As the current year draws to a close, certain athletic milestones have been surpassed, yet many enduring national try-scoring achievements continue to defy challenge.
During 2025, several benchmarks were reset, establishing fresh national bests, which we detail for all 24 nations slated for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
South Africa
Present all-time record holder: Bryan Habana (67)
Is it conceivable that Bryan Habana’s reign as the Springboks’ top try-scorer will ever conclude? Currently, it appears highly unlikely to occur within the immediate future, as no South African athlete approaches the former Bulls winger’s achievement, with Makazole Mapimpi’s 33 tries being the closest.
Yet, with the dual World Cup champion nearing the end of his playing days, no individual stands poised to surpass Habana’s total, notwithstanding Malcolm Marx (27), Kurt-Lee Arendse (23), and Cheslin Kolbe (21) remaining active with the Springboks roster through at least 2027.
New Zealand
Current record-holder: Doug Howlett (49)
Could Doug Howlett’s milestone finally be eclipsed? Will Jordan trails by just four tries, and assuming he sustains his impressive scoring pace of nearly one try per match, he is projected to match the figure in 2026.
During 2025, Jordan accumulated an additional six scores against France (three), South Africa, Scotland, and England. Trailing him closely is Beauden Barrett, having tallied 45 tries, who also possesses a plausible opportunity to reach the 49-try mark.
England
All-time leading scorer: Rory Underwood (49)
Rory Underwood’s impressive tally of 49 tries—or 50 if his British and Irish Lions score against the All Blacks is factored in—appears impregnable, particularly with Jonny May no longer playing professionally.
May concluded his career with 36 tries, and in his absence, no individual poses a significant threat to exceed Underwood’s achievement.
Merely one currently playing England athlete has achieved 20 tries: Elliot Daly, who secured his twentieth just last February.
Ireland
Record holder: Brian O’Driscoll (46)
Certain accomplishments endure, and Brian O’Driscoll’s career achievement seems destined to remain unbroken for the foreseeable future.
O’Driscoll amassed 46 tries representing Ireland, in addition to one for the Lions — surpassing James Lowe’s club total by 29. Keith Earls approached the mark most closely but concluded his career still lacking 10 tries.
France
Leading scorer: Damian Penaud (40)
A historical best that was at last surpassed in 2025, as Damian Penaud exceeded Serge Blanco’s 38 tries, achieving the 40-try landmark.
The UBB winger has successfully crossed the try-line against nearly every one of the globe’s top 15 teams, with only Argentina eluding his scoring efforts.
Currently ranked among the top 20 all-time Test try scorers, Penaud has the potential to ascend further — however, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, already with 20 tries at 22, might challenge his eventual tally over the next ten years.
Argentina
All-time leader: José Núñez Piossek (29)
Piossek’s achievement appears secure, given that no Puma from the past decade and a half has approached a challenge to it.
Emiliano Boffelli is the sole currently active player with a credible chance but needs to score fourteen more times to equal the record.
For him to participate in the upcoming World Cup, he needs to recover peak performance and strive to establish himself as Argentina’s top career scorer.
Australia
All-time leading try-scorer: David Campese (64)
Similar to Habana and Underwood, David Campese’s achievement appears unassailable. Chris Latham (40), Adam Ashley-Cooper (39), and Israel Folau (37) all, at various points, seemed capable of approaching it, but ultimately none drew near.
Andrew Kellaway stands as the nearest active Wallaby, yet he has only 15 tries, a considerable distance from Campese’s 64.
Fiji
Joint all-time record holders: Vereniki Goneva and Nemani Nadolo (22)
Notwithstanding the nation’s consistent production of elite offensive players, only Goneva and Nadolo have managed to achieve 22 Test tries.
Surprisingly, a hooker might potentially exceed them: Tevita Ikanivere, already at 12 tries by age 26, could become Fiji’s career leading scorer.
Is he capable of being the inaugural Flying Fijian to achieve the 30-try threshold?
Scotland
Current all-time record holder: Duhan van der Merwe (35)
Duhan van der Merwe currently tops Scotland’s rankings, having notched his 35th try facing Tonga.
Darcy Graham, with 34 tries, is sufficiently close that the top spot might change incumbents again in 2026.
The current period has seen a surge of high-scoring players: Stuart Hogg (27), Huw Jones (23), Chris Paterson (22), and Tommy Seymour (17) are all positioned within the top 10.
Italy
All-time leader: Marcello Cuttitta (26)
Monty Ioane requires seven additional tries to equal Cuttitta’s enduring record and has the potential to achieve this within two playing seasons.
Ange Capuozzo trails Ioane by three, suggesting that both players could contend for the milestone in the foreseeable future.
Wales
All-time leading scorer: Shane Williams (58)
Wales has consistently generated exceptionally skilled try-scorers: George North (49, including Lions appearances), Gareth Thomas (41), and the unparalleled Shane Williams.
Williams recorded 58 tries for Wales and two for the Lions, ranking him as the world’s fourth-highest try scorer.
His achievement seems secure. Within the present squad, solely Josh Adams (22) has exceeded the 20-try threshold.
Japan
All-time record holder: Daisuke Ohata (69)
Daisuke Ohata continues to hold the worldwide record with 69 tries in fewer than 60 appearances — a remarkable accomplishment, even factoring in six scores against ‘A’ teams.
Michael Leitch has notched 22 tries playing for the Brave Blossoms.
Georgia
All-time leading try-scorer: Akaki Tabutsadze (50)
Akaki Tabutsadze, recognized as the world’s highest active Test try scorer, has accumulated 50 tries since his first appearance in 2020.
After decisively breaking Georgia’s prior record, his ambition is now fixed on Ohata’s 69. Maintaining an average of five tries annually, he could achieve this before 2030.
Even though he hasn’t scored in recent matches, he is expected to regain his scoring touch in 2026, sustaining his relentless pursuit of further scores.
Uruguay
All-time top scorer: Diego Ormaechea (33)
Germán Kessler has scored 23 times and now stands just ten tries shy of Uruguay’s national record.
Considering Uruguay’s effective mauling strategy, and his pivotal involvement in it, he possesses a plausible prospect of equaling Ormaechea’s total within the next four years.
Spain
Record holder: César Sempere (31)
César Sempere’s collection of 31 tries significantly characterized a period for Spanish rugby spanning the 1990s and 2000s.
As Spain’s performance progresses, Martiniano Cian — already possessing 15 tries — appears increasingly likely to become a future record-setter.
USA
All-time leader: Vaea Anitoni (26)
Vaea Anitoni’s 26-try mark has endured for a quarter-century, though Joe Taufete’e is nearby with 23.
The hooker has not appeared for the Eagles since 2022, despite being included in the extended squad this April.
Anitoni’s achievement initiated a modern age of wing scoring and could be surpassed within the next couple of seasons.
Chile
All-time record holder: José Larenas (11)
Larenas’ benchmark is almost guaranteed to be broken shortly: Rodrigo Fernández (10), Santiago Videla (9), and Matías Garafulic are all drawing near.
This top score could be exchanged among players numerous times over the coming years.
Tonga
All-time top try-scorer: Sonatane Takulua (18)
Takulua surpassed Fetu?u Vainikolo recently by tallying his 18th try.
He has accumulated 63 international appearances, competed in three World Cups, and is improbable to be overtaken soon — no active player approaches double figures.
Samoa
Leading all-time scorer: Brian Lima (29)
Brian Lima’s total of 29 Test tries has persisted unchallenged since 2007.
Duncan Paia’aua heads the present team with eight tries and is far from posing a threat to the existing record.
Portugal
Current leading scorer: Rodrigo Marta (36)
Rodrigo Marta, recognized as one of his generation’s most brilliant players, has established a clear lead with 36 tries and his count continues.
He surpassed António Aguilar’s 23 — a number also exceeded by Raffaele Storti, who is 12 tries behind Marta.
Romania
All-time try-scoring leader: C?t?lin Fercu (33)
C?t?lin Fercu had a highly productive career spanning 109 caps and continues to be Romania’s leading try scorer.
As Ovidiu Cojocaru has retired and no present Romanian player has more than 10 tries, this record is set to endure for a considerable period.
Hong Kong China
All-time record holder: Rowan Varty (24)
Matt Worley is positioned to overtake Rowan Varty. Needing seven more tries, and maintaining a scoring rate of 1.1 per match, he is expected to surpass the record shortly.
Zimbabwe
Assumed all-time record holder: Hilton Mudariki (10)
Due to Zimbabwe’s restricted international fixture list, historical statistics are incomplete, yet Hilton Mudariki is generally considered their top scorer with 10 tries.
Canada
All-time try-scoring leader: DTH van der Merwe (38)
DTH van der Merwe is renowned as one of rugby’s premier try-scorers, and his Canadian national record endures.
Lucas Rumball demonstrates improving form but is improbable to contend with the 38-try mark.
