Who are the Best Players from Tier 2 Rugby Nations?
We select the W RUGBY Tier 2 Best XV Men’s squad.
Rugby is played by over 10 million players worldwide across 221 countries. From 321 registered players in Barbados to nearly 2 million in England alone. However, the headlines are consistently dominated by the ‘Tier 1 Nations’ in the world of rugby. Fans can easily reel off their favourite Australian star or the next up and coming Welsh youngster in the system, but usually know very little outside the top tier nations.
We at W RUGBY celebrate the game from grassroots all the way up to the top. Rugby doesn’t start and stop at Tier 1 alone. There are countless incredible players and nations ready to be discovered if you dig a little deeper into the rugby world. We’ve curated a top list of men’s players who we think are the Tier 2 Best XV outside of rugby’s topflight and we’re ready to celebrate their skills.
Who are the Tier 2 Rugby Teams?
Japan, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Namibia, Romania, Georgia, Uruguay, Canada, USA, Spain and Portugal are teams that are considered Tier 2 rugby Nations. However there is no ‘official’ list and these teams fluctuate from Tier 2 and Tier 3, depending on who you ask.
Conversely, Tier 1 Nations are made up of England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina.
Who are the Best Tier 2 Nation Rugby Players?
We’ve selected our squad of who we think are best XV men’s rugby players from Tier 2 nations to join the W RUGBY Best XV. Check them out below.
The Best Tier 2 Rugby Forwards
Sam Matavesi // World Rugby
Starting with the Front Row, we dip straight into the Georgian pack. Feared even by the powerhouses of Tier 1 rugby, Georgia seems to always produce incredibly physical and strong props. At loosehead, we have Guram Gogichashvili. At just 23 years old, he already has played for Georgia over 30 times and makes regular appearances for Racing 92 in France.
At Hooker, we are looking at player that plies his trade in England’s Premiership. Fijian Sam Matavesi of Northampton Saints is a turnover specialist and excellent ball playing hooker. He also works for the Royal Navy and has represented their rugby team in the annual Army vs Navy fixture.
Our Front Row will be completed by American heavyweight Titi Lamositele. With an impressive career already for the 27-year-old, he has played for Saracens and a Top 14 winner with Montpelier in 2022. Standing at just under 6ft tall but weighing in at over 20 stone (127 kg) he packs a punch both in the scrum and around the pitch.
The engine room of the forwards is where the real work is done (according to every second row ever). We’re selecting Theo MacFarland of Samoa. Slightly cheating here as he is normally deployed at flanker, but in our W RUGBY Tier 2 Best XV squad, his athletic ability and ball handling in the Second Row will be worth watching out for. Partnering MacFarland will be one of the world’s greatest locks to ever grace the game. Leone Nakarawa of Fiji is renowned as being one of the most exciting forwards to play the game. His unmatched ability to offload the ball in almost any situation makes him a danger for any opposition.
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In the flanks we have Japanese wrecking ball Kazuki Himeno. Brilliant in both the attacking and defensive aspects of the game, Himeno spent an impressive season in Super Rugby with the Highlanders where he was named Rookie of the Year. Joining Himeno will be “Demolition Man”. Rightfully earning himself the ultra-cool nickname is Levani Botia - a rare player who’s able to be deployed as a flanker in the forwards or as a centre in the backs. His trademark runs and strong tackles often reach viral status online as excellent examples of the physicality in rugby. Completing the Back Row will be Georgian Beka Gorgadze. Following in the footsteps of Mamuka Gorgodza, arguably the most famous Georgian rugby player nicknamed “Gorgodzilla”. It says a lot about Gorgadze’s talent in the Georgian team that he has been given the adapted nickname of “Gorgadzilla”.
The Best Tier 2 Rugby Backs
Now let’s move to the backs, and selection headaches for us already as there are numerous options at scrum half. The Pacific Island Nations have produced numerous world class scrum halves and continue to do so. However, for our team we are going to be slightly hipster in our selection. Samuel Marques has been an excellent servant to Portuguese rugby. Currently plying his tradecraft in France with D2 outfit Carcassone, he has shared the pitch with some of the most successful players and teams in France, namely Toulouse and Brive.
At Fly Half we are going with dependable and a proven kicker in AJ MacGinty. The Irish-born American has been steadily improving his game in the English Premiership and has just signed for the Bristol Bears, hoping to lead them back up the table along with guiding the USA to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Moving to the Centres, in comes Namibian captain Johan Deysel who will provide a strong defence and a steady hand. He may be best remembered for scoring a try against New Zealand in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Outside Deysel, its hard to look any further than Semi Radradra. At times, Radradra has been touted as being one of the best rugby players in the World. Powerful, fast and skilful - an exciting blend of characteristics that cant be overlooked for our side.
The wingers were proving most difficult to select, there are several worthy options. Kotaru Matsushima is a utility back from Japan who soared into the limelight off the back of an impressive World Cup for the Cherry Blossoms in 2019. After that, he left Sunwolves to play in France for the star-studded Clermont side. Partnering Matsushima on the other wing is rising star Timoci Tavatavanawai who was a shining light for the Moana Pasifika in their debut season in Super Rugby. Check out this beastmode video and you’ll quickly see why. A name to remember for the future, the 24-year-old has a huge frame as well as impressive speed that fits into the Fijian blend of speed and power.
Last but certainly not least is Full Back, and we need to look no further than Charles Piutau. The former All Black superstar has switched allegiance back to his native Tonga following a recent rule change by World Rugby. Known for having one of the most dangerous side steps in the game, he offers the perfect mixture of excitement and experience at the back.
So there you have it. A Tier 2 rugby team packed to the brim with talent, pace and flair, balanced nicely with strength, power and experience. The W RUGBY Tier 2 Best XV squad would be a match for any side in World Rugby!
Do you think we missed anyone out? Come tell us on our Socials Twitter and Instagram
Words // David Jones
W RUGBY’s Best Men’s XV Players from Tier 2 Nations:
Guram Gogichashvili (Georgia)
Sam Matavesi (Fiji)
Titi Lamositele (USA)
Theo MacFarland (Samoa)
Leone Nakawara (Fiji)
Kazuki Himeno (Japan)
Levani Botia (Fiji)
Beka Gorgadze (Georgia)
Samuel Marques (Portugal)
AJ MacGinty (USA)
Kotaru Matsushima (Japan)
Johan Deysel (Namibia)
Semi Radrada (Fiji)
Timoci Tavatavanawai (Fiji)
Charles Piutau (Tonga)
