Instagram Kings: Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams, J. Thurston rule rugby

New Zealander Dan Carter is the highest point scorer in Test match rugby history and is considered by many to be the greatest ever to play the fly-half position, but he enjoys another distinction with respect to his peers: the most Instagram followers.

INSTAGRAM KINGS OF RUGBY

With almost a million Instagram followers, Carter leads No. 2 (Sonny Bill Williams) by a smidgeon, and almost doubles the tally of No. 3 Beauden John Barrett and No. 4 (Nick Cummins). Carter is one of three Kiwis to make the top ten. Only Australia has more players represented, with four.

America’s most popular rugby player, fleet-footed Carlin Isles, just missed making the top ten but is closing the gap…

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10) CAMERON SMITH

A post shared by Cameron Smith (@cameron9smith) on Nov 29, 2017 at 1:20am PST

Cameron Smith
Current team: Melbourne Storm
Born June 18, 1983 🇦🇺 Brisbane, Australia
Instagram followers: 209 thousand

9) CONOR MURRAY

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A post shared by Conor Murray (@conormurray9) on Oct 10, 2018 at 3:47am PDT

Conor Murray
Current team: Munster Rugby
Born April 20, 1989 🇮🇪 Limerick, Ireland
Instagram followers: 237 thousand

8) BRIAN O’DRISCOLL

A post shared by Brian O'Driscoll (@13rianodriscoll) on Feb 1, 2017 at 1:08pm PST

Brian Gerard O’Driscoll
Last team: Leinster Rugby
Born January 21, 1979 🇮🇪 Dublin, Ireland
Instagram followers: 314 thousand

7) ISRAEL FOLAU

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A post shared by Israel Folau (@izzyfolau) on Mar 8, 2017 at 12:12pm PST

Israel Folau
Last team: New South Wales Waratahs
Born April 3, 1989 🇦🇺 Minto, Australia
Instagram followers: 319 thousand

6) OWEN FARRELL

A post shared by Owen Farrell (@owenfaz) on Aug 21, 2013 at 4:55am PDT

Owen Andrew Farrell
Current team: Saracens Football Club
Born September 24, 1991 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Billinge, England
Instagram followers: 3 thousand

5) JOHNATHAN THURSTON

A post shared by Johnathan Thurston (@jthurston06) on Dec 31, 2017 at 9:39pm PST

Johnathan Dean Thurston
Last team: North Queensland Cowboys
Born April 25, 1983 🇦🇺 Brisbane, Australia
Instagram followers: 373 thousand

4) NICK CUMMINS

A post shared by Honey Badger (@nickbadger) on Oct 12, 2016 at 1:49am PDT

Nick M. Cummins
Last team: Coca-Cola Red Sparks
Born October 5, 1987 🇦🇺 Port Macquarie, Australia
Instagram followers: 444 thousand

3) BEAUDEN BARRETT

A post shared by Beauden Barrett (@beaudenbarrett) on Jan 11, 2018 at 11:31pm PST

Beauden John Barrett
Current team: Aukland Blues
Born May 27, 1991 🇳🇿 Taranaki, New Zealand
Instagram followers: 625 thousand

2) SONNY BILL WILLIAMS

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A post shared by Sonny Bill Williams (@sonnybillwilliams) on Feb 19, 2019 at 12:05pm PST

Sonny William Williams
Current team: Toronto Wolfpack
Born August 3, 1985 🇳🇿 Auckland, New Zealand
Instagram followers: 1 million

1) DAN CARTER

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Controlled Mayhem. Caption this!!

A post shared by Dan Carter (@dancarter_) on Dec 12, 2018 at 1:57am PST

Daniel William Carter
Current team: Racing 92
Born March 5, 1982 🇳🇿 Leeston, New Zealand
Instagram followers: 1 million