This year has seen some truly exceptional rugby played, around the globe. Teams have made history, and others have suffered crushing defeats. Throughout all of 2016, though, some players have truly stood out.

Will Beauden Barrett be our No 1?

Or is there a better candidate for the year's best rugby player. And whose brilliance has completely flown under most people's radars? Read on to find out:



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10 BILLY VUNIPOLA (ENGLAND)

GETTY IMAGES Billy Vunipola will miss the Six Nations for England, but is a sitter for the Lions' tour of NZ next year.

The powerhouse No 8 has become an increasingly influential figure under Jones who seems to be bringing the best out in the 24-year-old Australia-born loose forward. Coming off an outstanding 2016 for England where his strong ball-carrying and immense physical presence have been a big part of their dominance up front.

Will be sorely missed for the Six Nations as he recovers from knee surgery, but is expected to return in time to play his way on to the Lions tour to New Zealand.

9 BRODIE RETALLICK (NEW ZEALAND)

GETTY IMAGES Brodie Retallick's absence from the match against Ireland in Chicago may have cost the All Blacks their unbeaten record.

As good as it gets as a second-rower in the modern game. Big, strong and very good in the air and at scrum time, has also developed an outstanding ball-handling and offloading game when phase play works him into some space.

Forms the pre-eminent lock combination in the game with the equally impressive Sam Whitelock and provides Ben Smith-like consistency with his performance. The All Blacks might well still be on that winning streak if he hadn't picked up that head knock against the Aussies that forced him out of the Chicago test.

8 CONOR MURRAY (IRELAND)

PHOTOSPORT Conor Murray is becoming a rival to Aaron Smith as the world's best halfback.

Midway through the year you would have labelled Aaron Smith the premier halfback in the game. But then things unravelled for the All Blacks playmaker over the back half of the year and now that honour probably resides with the resilient Irish scrum-half who was brilliant in Chicago and very, very good throughout 2016 for Joe Schmidt's side.

Tactically sound, a big boot, great eye for a gap and as tough as they come. In a hugely competitive position up north, they're now saying the Lions No 9 jersey might be his to lose.

7 OWEN FARRELL (ENGLAND)

GETTY IMAGES Owen Farrell of England is becoming an influential No 10.

A key member of Eddie Jones' all-conquering England side and a cool customer who is becoming more and more influential at the highest level.

Plays No 10 for Saracens but 12 at the test level and is fast adding facets to the outstanding goalkicking that has always underpinned his game. Now with running and distribution skills to match, is a key part of the growing English attacking game that has them breathing down the neck of the All Blacks for the No 1 world ranking.

6 BEN SMITH (NEW ZEALAND)

PHOTOSPORT Ben Smith was outstanding for the All Blacks and Highlanders.

The man who never has a bad game, and almost always an unerringly good one, has to make this list. Was once again outstanding for the Highlanders and All Blacks as he reinforced his status as one of the game's classiest and most consistent performers.

Scores tries (eight for the All Blacks in 2016), creates them, great under the high ball, excellent defensively and now adding leadership as another string to his bow. NZ Rugby re-negotiating his contract right now and will happily pay him round the $1m mark to keep him doing exactly what he is, where he is.

5 ISRAEL FOLAU (AUSTRALIA)

GETTY IMAGES Israel Folau was the best performer in an average Australian team.

This was not a good year for Australian rugby, with their Super Rugby teams failing to fire a shot and the Wallabies losing nine tests in 2016. In the normal course of events you would not let an Aussie near any list of elite performers.

But Folau is by no stretch your ordinary player, and such is his class and rare athletic ability that he managed to hold his standards high despite playing in teams that missed the mark repeatedly throughout the year. Australian rugby is no doubt paying this standout fullback very, very handsomely. But given his importance and his class, it may not be enough.

4 JAMIE HEASLIP (IRELAND)

PHOTOSPORT Jamie Heaslip was a key performer for Ireland when they finally beat the All Blacks.

We had to have an Irishman up near the top of the list, given the year they've had, and who better than their hard-nosed, ground-breaking No 8 who was also a finalist for WR's player of the year award.

Personifies so much of what is good about Irish rugby at the moment in that he's big and strong and doesn't take a backward step, and has a fair package of skill to go with it. Consistently quality and a key part of the historic victory over the All Blacks in Chicago by Joe Schmidt's side.



Whether it's for Leinster or in the green of his country, produced the goods throughout a special 2016.

3 DANE COLES (NEW ZEALAND)

PHOTOSPORT Dane Coles - not your traditional hooker, but now a player they all want to copy.

If your definition of greatness is a player rewriting the parameters of his position, then the Hurricanes and All Blacks No 2 has gone to some pretty special places in 2016.

All over the world we now have hookers wanting to run, pass and score tries like 'Colesy', so if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery then he should be feeling pretty good about what he's achieved.



Form tailed off just slightly (like many of his team-mates) at the end of a long year, but demonstrated palpably for both franchise and country that there is quite simply no hooker in the game quite with his ability to impact out wide with his footspeed, distribution skills and running ability, as well as take care of the core roles of his trade. A tough and uncompromising mindset to top it all off make him a player for the ages.

2 MARO ITOJE (ENGLAND)

GETTY IMAGES Maro Itoje is England's most exciting prospect.

Missed the November internationals with a broken hand, but has well and truly laid his credentials as the most exciting prospect in Eddie Jones resurgent England team that won every test in 2016.

At 1.95m and 116kg he's a remarkable physical specimen in the second row, with standout athleticism that sets him apart as a player. At just 22 also still a young man very much learning his trade (deservedly winning WR's breakthrough player of the year).



Jones believes he can be one of the most dominant players in the game, and from what we've seen so far he is already well down that track. A winner, too. Won every game he started for club and country last season, claiming a Premiership and Champions' Cup double with Saracens, and a Six Nations Grand Slam and perfect year with England.

1 BEAUDEN BARRETT (NEW ZEALAND)

ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT Beauden Barrett's brilliance for the Hurricanes and All Blacks makes him the top player on the planet for 2016.

Who are we to argue with the collective minds of World and New Zealand Rugby?



For sheer sustained brilliance you simply can't look past this young man who came of age as an elite game-breaker in 2016, playing the pivotal role for the Hurricanes in their charge to an inaugural Super Rugby title, then delivering a series of explosive and intelligent performances for the All Blacks en route to their unprecedented dominance of the Rugby Championship, and 13 test victories from 14 overall.

OK, doesn't slot goals like some, but the instinctive brilliance, the remarkable consistency and the uncanny juxtaposition of playmaker and linebreaker made him, for our money, the most influential player in the game in 2016.

Honourable mentions: Rory Best (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Johnny Sexton (Ireland), Agustin Creevy (Argentina), Wesley Fofana (France).

Do you agree with our list? Let us know what you think - and who would make your top 10 - in the comments section below.