Who Are The Three Players On Cover Of Rugby 22

If you've ever picked up a copy of Rugby 22 and wondered, "Hang on, who are those three blokes on the front?" — you're not alone. The cover is one of the game's most globally diverse lineups in sports gaming history. Three players. Three continents. Three completely different reasons why each of them deserved that spot.

Rugby 22 was developed by EKO Software and published by NACON. It released on 27 January 2022 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game was the latest entry in their long-running rugby simulation franchise, following Rugby 20.

Source: NACON official announcement & Steam Store listing

1. Antoine Dupont — France's Golden Boy

What makes Dupont truly special is his ability to control a game from scrum-half — a position that usually acts as a distributor, not a destroyer. He does both. He scored 12 major honours by the time Rugby 22 launched, and he wasn't done yet.

Key Career Highlights (Antoine Dupont)

• Named World Rugby Player of the Year in 2021 — one of the sport's highest individual honours
• Led France to their first Six Nations Grand Slam in over a decade in 2022
• Won the European Rugby Champions Cup twice with Toulouse (2021 and 2024)
• Captained France at the 2023 Rugby World Cup on home soil — a career-defining moment
• Won Olympic gold in the Paris 2024 Sevens tournament — the second player ever to win both the 15s and 7s World Rugby Player of the Year
• Won the Six Nations Player of the Championship three times — equalling Brian O'Driscoll's record

Source: Wikipedia — Antoine Dupont

2. Cheslin Kolbe — The Springbok Lightning Bolt

What set Kolbe apart at the time of Rugby 22's release was his 2019 Rugby World Cup final try — one of the most iconic scores in recent World Cup history. South Africa beat England 32–12 to claim the title, and Kolbe's finish made him a household name globally.

Key Career Highlights (Cheslin Kolbe)

• Two-time Rugby World Cup champion with South Africa — 2019 and 2023
• Scored a famous try in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final against England
• Won the Top 14 and European Champions Cup with Toulouse in 2021
• Named SA Rugby Men's Player of the Year 2024 — the first backline player to win since Jean de Villiers in 2013
• Held a bronze medal from the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of South Africa Sevens
• Recognised consistently in Planet Rugby's top 5 best players in the world rankings

Source: Wikipedia — Cheslin Kolbe & Planet Rugby

3. Will Skelton — The Wall from Australia

Skelton's inclusion on the Rugby 22 cover was arguably the most interesting choice. He wasn't the biggest global name at the time, but he was coming off back-to-back European Champions Cup wins with La Rochelle — and represented the traditional, brutal forward rugby that the game needed on its cover alongside two of the world's most exciting backs.

Key Career Highlights (Will Skelton)

• Won four European Champions Cup titles — two with Saracens, two with La Rochelle
• Made his Wallabies debut in 2014 and earned 37 international caps
• Played in the 2015 Rugby World Cup for Australia
• Named captain of Australia for the 2023 Rugby World Cup — a proud career moment
• Helped La Rochelle win back-to-back European titles in 2022 and 2023
• Compared to Sonny Bill Williams for his offload game, despite being a forward

Source: Wikipedia — Will Skelton & Rugby World profile

All Three Cover Athletes — Side-by-Side Comparison

It's worth seeing these three players together in a single snapshot. The cover wasn't random — it was a deliberate combination of a world-class back, an electrifying finisher, and a physical enforcer from three different rugby powerhouses.

Sources: Wikipedia profiles for Dupont, Kolbe, Skelton

Why Were These Three Players Chosen for the Cover?

Game covers aren't just design decisions — they're marketing strategies. NACON and EKO Software needed athletes who represented the game's global appeal, the diversity of rugby styles, and names that fans from Paris to Pretoria to Perth would recognise instantly.

Here's why each selection made perfect sense:

• Antoine Dupont — Just won World Rugby Player of the Year 2021. The most talked-about player on the planet at the time. His face alone sells copies in France, one of the Top 14's biggest markets.
• Cheslin Kolbe — A two-time World Cup winner and fresh off his 2019 final heroics. South Africa is a massive rugby market with a fiercely passionate fanbase.
• Will Skelton — Representing Australia (a major rugby nation) while playing his peak club rugby at La Rochelle in France. His inclusion also bridges the Northern and Southern Hemisphere fan bases.
• Together, the three cover three different playing positions — back, wing, and forward — showing the full spectrum of the sport.
• All three were playing their club rugby in French Top 14 at the time of release — a clever nod to EKO Software's Parisian roots.

It's also worth noting that all three were arguably at career highs around the time of Rugby 22's January 2022 launch. That's not a coincidence — game publishers typically finalise cover deals months in advance, often picking athletes at their hottest moment.

What Made Rugby 22 Different From Previous Titles?

The cover players were only part of the story. According to NACON's official announcement, Rugby 22 included several meaningful upgrades over Rugby 20:

• Improved AI: More realistic decision-making from CPU opponents, adapting to each player's skill level
• Photogrammetry technology: More lifelike player faces, especially on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
• New official licences: The All Blacks (New Zealand) joined the roster for the first time in the series
• Over 50 official teams: Including the Wallabies, France Rugby, Flying Fijians, Ireland, Wales and more
• Competitions covered: United Rugby Championship, Top 14, and Pro D2
• Career Mode: Players could create and manage their own team through tournaments and leagues

Source: Ruck.co.uk — Rugby 22 announcement & Glitched.online feature

The game received mixed-to-positive reviews overall, with a Metacritic user score reflecting a loyal fanbase that appreciated the improvements. It was more of an evolution than a revolution — but the cover athletes were undeniably a major step up in prestige.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the three players on the cover of Rugby 22?

The three cover athletes are Antoine Dupont (France), Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa), and Will Skelton (Australia). This was confirmed by both Wikipedia's Dupont article and by SportsBrief's cover story on Kolbe.

Why is Antoine Dupont on the Rugby 22 cover?

Dupont won the World Rugby Player of the Year award in 2021 — making him the most decorated and talked-about player in world rugby right before the game launched. His inclusion was almost inevitable.

What position does Cheslin Kolbe play?

Kolbe plays primarily as a wing but is also used at fullback and has even featured at fly-half for Toulouse. His versatility makes him one of the most valuable backs in the sport.

Is Will Skelton Australian or New Zealand?

Skelton was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but moved to Australia as a child. He qualified for Australia through residency and has represented the Wallabies internationally, earning over 30 caps.

What platforms was Rugby 22 released on?

Rugby 22 launched on 27 January 2022 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.

Final Thoughts

The Rugby 22 cover is genuinely one of the sport's better-curated gaming selections in recent memory. NACON picked three athletes who weren't just famous names — they were the right shapes for the sport's story at that moment.

A playmaker. A finisher. A enforcer. France. South Africa. Australia. If you walked into a rugby bar anywhere in the world and said those names, you'd get recognition in every corner of the room. That's not an accident.

Whether you're a diehard Springbok supporter, a French rugby convert, or an Aussie who still believes the Wallabies are one rebuild away from greatness — the Rugby 22 cover had someone for you.