Most international caps

As the curtain fell at the end of the 2022 year, there were 79 players with over one hundred test caps.  We take a look at the most capped international players of all time.

Rugby union requires only one nation to recognise a match as a test in order for it to be included in test statistics for that nation. The British and Irish Lions and Pacific Islanders do not represent a single country, but are recognised as test teams because they are selected by a group of national unions.

Some national teams have sometimes granted test caps for matches against teams such as the invitational Barbarians side; these are included only if the union granted test caps for a particular match.

Players in bold are still active at international level.

Full list of most capped international players:

165 Alun Wyn Jones Wales (153), British and Irish Lions (12) 2006–present Lock
148 Richie McCaw New Zealand 2001–2015 Flanker
142 Sergio Parisse Italy 2002–2019 Number 8
141 Brian O’Driscoll Ireland (133), British and Irish Lions (8) 1999–2014 Centre
140 Sam Whitelock New Zealand 2010–present Lock
139 George Gregan Australia 1994–2007 Scrum-half
134 Gethin Jenkins Wales (129), British and Irish Lions (5) 2002–2018 Prop
132 Keven Mealamu New Zealand 2002–2015 Hooker [10]
130 Ronan O’Gara Ireland (128), British and Irish Lions (2) 2000–2013 Fly-half
129 Stephen Moore Australia 2005–2017 Hooker
Florin Vlaicu Romania 2006–present Centre
127 Victor Matfield South Africa 2001–2015 Lock
Kieran Read New Zealand 2008–2019 Number 8
124 Rory Best Ireland 2005–2019 Hooker
Bryan Habana South Africa 2004–2016 Wing [14]
123 James Slipper Australia 2010–present Prop
122 Davit Kacharava Georgia 2006–2020 Centre
121 Adam Ashley-Cooper Australia 2005–2019 Centre / Wing
Michael Hooper Australia 2012–present Flanker
120 Yuri Kushnarev Russia 2005–2021 Fullback
119 Martin Castrogiovanni Italy 2002–2016 Prop
Jason Leonard England (114), British and Irish Lions (5) 1990–2004 Prop
Ben Youngs England (117), British and Irish Lions (2) 2010–present Scrum-half
Alessandro Zanni Italy 2005–2020 Flanker
118 Cian Healy Ireland 2009–present Prop
Fabien Pelous France 1995–2007 Lock
Tony Woodcock New Zealand 2002–2015 Prop
117 Tendai Mtawarira South Africa 2008–2019 Prop
116 Nathan Sharpe Australia 2002–2012 Lock
115 Merab Kvirikashvili Georgia 2003–2018 Fullback
Paul O’Connell Ireland (108), British and Irish Lions (7) 2002–2015 Lock
114 Johnny Sexton Ireland (108), British and Irish Lions (6) 2009–present Fly-half
112 Marco Bortolami Italy 2001–2015 Lock
Dan Carter New Zealand 2003–2015 Fly-half
111 Ross Ford Scotland (110), British and Irish Lions (1) 2004–2017 Hooker
Philippe Sella France 1982–1995 Centre
John Smit South Africa 2000–2011 Hooker
Aaron Smith New Zealand 2012–present Scrum-half
George Smith Australia 2000–2013 Flanker
110 Will Genia Australia 2009–2019 Scrum-half
Stephen Jones Wales (104), British and Irish Lions (6) 1998–2011 Fly-half
Sekope Kepu Australia 2008–2019 Prop
109 Beauden Barrett New Zealand 2012–present Fly-half
Jean de Villiers South Africa 2004–2015 Centre
Cătălin Fercu Romania 2005–2020 Fullback
Chris Paterson Scotland 1999–2011 Fullback
108 Owen Franks New Zealand 2009–2019 Prop
George North Wales (105),mBritish and Irish Lions (3) 2010–present Wing
107 Leonardo Ghiraldini Italy 2006–2020 Hooker
Victor Gresev Russia 2006–present Flanker
John Hayes Ireland (105)
British and Irish Lions (2) 2000–2011 Prop
Conor Murray Ireland (99), British and Irish Lions (8) 2011–present Scrum-half
106 Mauro Bergamasco Italy 1998–2015 Flanker
Dan Biggar Wales (103), British and Irish Lions (3) 2008–present Fly-half
Eben Etzebeth South Africa 2012-present Lock
Rob Simmons Australia 2010–2020 Lock
105 Sean Lamont Scotland 2004–2016 Wing
104 Martyn Williams Wales (100), British and Irish Lions (4) 1996–2012 Flanker
103 Owen Farrell England (97), British and Irish Lions (6) 2012–present Fly-half
Matt Giteau Australia 2002–2016 Fly-half
Andrea Lo Cicero Vaina Italy 2000–2013 Prop
Ma’a Nonu New Zealand 2003–2015 Centre
Gareth Thomas Wales (100), British and Irish Lions (3) 1995–2007 Utility back
102 Jonathan Davies Wales (96), British and Irish Lions (6) 2009–present Centre
Stephen Larkham Australia 1996–2007 Fly-half
Percy Montgomery South Africa 1997–2008 Fullback
Alessandro Troncon Italy 1994–2007 Scrum-half
101 David Campese [a] Australia 1982–1996 Wing
Courtney Lawes England (96), British and Irish Lions (5) 2009–present Lock
Gonçalo Uva Portugal 2004–2018 Lock
Vasco Uva Portugal 2003–2016 Flanker
100 Valentin Calafeteanu Romania 2004–2019 Scrum-half
Giorgi Chkhaidze Georgia 2002–2017 Number 8
Andrey Garbuzov Russia 2005–2020 Flanker
Leigh Halfpenny Wales (96), British and Irish Lions (4) 2008–present Fullback
Jamie Heaslip Ireland (95), British and Irish Lions (5) 2006–2017 Number 8
Adam Jones Wales (95), British and Irish Lions (5) 2002–2014 Prop
Diego Magno Uruguay 2008–present Lock
Mils Muliaina New Zealand 2003–2011 Fullback