New Zealand’s Will Jordan topped the list of try-scorers at the 2023 Rugby World Cup with a total of eight.
Here are the top try-scorers:
1st – 8 tries
Will Jordan – New Zealand
Jordan was unable to break the record for the most tries scored at a single World Cup after failing to score in New Zealand’s 12-11 defeat by South Africa in the final.
The wing scored a hat-trick in the semi-final against Argentina to equal the record held by Jonah Lomu (1999), Bryan Habana (2007) and Julian Savea (2015).
The 25-year-old scored four tries in the pool stage, scoring twice in the wins over Italy and Uruguay, before going over for a delightful try against Ireland in the quarter-finals.
2nd – 6 tries
Damian Penaud – France
Dynamic wing Penaud, who topped the 2023 Six Nations charts with five tries, scored a hat-trick in the 96-0 thumping of Namibia and followed that up with a double in the 60-7 victory over Italy in Lyon.
Penaud’s first try came in the opening game against New Zealand, when he slid over in the corner to put his side back in the lead and on course for a 27-13 victory.
3rd – 5 tries
Bundee Aki – Ireland
Centre Aki was one of the World Cup’s standout performers during Ireland’s run to the quarter-finals.
Aki got back-to-back try doubles against Romania and Tonga in the pool stage, and added his fifth try in the 28-24 defeat by New Zealand in the last eight.
Leicester Fainga’anuku – New Zealand
Fainga’anuku got his first try in a huge win over Namibia and backed that up with a hat-trick in the victory over Uruguay to send New Zealand into the last eight.
The wing then crashed over the white line in New Zealand’s quarter-final against Ireland with a try in the corner.
Damian McKenzie
McKenzie scored twice against Namibia, once against Italy and then added two more tries in a 73-0 thrashing of Uruguay – although his outrageous assist for Jordan’s first-half score was perhaps more memorable than any of his five tries to date.
Henry Arundell – England
Arundell’s World Cup debut did not disappoint English supporters as he ran in five tries against Chile, matching the record by an England men’s player in a Test.
His fourth was the pick of the bunch. The 20-year-old received the ball on the right wing, chipped it over full-back Francisco Urroz and grabbed the high bouncing ball before tumbling over the line.
Darcy Graham – Scotland
Scotland winger Graham started his haul with an emphatic opening score against Tonga and was one of the standout performers in Scotland’s blitzing of Romania in Lille.
The 26-year-old walked off with a first-half hat-trick and danced through the defence in the second half to score a fourth under the posts.
Louis Rees-Zammit – Wales
Rees-Zammit bagged a clinical hat-trick against Georgia that ensured Wales finished top of Pool C.
The 22-year-old wing scored the first of his five tries in Wales’ narrow win over Fiji in their pool opener and added another in the victory against Portugal.
9th – 4 tries
Aaron Smith – New Zealand
Veteran scrum-half Smith, playing his last match for the All Blacks in the World Cup final, crossed the tryline but referee Wayne Barnes was forced to disallow the score because of a knock-on in an earlier phase of play.
Smith scored a hat-trick within 33 minutes against Italy in the pool stage and added his fourth in the semi-final against Argentina.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey – France
Bielle-Biarrey took to this World Cup remarkably well for a 20-year-old who has fewer than 10 caps at senior level.
His standout try came against Namibia when he picked up the ball on his own 22-metre line and outpaced every defender. An early try in the rout of Italy helped send the hosts into the knockout round.
Cobus Reinach – South Africa
Scrum-half Reinach has taken full advantage of the number nine shirt when selected, starting with an electric 25-minute hat-trick against Romania.
The quick-thinking scrum-half took a quick tap to catch the Tonga defence off guard and score his fourth try in the corner.
