Rugby World magazine have named Alun Wyn Jones as the best player in the world.
The Wales international captained his nation to another Grand Slam earlier this year and is looking to lead them to further glory come the World Cup in Japan later this year.
The 33-year-old has held off competition from New Zealand fly-half Beauden Barrett and England prop Mako Vunipola who have been named second and third respectively.
The list is made up by a panel of Rugby World experts including the likes of Olympic sevens winning coach Ben Ryan, who gave the reasoning behind their choice of Jones being number one.
“He’s like superglue for any team he plays for – unbreakable in the toughest of moments – and that simultaneously elevates those around him too. He leads from the front with the highest level of guile, intellect and bravery that is a rarity even among the greats,” he said.
Jones is yet to commit himself to the WRU and Ospreys ahead of the 2019/20 season and is thought to be considering moving on.
Elsewhere, Brodie Retallick is fourth on the list, with Liam Williams fifth and last year’s table topper Owen Farrell sixth on the list this time around.
The top ten is rounded up by Ben Smith, Finn Russell, Viliame Mata and Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong.
Just outside the top 10 is women’s rugby player Pauline Bourdon in 11th and is the highest ranked from the women’s game.
New Zealand have 21 players within the top 100, while England have 17, South Africa 12, Wales 10, Ireland nine and Scotland five.
