The 25 Best Rugby Clubs In The World On April 17 | FloRugby Rankings
The 25 Best Rugby Clubs In The World On April 17 | FloRugby Rankings
Discover FloRugby's latest rankings of the 25 best rugby clubs in the world as the season's decisive moments approach across top global competitions.
It’s so close you can almost touch it!
The business end of the professional club rugby season is fast coming into focus, as the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup hits their semifinal stages.
Hitting the pause button on the premier club Cup competition for just a moment, the teams will shift their focus back to domestic competitions.
Getting back underway this weekend, the URC, Premiership and Top 14 begin their crucial playoff seeding home stretch.
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Down south, the premier Pacific-based club teams are firmly into the second half of their regular season, with little separating the top and bottom of the table.
Factoring in all of the data, here is this week’s FloRugby Rugby Professional Club Rankings:
1. Leinster Rugby
Leinster has 114 points and has surrendered 0. Let that sink in!
Yes, for those who didn’t already know it, Jacques Nienaber is the greatest defense coach in professional rugby.
Working with a squad of Galactico players helps; the former Boks coach and his squad are heavy favorites for both the URC and Champions Cup at the time of this writing.
When have we heard that before?
2. Stade Toulousain
The reigning champs had to dig deep against a game Toulon side.
Putting behind him an uncharacteristically haywire day from the kicking tee, Thomas Ramos sunk the match-winning penalty with time expiring.
Undoubtedly, this is not the same force it would be with Antoine Dupont, but don’t count out the reigning champs just yet.
3. Union Bordeaux Begles
Two Irish opponents vanquished in back-to-back weeks, Rugby’s answer to the Harlem Globetrotters are unlimited entertainment. Their style, however, has yet to yield any silverware and will be firmly tested against Toulouse in the semifinals.
4. Bath
Yes, we write it every week, but Bath should still be playing in the Champions Cup.
The Challenge Cup, while a fun competition, is a significant step below the top table, and thus, it is hard to gauge where Bath really should be ranked.
The same can be said about the Premiership, but for us, Bath is the heavy favorite for both trophies.
5. Toulon
One last-minute penalty kick away from a semifinal berth, Toulon will be devastated by how its Champions Cup campaign ended.
Yet, while Bordeaux and Toulouse will need to navigate two campaigns, RCT has a real shot at pushing toward a Top 14 title.
6. Crusaders
Still fallible to the odd slip-up (Moana Pasifika and Chiefs), Super Rugby’s most successful franchise is rounding into a real force once again this season.
Now sitting atop the table, Will Jordan and company will be confident in returning the trophy to its rightful home of Christchurch.
7. Chiefs
Characterizing his team’s off day, Damian McKenzie had a challenging outing against a very physical Waratahs team last time out.
The All Blacks playmaker is a truly elite player, so we expect him to bounce back; the same goes for his teammates.
8. Glasgow Warriors
Laying bare the gulf in class between Leinster and the rest of the URC, the reigning champions had a humbling evening in Dublin last Friday.
Not for a lack of effort, and certainly key injuries didn’t help, but shipping 52 points without landing a blow of their own shows that the Warriors have it all to do this season to retain their title.
9. Northampton Saints
Operating in the knowledge that they are likely to relinquish their Premiership title this season, the Saints have a golden opportunity in the Champions Cup semifinals.
Nobody outside of the camp believes they can upset Leinster. If they do, it will be a historic moment for the club. Given the complexion of their highly confident and skillful squad, we aren’t counting them out just yet.
10. Vodacom Bulls
Bracing for their biggest battle so far this season, the Bulls can lock in their spot in the top 3 of the URC with a win away to Munster in Round 15. Failure to do so, and a trip away to Glasgow next time out becomes a must-win.
11. Bayonne
The Top 14’s feel-good story of the season won’t be too disappointed to no longer be in the Challenge Cup. Freeing up valuable resources in terms of their squad management for a push to remain in the top 6 will lead to a spot in next year’s Champions Cup.
12. Lyon
Still firmly in the running for the Challenge Cup, Lyon has enough squad depth to compete in that competition and remain in the mix for the Top 14.
For us, Lyon remains a player or two away from challenging the biggest sides but still is a quality outfit.
13. Brumbies
Getting a big win over their greatest rivals for Aussie supremacy with a comprehensive dismantling of the Reds last time out.
Stephen Larkham’s side is so well-rounded that the team is a match for anyone in Super Rugby this season.
14. Munster Rugby
Brought to a shuddering halt by an embarrassingly poor line-out, the Munster players will be livid with themselves for their loss to Bordeaux.
Sure, fatigue played its part following their all-time classic away to La Rochelle a week prior, but Ian Costello and his charges know that Bordeaux was there for the taking.
Munster needs to get forwards coach Alex Codling back in the building ASAP.
15. Sale Sharks
Enjoyed an off week following their last-16 loss to Toulouse ahead of returning to the Premiership.
16. Leicester Tigers
Enjoyed an off week following their last-16 loss to the Glasgow Warriors ahead of returning to the Premiership.
17. Queensland Reds
Taking an almighty hiding at the hands of the Brumbies will sting, but the Reds have enough quality to remain in the mix when they return from a bye next week.
18. Castres Olympique
Completely outclassed by Northampton in the quarterfinals, Castres put up an early fight, before waving the white flag.
In short Castres got its tactics wrong in trying to play against the Saints. Instead they should’ve dragged their hosts into an arm wrestle.
19. Waratahs
Claiming what could be a season-turning win against the previous table toppers, the Tahs showed what they can do with a near full squad.
Joseph Sua’ali’I was pure class and already is one of the best players in the world. Getting home advantage for the knockout stages is key, and they certainly are in the running.
20. Edinburgh
A dark horse in the URC, Edinburgh has bundles of quality and showed that once again in the Challenge Cup by sending the Bulls packing.
If Edinburgh can keep everyone fit and healthy, the squad has a real shot at winning the Challenge Cup and being a semifinal team in the URC.
21. Western Force
Getting to grips with the concept of defending the Force’s newfound solidity will be tested by the Hurricanes next time out.
22. Bristol Bears
Playing a beautiful style of rugby, Bristol is easy on the eyes.
For us, however, the team just doesn't have the power game to match the likes of Bath, Saracens, Leicester or Northampton when it really matters.
The Bears will be back in action this week following an elongated break courtesy of a poor showing in both the Champions and Challenge Cups.
23. Hurricanes
Infuriatingly inconsistent, the men from Wellington can wipe the floor with any side in the Super Rugby but can equally lose to anyone.
Back-to-back losses have sent them shuffling down the rankings, but we still feel they have a run in them, but who knows?
24. Saracens
Getting a well-deserved down week after a heavily rotated squad had Toulon on the ropes in the first half of the Champions Cup last-16.
The North Londoners are gearing up for a strong run in the final chapter of this year’s Premiership.
25. Hollywoodbets Sharks
Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Bongi Mbonambi, Jaden Hendrikse, Jordan Hendrikse, Vincent Koch, Ox Nche, Jurenzo Julius, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi. Need we go on?
Does anyone else know how and why the Sharks are cratering?
Depending on your point of view, this squad is either world-class or past its best.
The final quarter of this season will define if the Sharks are the most overpriced squad of all time or simply biding their time for a title run.
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