Ford & Smith rank higher than Farrell in best men's rugby players in Britain

George Ford and Marcus Smith rank higher than England captain Owen Farrell on a list of the 30 best men's rugby players in Britain in 2021.

The list compiled by The Telegraph's Ben Coles features Ford and Smith inside the top 10 while Farrell ranks at no.15.

The England skipper has dropped eight places from his no.8 ranking in 2020 with Coles commenting 'Too low? Maybe' adding 'England want to see more of him with Marcus Smith and will hope to have their captain back for the Six Nations.'

'Obviously, it helps that Ford is playing behind a dominant Leicester pack again, but the fly-half has been in phenomenal form of late for his club, even if England are no longer interested in him (for now).' Coles wrote about Ford who came in at no.10, moving up 17 places from 2020.

Meanwhile, Marcus Smith rockets into the top 30 with the playmaker cracking the list for the first time ranking third overall.

Coles predicts 'The best is yet to come' for Smith who finally cracked the England test team and made his British and Irish Lions debut.

Fellow England teammates Tom Curry (2) and Maro Itoje (1) come in ahead of Smith with Sale Sharks' scrumhalf Faf de Klerk retaining his no.4 ranking from 2020.

Courtney Lawes is another new entry into the top 30 coming in at no.5 with Ulster's new signing Duane Vermeulen just behind the flanker.

Scotland and Glasgow Warriors' scrumhalf Ali Price features at no.7 as the lone Scotsman in the top 10 with Dan Biggar the only Welshman just behind him at no.8.

Fiji and Bristol Bears' star Semi Radradra drops seven places into no.9.

See the full list of the 30 best men's rugby players in Britain in 2021 here