Best of the best.

As we get ready to bid farewell to 2023 and welcome in 2024 – it’s safe to say it’s been quite the year in rugby.

We had Ireland dominating for most of it, securing some big wins including a Six Nations Grand Slam, before somehow once again falling at the quarter final stages of the Rugby World Cup with South Africa going on to win it for a second successive time despite being beaten by the Irish in the pool stages.

Leinster and La Rochelle once again met in the Champions Cup final, with the Irish side dominating the first half before La Rochelle staged a big comeback to retain their title once again.

There was some silverware for Ireland though, with Munster going on an unprecedented away run to win the United Rugby Championship in stunning fashion against the Stormers in South Africa.

But which players shone in 2023? Planet Rugby have been going through the ‘Top 50’ over the last few weeks and they’ve finally named their all-important ‘Top 10’ with one Irish player making the cut.

Here’s the list in full, let us know what you think.

Planet Rugby’s Top 10

10. Levani Botia (Fiji)
9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
8. Charles Ollivon (France)
7. Damian Penaud (France)
6. Will Jordan (New Zealand)
5. Bundee Aki (Ireland)
4. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
3. Antoine Dupont (France)
2. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
1. Ardie Savea (New Zealand)

And if you want to have a look further down their list, here’s 11-20

20. Frans Malherbe (South Africa)
19. Damian de Allende (South Africa)
18. Finn Russell (Scotland)
17. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)
16. Gregory Alldritt (France)
15. Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand)
14. Marcos Kremer (Argentina)
13. Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
12. Hugo Keenan (Ireland)
11. Scott Barrett (New Zealand)