Best Rugby Union Club Teams

Could be from England, Wales, France, South Africa wherever but they can't be national teams and they must play union.
The Top Ten
1 Leinster

Leinster Rugby are hands down the best "club" team in the world. Not only is the first squad strong in all areas, but they also have the best rugby union academy in the world by a country mile.

They also have one of the biggest, if not the biggest, fan bases and season ticket holder pools that consistently go to games, both home and away, in the world.

The coaching setup in the main squad and the Leinster squad have vast playing and coaching experience. This is driven in part by an international coach of Ireland who has the highest standards and expects this to be reflected in the provincial branches.

While it is a province and not strictly a club, it's still the best club around.

2 The Crusaders

The Crusaders are the most successful rugby club in the vastly superior Super Rugby competition. I've lived and watched live club rugby in Europe and the South, and the Super Rugby teams, on average, are by far more skilful, quick, and play superior rugby, particularly in dry conditions. If you combined both competitions, a Super Rugby team would win almost every season and dominate finals spots, with perhaps Toulon and one or two other clubs from the North good enough to make the finals. Of course, conditions and refereeing come into it, but it ultimately boils down to the three big southern nations producing better talent across the board.

In saying this, I feel Super Rugby is diluting strength in Australia and South Africa in recent seasons, and the North are poaching players who want to make huge final pay packets before they retire. So the gap is closing, but anyone who watches both competitions live will see there is still a distinct gap in quality.

3 ASM Clermont Auvergne

They are players. They are industrial. They are inventive. They are losers. They are the best! So many memories with AS Montferrandaise. So many geniuses.

4 Waikato Chiefs

Waikato Chiefs win almost every game they play! Surely, you should vote for these guys. I mean, they have some of the All Blacks' best players! And we all know that the All Blacks dominate.

5 Munster

Munster is a team that keeps their heads while playing rugby. Leinster is also a team of the past. Without Nacewa and Sexton, and soon O'Driscoll will be gone, they are not good at all. Well, not really. Munster is pulling themselves together again. They play very fluent rugby. They fight like hell to the 81st minute.

Munster's legacy is great, but they have slowed in recent years. Never fear though because they look to be getting back into their mojo again. Come on, the Red Army!

Munster is a great team. I go down there to watch the games and wow, I'm amazed. They recently beat the Ospreys. They may not be the best team, but they are definitely in the top 3.

6 Biarritz Olimpique
7 RC Toulonnais

They've got the best players of any club and the best bank balance that can bring in the big names easily, such as Ma'Nonu and Brian Habana, and at one point the greatest fly-half, Johnny Wilkinson, as well as a dominant forward pack.

8 Saracens F.C.

Saracens are just amazing. And they also have the world's best rugby kicker (Owen Farrell). Saracens have even beaten number 1 Leinster. They have the most Lions players on their team than any other clubs do. They have three World Players of the Year. They have so many international players. Seriously, I don't know why they aren't voted number 1. I bet they will win this year's 2019 Heineken Cup.

With back-to-back European Champions Cup titles and on the verge of achieving the same in the Premiership, Saracens have become a powerhouse in the club game. With the age profile of their players, they can only get better!

9 Stade Toulousain

Stade Toulousain is the most successful club in Europe (5 times European champions and 21 times national champions), and even in the southern hemisphere, there isn't any club with so many titles. It is important to underline that most of the teams in this list are not "clubs" but "franchises". The title is clear: "Best Rugby Union CLUB Teams". You cannot compare a club with a franchise!

They have the best records in Europe and probably in the world. Find me another team that won 19 national championships and 4 continental cups at this level. They were the winner of the 1st European cup and have always been there since then! The team is usually compared to what Real Madrid is to Football.

10 Western Province

Seriously, just seriously. Western Province number 16? I don't know how in the world they can come 16th. They must come top ten at least. Sharks may have won the cup, but where was our best player, Habana? The man that no one can catch. I want Leinster to vs Province, then we will take it from there. Once again, I'm Daiyaan Desai.

The Contenders
11 Glasgow Warriors

They play in the Pro 14 - overall the strongest league, certainly in the northern hemisphere. They are often understrength due to international commitments, a problem in Scotland with only 2 full-time pro teams, but regularly finish top or thereabouts. They are more than a match for anyone at their strongest.

The Glasgow Warriors were finalists in the Pro 12 two years ago and winners last year. They are looking good again this season. Maybe not the best team in the world, but they are getting bigger and stronger.

The Glasgow Warriors are the strongest attacking side in the northern hemisphere, if not one of the best in the world.

12 Aviron Bayonnais
13 The Bulls

For years, players have been bought (stolen) by Northern clubs to the point where the Bulls were almost completely depleted. However, even in the midst of this, they won the Super 15 3 times. I would like to see another club, depleted from buyouts, do this. Most of the Southern hemisphere teams may, but would struggle. The Northern teams under these conditions would fall apart faster than a matchstick house in a tornado.

They are the most consistent team in the world if you look at international and domestic competition. Domestically, they won 23 out of 53 Currie Cups from their inception in 1938. Internationally, they are the second most successful team in Super Rugby. They are one of the only, if not the only, team to have beaten all the first-tier test nations.

14 Llanelli Scarlets

The Llanelli Scarlets, with British and Irish Lions past and present, always produce world-class players. They always have local talent, are a great club, have fantastic fans, and love rugby! Go Scarlets!

When they are on the money, they are on fire.

15 The Sharks

The Sharks have never won Super 15, however, they have been finalists numerous times and have one of the best home records the world has seen. They are unbeatable at the Shark Tank, just not this year…

On their day, they can beat anyone. They are in the top 10 for me at least.

They are good enough to beat anyone on the day.

16 Leicester Tigers

They have dominated club rugby since the mid-late 90s, winning countless Premiership titles and league cups, as well as 2 European cups and a number of appearances in the final! They are easily the most successful and consistent, and always provide a strong contingent for the England team.

They are the most consistent club in the UK since the professional era. They have finished top of the table more than any other and have been in more finals than any other team. The silverware is part of the story, but the fact that they are ALWAYS there is telling!

17 London Wasps

They are going strong. They are not quite up with the Saints in my opinion, but still exceptional.

18 Exeter Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs are the best team in England. No one can beat them when they've got no injuries.

Brilliant! They are the 2nd best in England this year. They got to the AVIVA Final in 2016 and only just fell short.

19 Stade Montois
20 Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints are by far the best rugby club in England. Saints are marching in is the best chant ever. If you question it, you are wrong.

Dan Biggar,
Alex Mitchell,
and all the other players are the best in the world.

Their team is full of stars. As soon as the chemistry improves, they will be a great team. They have a bright future.

Strong history and professional approach to playing the game as it should be played.

21 Harlequins

Harlequins are clearly the best and they have a really cool kit.

22 Bath Rugby

Bath Rugby is one of the most traditional clubs in rugby history. It has a lot of great history.

Most of the England squad were Bath players in 2015 and they are very consistent.

23 Wellington Hurricanes

Hands down, they are the most exciting club side in the world to watch. They have produced the most entertaining players of all time! Cullen, Lomu, Nonu, Umaga, Savea, Barrett… need I go on? They are also the defending champs of the highest level rugby competition in the world.

24 Stormers

I wouldn't say the Stormers are the best team in the world, but they're really good and are probably among the top 10. I love rugby, so I watch any game that comes up. From what I see, there are few teams who can match the Stormers.

Wow, you guys. For me, the Stormers are the best TEAM EVER! How could they be in 20th place? You guys really have to watch them play now. They might be at the bottom half this year (2014), but they beat the Cell C Sharks, Toyota Cheetahs, and the Western Force. You all just think they suck because they are at the bottom, but that still does not mean they're not good. Stormers are not good, they ARE AWESOME! Guys, just watch them, then you'll know how good they are.

25 Argentina Jaguares

They are the best in the African Conference at the moment. Moyano, Matera, and Tuculet. What else?

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