Rugby union has witnessed some extraordinary individual try-scoring performances over the years, from Rugby World Cup showcases to domestic league masterclasses. These moments represent the perfect combination of skill, pace, opportunity, and sometimes, mismatched opposition.
Just as in other competitive arenas like online gaming, where players look for the best UK slots not on Gamstop to test their luck and skill, rugby fans love witnessing those rare occasions when everything clicks perfectly on the field. Both worlds celebrate precision, timing, and daring plays that separate the greats from the rest.
Here are the ten greatest single-game try-scoring achievements in rugby history, ranked from 10th to 1st place.
10. Josh Lewsey – 5 Tries
England vs Uruguay, Rugby World Cup (2003)
During England’s triumphant 2003 Rugby World Cup campaign, Josh Lewsey delivered a masterclass against Uruguay. The versatile back scored five tries as England cruised to victory in their pool match. This performance came during a tournament where England would go on to lift the Webb Ellis Cup, with Lewsey playing a crucial role throughout. His five-try haul demonstrated the depth of talent in England’s squad and set a high bar for individual World Cup performances. Lewsey’s achievement remained unmatched by an England player at the World Cup for two decades.
9. Chris Latham – 5 Tries
Australia vs Namibia, Rugby World Cup (2003)
Australian fullback Chris Latham showcased his attacking prowess during the 2003 Rugby World Cup with a five-try performance against Namibia. In what became a historic 142-0 victory—then the biggest winning margin in World Cup history—Latham was instrumental in Australia’s dominance. His ability to join the backline at pace and finish opportunities made him one of the tournament’s standout performers. Playing from fullback rather than wing, Latham’s achievement highlighted his exceptional attacking instincts and positioning, qualities that made him one of Australia’s greatest number 15s.
8. Henry Arundell – 5 Tries
England vs Chile, Rugby World Cup (2023)
Twenty years after Josh Lewsey’s feat, another England player matched the five-try mark at a Rugby World Cup. Henry Arundell, the young speedster, terrorized Chile’s defense during England’s pool stage match in France. Arundell’s performance was particularly impressive given his age and relative inexperience at international level. His electrifying pace and finishing ability announced him as one of world rugby’s most exciting talents. The performance drew inevitable comparisons to Lewsey’s 2003 heroics and demonstrated that England’s tradition of producing world-class finishers remained alive and well.
7. Ryan Constable – 6 Tries
Saracens vs Bedford, English Premiership (2000)
Australian winger Ryan Constable holds the distinction of being the first player to score six tries in a single Premiership match. Playing for Saracens against Bedford on April 16, 2000, Constable ran riot with his pace and positioning. This performance came during an era when the Premiership was establishing itself as one of the world’s premier club competitions, making Constable’s feat all the more impressive. His record stood alone for 16 years before being matched, testament to the rarity of such dominance in top-flight domestic rugby. Constable’s achievement set a benchmark that would inspire future generations.
6. Christian Wade – 6 Tries
Wasps vs Worcester Warriors, English Premiership (2016)
In a landmark occasion—his 100th appearance for Wasps—Christian Wade delivered a performance for the ages. The electric winger crossed the line six times, becoming only the second player to score six tries in a single Premiership match. Wade’s speed and finishing ability were on full display as he exploited spaces in what became an attacking showcase. His achievement was particularly notable as he scored four tries in the first half alone, only the second time this had occurred in Premiership history. Wade’s six-try haul cemented his place in English rugby folklore and demonstrated why he was considered one of the most dangerous finishers in the game before his surprising switch to American football.
5. Damian Penaud – 6 Tries
Bordeaux-Bègles vs Sharks, Champions Cup (2025)
In April 2025, French winger Damian Penaud etched his name into Champions Cup history with a record-breaking six tries against the Sharks. This performance shattered the previous Champions Cup record and showcased Penaud’s world-class finishing ability on the biggest club stage in European rugby. With a hat-trick in each half, Penaud demonstrated remarkable consistency and clinical execution. Playing for Bordeaux-Bègles in a crucial match, Penaud capitalized on defensive weaknesses with precision timing and placement. His performance exemplified how elite finishers can single-handedly change the course of crucial matches and reinforced his status as one of the world’s premier wings.
4. Douglas Wotherspoon – 7 Tries
Scotland vs Wales, International Match (1887)
In the early days of international rugby, Scottish player Douglas Wotherspoon achieved what remains one of the sport’s most remarkable individual feats. Playing against Wales in 1887, Wotherspoon scored seven tries in a single match—a record that has stood for well over a century in Test rugby. While the game was vastly different in the 19th century, with different rules and smaller team sizes, the achievement remains extraordinary. Wotherspoon’s performance is a reminder of rugby’s rich history and the legendary players who helped establish the sport’s traditions. His record speaks to a level of dominance that was remarkable even by the standards of his era.
3. Marc Ellis – 6 Tries
New Zealand vs Japan, Rugby World Cup (1995)
Perhaps the most famous six-try performance in rugby history belongs to New Zealand’s Marc Ellis. During the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa, Ellis came off the bench to score six tries against Japan—a Rugby World Cup record that still stands today. What made Ellis’s achievement even more remarkable was that he achieved it as a replacement, not a starter. The All Blacks won the match 145-17, with Ellis producing moment after moment of attacking brilliance. His performance became one of the defining memories of that tournament and established a World Cup record that has endured for three decades. Ellis’s name became synonymous with try-scoring excellence on rugby’s biggest stage.
2. George Lindsay – 8 Tries
Scotland vs Wales, International Match (1887)
In the same historic 1887 match that saw Douglas Wotherspoon score seven tries, George Lindsay went one better for Scotland. Lindsay’s eight tries in a single international match represent one of the oldest and most enduring records in rugby union. Playing in an era when the game looked dramatically different from today’s version, Lindsay’s dominance was absolute. While modern defenders might argue that 19th-century rugby presented different challenges, the achievement of scoring eight tries in any era of international rugby is staggering. Lindsay’s record has stood for nearly 140 years and seems likely to remain untouched, making it one of rugby’s truly immortal achievements.
1. Ashley Billington – 10 Tries
Hong Kong vs Singapore, World Cup Qualifier (1994)
The ultimate try-scoring performance in international rugby union belongs to Hong Kong’s Ashley Billington. Playing at the KL Football Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 1994, Billington achieved the seemingly impossible by scoring 10 tries in a single international match. This extraordinary feat came during a Rugby World Cup 1995 qualifier in the Asian Championship, where Hong Kong demolished Singapore 164-13. The then 25-year-old fullback ran in 10 of Hong Kong’s 26 tries, a performance officially recognized by World Rugby and Guinness World Records as the most tries ever scored by an individual in an international rugby union match. While Singapore was clearly outmatched that day, Billington still had to finish ten separate scoring opportunities—a testament to his positioning, pace, and clinical finishing. This record has stood for over 30 years and represents the pinnacle of individual try-scoring achievement in international rugby union. Remarkably, this proved to be the highlight of Billington’s six-cap international career, making his record all the more extraordinary.
The Rarity of Greatness
These performances remind us that while rugby is the ultimate team sport, individual brilliance can still shine through. From the historic matches of the 1880s to modern World Cup showcases and domestic league thrillers, these players have achieved something truly special. Whether facing outmatched opposition or simply hitting peak form on the perfect day, each of these athletes has written their name into rugby folklore with performances that fans still talk about years—or even centuries—later.
