Rugby has produced some incredible captains, but only a select few have earned the right to be called the greatest of all time.

Some lifted World Cups. Others inspired entire nations. A few were simply the sort of men you'd follow into battle without asking why.

From Richie McCaw's relentless winning mentality to Martin Johnson's famously terrifying stare, these are the leaders who defined generations.

We've ranked the 10 greatest captains in rugby union history, taking into account success, influence, personality and those moments that made them legends.

And we've thrown in a few facts you might not know about each of them.

10. John Smit (Springboks)

John Smit was the sort of captain who could calm a dressing room with a few words, then spend 80 minutes making life miserable for the opposition.

The former hooker led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007 and captained them to a famous series win over the British & Irish Lions two years later.

He wasn't the loudest man on the pitch. He didn't need to be.

With Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Schalk Burger alongside him, Smit had enough firepower to start a small war.

Quirky fact: Smit was so versatile that he played both hooker and tighthead prop at international level. Imagine asking your World Cup-winning captain to change position because the scrum needed sorting.

9. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)

Brian O'Driscoll didn't just captain Ireland. For much of his career, he was Irish rugby.

The legendary centre led his country to the 2009 Grand Slam, ending a 61-year wait for one of the sport's biggest prizes.

He could produce a moment of magic, make a try-saving tackle and wind up the opposition, often within the same five minutes.

And when Ireland needed someone to stand up, BOD was usually first in line.

Quirky fact: O'Driscoll announced himself on the international stage with a stunning hat-trick against France in Paris in 2000. Ireland hadn't won there since 1972.

8. Thierry Dusautoir (France)

Thierry Dusautoir might be the greatest captain never to lift the Rugby World Cup.

The French flanker was magnificent in the 2011 final against the All Blacks, scoring France's only try in an agonising 8-7 defeat.

He was a quiet leader who preferred smashing opponents to delivering speeches.

Nicknamed The Dark Destroyer, Dusautoir earned a reputation as one of the most feared tacklers in world rugby.

Quirky fact: He made an astonishing 38 tackles against New Zealand in France's famous 2007 World Cup quarter-final victory, according to widely reported match statistics.

7. Sam Warburton (Wales)

Sam Warburton looked like the sensible bloke who'd remind everyone to put their seatbelts on.

Then he'd get onto a rugby pitch and become an absolute menace.

Appointed Wales captain at just 22, Warburton led his country to the 2011 World Cup semi-finals and became one of the most respected players of his generation.

He also captained the British & Irish Lions on two tours, winning in Australia in 2013 and drawing with New Zealand in 2017.

Quirky fact: Warburton was a promising footballer in his youth and spent time in Cardiff City's academy before committing to rugby.

6. John Eales (Australia)

John Eales was almost annoyingly good at everything.

The Australian giant won two World Cups, captaining the Wallabies to their 1999 triumph, and could do things most second-rows wouldn't even attempt.

He could dominate a lineout, control a match and, remarkably, kick goals.

His last-minute penalty against the All Blacks in Wellington in 2000 remains one of the most famous kicks in Australian rugby history.

Quirky fact: Eales became known as 'Nobody' because nobody's perfect. The best part? He later revealed his teammates never actually called him that. The nickname came from a joke involving a Mr Perfect book and took on a life of its own.

5. Francois Pienaar (Springboks)

Some captains win trophies. Francois Pienaar helped create a moment that changed how a nation saw itself.

The Springboks captain led South Africa to their historic 1995 World Cup triumph, beating the mighty All Blacks in Johannesburg.

With Nelson Mandela watching, Pienaar became the face of a victory that meant far more than rugby.

It remains one of sport's most iconic moments.

And while the country was changing around him, Pienaar had the enormous task of keeping his players focused on winning.

Quirky fact: Mandela famously walked into the Springboks dressing room before the final wearing Pienaar's No.6 jersey. The captain later admitted he had to collect himself emotionally before calming down his players.

4. Willie John McBride (Ireland)

If you needed someone to lead you into rugby's most hostile environments, Willie John McBride would be near the top of the list.

The Irish second-row captained the legendary 1974 British & Irish Lions on their unbeaten tour of South Africa.

They won 21 matches, drew one and defeated the Springboks 3-0 in the Test series.

McBride was tough, uncompromising and fiercely protective of his teammates.

He also understood that a Lions captain needed to bring together four nations, not just pick the biggest blokes and hope for the best.

Quirky fact: McBride was behind the infamous '99 call'. If one Lion was targeted, the others would join in the retaliation. It was a controversial tactic born in an era when touring South Africa could be brutally physical.

3. Martin Johnson (England)

Martin Johnson had a stare that could make a grown man reconsider his career choices.

The Leicester Tigers legend was everything England wanted in a captain. Tough, fearless and utterly uninterested in making friends with the opposition.

He led England to their first World Cup title in 2003, defeating Australia in one of the most dramatic finals in rugby history.

Johnson also captained the British & Irish Lions to their famous series victory in South Africa in 1997.

He wasn't one for motivational speeches. His idea of leadership was simple: do your job, do it properly and don't let your teammates down.

Quirky fact: Before becoming England's most famous captain, Johnson spent time playing rugby in New Zealand and represented the New Zealand Under-21 side. Yes, England's World Cup-winning skipper once wore the silver fern.

2. Siya Kolisi (Springboks)

There are great rugby captains, and then there are people like Siya Kolisi.

The Springboks flanker has become one of the most inspirational figures in world sport.

Born in the township of Zwide, Kolisi overcame enormous challenges to become South Africa's first black Test captain in 2018.

He then led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2019 and repeated the achievement four years later in France.

His leadership is built on emotion, honesty and an extraordinary ability to connect with people.

You only need to watch him during the national anthem to understand what representing South Africa means to him.

Quirky fact: Growing up, Kolisi's favourite toy was reportedly a brick. It's a remarkable detail from a childhood that could hardly have been further removed from the glamour of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup.

1. Richie McCaw (All Blacks)

Richie McCaw was the sort of player opposition fans loved to hate.

Mostly because he was ridiculously good at rugby and seemed to spend half his career getting away with things other players couldn't.

The legendary flanker captained the All Blacks in 110 Tests, leading them to consecutive World Cup titles in 2011 and 2015.

He was ruthless, relentless and almost impossible to intimidate.

McCaw didn't need to be the biggest man on the pitch. He simply had to be the smartest.

His ability to influence referees, dominate the breakdown and deliver under pressure made him the ultimate competitor.

By the time he retired in 2015, he had won 148 Test caps and established himself as arguably the greatest player of the professional era.

Quirky fact: McCaw is also an accomplished glider pilot. His grandfather, who flew hundreds of missions during the Second World War, introduced him to flying. He later became an honorary Wing Commander in the Royal New Zealand Air Force.