England flyhalf Owen Farrell has been rated as the best player in the world by Rugby Worldmagazine, while no South African made the top 20.

Beauden Barrett, the 2017 World Rugby Player of the Year, was selected in second place, while lock Brodie Retallick is the only other All Black in the top 10.

In the magazine’s list of the world’s 100 best players, which includes males and females, Farrell receives the top ranking, while Fiji sevens star Leone Nakarawa is also a surprise selection in third place.

World Rugby’s 2017 Breakthrough Player of the Year, Rieko Ioane, is 11th.

Rugby World magazine’s top 20 best players:

1. Owen Farrell
2. Beauden Barrett
3. Leone Nakarawa
4. Maro Itoje
5. Israel Folau
6. Stuart Hogg
7. Jonathan Davies
8. Michael Hooper
9. Tadhg Furlong
10. Brodie Retallick
11. Rieko Ioane
12. Jonathan Sexton
13. Sam Cane
14. Kurtley Beale
15. Kieran Read
16. Kendra Cocksedge
17. Courtney Lawes
18. Sam Whitelock
19. Taulupe Faletau
20. Emily Scarratt

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images