was a legendary player until injuries saw to his retirement far too early. This did not stop him from contributing to the sport, however. Howley went on to coach the Wales National Team in 2008 and for several clubs, including Cardiff RFC and the British and Irish Lions.

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Will Greenwood
https://www.flickr.com/photos/findafuture via WikiCommons
Fans may know this player, especially from 2003. Can you remember him?
Lawrence Dallaglio
Richard Hill
Scott Gibbs
Will Greenwood
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Will Greenwood was a potent force for English rugby, particularly in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, which he won with England. A rugby union player, Greenwood played for four clubs throughout his career, usually as an inside centre.

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Adam Jones
Peter Clarke via WikiCommons
Sometimes looks are more than looks. Who is this beast of a player?
Jason Robinson
Scott Gibbs
Gethin Jenkins
Adam Jones
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Adam Jones made his first big impression on the world of rugby at the 2003 Six Nations game versus England, but his long career showed he was no flash in the pan. The ultimate proof is that three of the teams on which he played were grand slam winners.

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Scott Gibbs
The Events Room via YouTube
This former star now coaches a team in Oman. Who is he?
Richard Hill
Scott Gibbs
Jason Robinson
Lawrence Dallaglio
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Scott "Car Crash" Gibbs is a Welsh player famous for putting his body on the line in the final moments of international play in 1997 and 1999. Now retired from playing the game, Gibbs coaches for The Pirates of Muscat, Oman, and resides in South Africa.

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Gethin Jenkins
WRU Official via YouTube
The man you see here was once the most capped Welsh player. Can you recall his name?
Jason Robinson
Shane Williams
Gethin Jenkins
Richard Hill
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No one had more of an impact on how the position of loose-head prop quite like the incredibly successful Gethin Jenkins. Holding 129 international caps for Wales, he was, until recently, the most capped player of all time.

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Jason Robinson
University of Salford Press Office via WikiCommons
You might not know this player by his real name. Care to take a guess?
Jason Robinson
Lawrence Dallaglio
John Eales
Will Genia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jason Robinson, or "Billy Whizz" to those who adore him, was a huge star in rugby league play before making the switch to the rugby union. Robinson was as unpredictable as he was effective, able to score when it mattered through his combination of speed and evasiveness.

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Richard Hill
World Rugby via YouTube
Some rugby players just get on with it, like this player! Do you remember his name?
Richard Hill
Shane Williams
John Eales
Lawrence Dallaglio
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A world cup winner for England, Richard Hill is the definition of a professional rugby player: fearlessly throwing his body into the fray, and playing without grandstanding or complaints. A gift to The Lions when he was with them.

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Lawrence Dallaglio
zoonabar via WikiCommons
The player you see here went from singing to tackling. What's his name?
Thierry Dusautoir
Will Genia
Lawrence Dallaglio
Shane Williams
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Lawrence Dallaglio was a chorister in his youth but developed into one of the most physically intimidating, impressive presences on the pitch. Dallaglio saw more than his share of victories, including in the World Cup.

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Shane Williams
BRUGBY via YouTube
Some call him The Great Entertainer. What do you call him?
Shane Williams
Thierry Dusautoir
Will Genia
John Eales
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Shane Williams is a wonderful example of how talent isn't enough to succeed, but hard work makes all the difference. Despite being a once-in-a-generation talent, Shane was shunned because of his size until he built his physique to the point he could not be ignored. Now he is among the greatest players of all time.

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Harlequins via YouTube