Mata and Yato Named In Rugby World Magazine Top 100 Players

Rugby

Mata and Yato Named In Rugby World Magazine Top 100 Players

Rio Olympics gold medallist Mata continues to impress since he joined Edinburgh in the Pro14 competition while Yato has played a key role for Clermont in the Top 14 comp in France. Wyn Jones No.1

by osea bola, suva

17 Jun 2019 17:41

Mata and Yato Named In Rugby World Magazine Top 100 Players

From left: Fiji Airways Flying Fijians squad members Peceli Yato and Viliame Mata.

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Two Fiji Airways Flying Fijians players have been rated in the top 20 just 94 days before the 2019 Rugby World Cup kicks off in Japan.

In a poll conducted by Rugby World magazine on the top 100 players at this moment, loose-men Viliame Mata is rated 9th and Peceli Yato 14th .

Both were named by Fiji Airways Flying Fijians head coach John McKee on Saturday in the 42-member squad for the tests building up to the RWC.

Rio Olympics gold medallist Mata continues to impress since he joined Edinburgh in the Pro14 competition while Yato has played a key role for Clermont in the Top 14 comp in France.
Wyn Jones No.1

Meanwhile, Wales Grand Slam-winning captain Alun Wyn Jones has been named as the greatest rugby player in the world, eclipsing New Zealand first five eighth Beauden Barrett.

Jones’ incredible form over the past 12 months sees him come top of the pile, edging out two New Zealanders – Barrett and Brodie Retallick – plus England powerhouse prop Mako Vunipola and Welsh and Lions teammate Williams.

A Rugby World panel put together the best 100 list across the men’s and women’s games and they say Alun Wyn ‘stands head and shoulders’ above the others as number one.

They quote former England captain Will Greenwood saying: “Alun Wyn Jones is the best player the northern hemisphere has produced in the 21st century.”

“However, should you disagree with our choice of top man we would uphold our right to ask where you were on March 16 when Alun Wyn Jones picked Wales up in two hands and took them to the Grand Slam; and why you apparently missed the 133 Tests before that, played by the lock of locks.”
Rugby World’s Top 20

20: James Ryan (Ireland);

19: Jonathan Davies (Wales);

18: Jamie George (England);

17: Alex Goode (England);

16: Stuart Hogg (Scotland);

15: Ardie Savea (NZ);

14: Peceli Yato (Fiji);

13: Faf de Klerk (South Africa);

12: Billy Vunipola (England);

11: Pauline Bourdon (France women);

10: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland);

9: Viliame Mata (Fiji);