The 25 Best Rugby Clubs In The World On Feb. 27 | FloRugby Rankings
The 25 Best Rugby Clubs In The World On Feb. 27 | FloRugby Rankings
Discover the latest FloRugby Top 25 Power Rankings, where data-driven analysis ranks the world's best rugby clubs. See who's rising, falling and dominating.
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Rugby is a sport of power, precision and passion, and at FloRugby, we are committed to bringing fans the most accurate and insightful rankings of the world’s top professional clubs.
Welcome to our latest edition of the FloRugby Top 25 Professional Rugby Clubs Power Rankings, where we evaluate the best teams across the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
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Unlike subjective rankings that rely solely on reputation or recent form, we have utilized an in-house formula designed to produce consistent, data-driven results.
Our model takes into account a variety of factors, including domestic league performance, continental success, home and away form and other key factors.
As the season progresses, the race for domestic and international silverware intensifies, with clubs battling for supremacy in competitions like the Investec Champions Cup, United Rugby Championship, Super Rugby and Gallagher Premiership.
Some teams maintain their dominance, while others emerge as rising forces, pushing the traditional powerhouses to their limits.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into our latest rankings and see which teams have proven themselves worthy of a spot among the elite in professional rugby:
1. Toulouse | N/A
No Dupont? No problem. Well, for now, at least.
The reigning champs proved once again that there are levels to this game.
In Round 17 they smashed the Top 14’s surprise package Bayonne 41-6 to stay atop the table.
Given they supply the bulk of the French Six Nations squad, plus Blair Kinghorn (Scotland) and Ange Capuozzo (Italy), they are only going to get stronger as the season progresses.
2. Leinster | N/A
Similar to Toulouse, the show keeps rolling despite Leinster's international contingent being on Ireland duty.
Getting pushed all the way by the Ospreys in Round 11 exposed a few areas in Leinster's younger players, but we expect them to bounce back against Cardiff in Round 12.
3. Toulon | +1
Steadily rising up our rankings, RC Toulon is returning as a force in both the Top 14 and Investec Champions Cup.
Battering Stade Francais in Round 17 ensured Toulon remained one point clear of Bordeaux and three points behind Toulouse on the table.
4. Chiefs | +2
Entering our top 4 this week on the back of consecutive wins to start their season, the Chiefs are the class of this season’s Super Rugby Pacific.
Exacting revenge on the Blues in Round 1, before taking down their fiercest rivals, the Crusaders, in Round 2 was the perfect way to kick off 2025.
5. Glasgow Warriors | -2
Slipping a spot through no fault of their own, the Warriors, like the majority of the URC, did not play last weekend.
Our algorithm, however, pushed the Chiefs above them by a slim margin.
Taking on the Ospreys at home in Round 12 will be a challenge but one the Warriors certainly can overcome.
6. Union Bordeaux-Begles | - 1
UBB bounced back in a major way courtesy of Mathieu Jalibert and Damian Penaud, who both were exceptional following their dropping from the French national squad.
Still firmly in the running for top spot on the table this season, UBB feels destined for a climb back up our rankings in the coming weeks.
7. Bath Rugby | N/A
Sitting pretty as our top Premiership side, such is the dominance of Johan van Graan’s side that they currently has a +99 better points difference than second-place Bristol.
Still three weeks out from their next Premiership action, van Graan will be hoping none of his top-line talents pick up injuries in the final two rounds of the Six Nations.
8. Hollywoodbets Sharks | + 2
Still the second highest-ranked South African side on the URC table, but having swept the Bulls this season, it is clear where the balance of power lies.
Our model has rewarded this dominance over their Pretoria-based rivals.
Unlike any other side on this list, the Sharks have the greatest variability depending on which players they have available. With all of their Springboks, they are world-class; without them, they are good, but they're not title contenders.
9. Vodacom Bulls | N/A
Leapfrogged by their coastal rivals, the Bulls remain the top-ranked side in South Africa, having downed the Lions in their rescheduled fixture.
The Sharks still hold a game in hand, which could see them close to within a point of the Bulls, but crucially for Jake White’s side, they hold their own destiny.
At home, they are a mighty challenge against any opponent.
The questions will be: can they navigate their tough end to the season with the Stormers (A), Leinster (H), Munster (A) and Glasgow Warriors (A) before an easy run in against Cardiff and Dragons both at home?
10. Bristol Bears | -2
Keeping the pressure on their West Country rivals, Pat Lam’s side is well-deserving of its second position on the Premiership table.
Similar to Bath, given they no longer have the Investec Champions Cup to navigate, a run to the final is a very realistic option for the Bears.
11. Munster Rugby | +3
Ominously building following a tough injury-ravaged start to the season, the former URC champions know how to time a run.
Sure, the injury bug is still prevalent, with several key operators pulling up in recent weeks. However, with new coach Clayton McMillan confirmed as joining next season, Munster players and coaches will want to show their new boss what they are about.
Picking up a bonus-point win last time out catapulted Munster up both the URC table and our power rankings.
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12. Gloucester Rugby | -1
Dropping a place on account of other teams' results, continuing the ‘rise of the west’ the Cherry and Whites have enjoyed a mini renaissance this season.
Riding high in third position on the table, Gloucester already has confirmed the signing of Irish international fly-half Ross Byrne ahead of next season.
This addition offsets the loss of Argentine star Santi Carreras and is a signal that Gloucester plans on pushing even further next season.
In their here and now, George Skivington deserves huge credit for developing his squad into a title contender.
13. Western Force | +9
Hands down the surprise outfit of the opening two rounds, the Force have scored a whopping 90 points in the opening two rounds.
Sure, they’ve conceded 86 points… Despite this, they claimed a huge win against the Brumbies in Round 2.
Wins in Canberra are rare for most sides, with the Force struggling mightily over the years.
Built around a squad of young Wallabies, solid journeymen and a dynamic coaching group, the Force are dark horses for a playoff run this season.
14. Bayonne | -2
Bayonne wasn't the first and won’t be the last to take a beating from Toulouse; what their 41-6 losses did highlight is the gulf between themselves at the cream of the crop.
Still, fourth position in the Top 14 with nine rounds to play is a significant achievement and sets up Bayonne with a great shot at claiming a knockout spot this season.
15. Queensland Reds | First Entry
Kicking off their campaign with a dominant 56-36 win over Moana Pasifika, the Reds reaffirmed the offseason narrative that they are title contenders.
No doubt it is early days, but for us, they have all of the traits to be the pick of the Australian litter this season.
16. Highlanders | First Entry
Dismissed as the weakest of the Kiwi sides coming into the 2025 season, the Highlanders dismissed these claims by downing the reigning champions in Round 2.
Rebounding from a late opening-round loss to the Waratahs, the Dunedin side continued to prove that with Jamie Joseph in charge, they would be contenders.
17. Northampton Saints | -2
Hovering deep on the table, the reigning Premiership champions have it in them to push back into the top 4, but they are cutting it fine.
Taking into account their points difference, which is only matched or better than the top three sides on the table, is an indication of how close they’ve been all season.
The difference between this season and last season is the absence of experienced operators Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam and Alex Moon. The youngsters coming in to replace them are top-quality and already have proven their ability to compete with the best, in particular Henry Pollock, who has the potential to be a world-class player.
18. Harlequins | -1
Similar to the Saints, the Quins were one of the sides that took a hit this week due to results elsewhere.
In the overall picture, the London side is within touching distance of the knockout spots.
To get there, they will need to overcome a tough run of fixtures; in the Champions Cup, an away last-16 clash with Leinster is about as tough as it gets.
One thing is for certain: Quins will back themselves in every fixture and for good reason, given the quality of their squad.
19. Leicester Tigers | N/A
Remaining locked into the No. 19 slot, the biggest talking point around the Tigers is who will be the next head coach.
Per the betting odds, former England coach Stuart Lancaster and former Tigers standout Paul Gustard are in a two-horse race for the role.
20. Sale Sharks | N/A
Zero movement for the Sharks, who remain unaffected by the moves by other teams thus far.
Perusing ahead for a moment, the Sharks have a mighty tough run-in to contend with.
Putting a positive spin on things, should they navigate the choppy waters, they will shoot right up the rankings.
21. Castres Olympique | +4
Climbing back up the rankings on the back of a five-point victory over Lyon in a fixture that could prove key when it comes to securing a top-six berth.
On the precipice of a first Investec Champions Cup knockout match at home, Castres have turned the Stade Pierre-Fabre into a fortress in both the Top 14 and Champions Cup.
22. Waratahs | -2
Victims of a shifting Super Rugby table, the Sydney side had an early bye in Round 2.
Next up, is a clash with the winless-but-potent Fijian Drua in Sydney, with the potential of a rise up both our rankings and the Super Rugby table within reach.
23. Lyon | -8
Dropping a significant amount on the back of a loss to Castres, our algorithm dinged Lyon for its mediocrity numbers-wise.
Currently, Lyon has eight wins, eight losses, two draws, 441 points scored and 441 points conceded!
If Lyon holds this type of record through to the end of the season, it will become our ‘baseline’ – if you are above it, then you’re in good shape; below them, you’re in trouble!
24. Saracens
Sneaking back onto the rankings courtesy of other results in particular the Hurricanes, Crusaders and Clermont’s losses.
Sarries are an intriguing prospect in 2025, currently in fifth position on the Premiership table and bracing for a trip to Toulon in the last-16 of the Investec Champions Cup.
The North London side is our outside bet for an upset in the last-16 and a run to the Premiership title (again).
25. Brumbies | - 7
Losing at home to the Western Force in a high-scoring thriller could come back to bite the Brumbies in a highly competitive competition this season.
Dropping home games is never good, but given how strong every side is this season, it is particularly pertinent.
Fortunately, their road win against the Drua in Round 1 ensures they have five log points from the opening two rounds.
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