"VAN" (Sports Desk - 10.09.2026) :: World Rugby has announced the remaining five modern greats that will join Joel Stransky and Zinzan Brooke in being inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame over the coming months as the class of 2026.
Abdelatif Benazzi (France), Jen Crawford (USA), Sue Day (England), Diego Dominguez (Italy) and Rochelle Martin (New Zealand) will take the number of inductees to 182 since the Hall of Fame began in 2006.
Joel Stransky (South Africa) and Zinzan Brooke (New Zealand) were the first of the class of 2026 to be inducted into the Hall of Fame during a special ceremony in Cape Town on 27 August, two days before the second test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series between their two nations.
Jen Crawford was a central figure in USA winning the inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991, beating England 19-6 in the final. She will be inducted alongside Sue Day, twice a runner-up in the showpiece event with the Red Roses and still their record try-scorer, at the WXV Global Series 2026 match between USA and England in New Jersey on 30 October.
A day later, at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, three-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Rochelle Martin will be inducted into the Hall of Fame as the Black Ferns face France in another WXV Global Series encounter.
Abdelatif Benazzi, the Morocco-born veteran of 78 caps in the back row for France from 1990-2001 who is now vice-president of the Fédération Française de Rugby and a World Rugby Council member, will be the sixth in the class of 2026 to be inducted, at the World Rugby Council dinner in Dublin on 17 November.
That leaves Dominguez, the former Argentina and Italy fly-half who played in three Rugby World Cups and was a talisman as the Azzurri transitioned into the Men’s Six Nations in 2000. He will be inducted ahead of one of Italy Men’s Six Nations matches versus either France or Wales in Rome in March.
The World Rugby Hall of Fame recognises those that have made an outstanding contribution to the game of rugby throughout their careers, while also demonstrating rugby’s character-building values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “On behalf of the global rugby family, I would like to congratulate Jen, Sue, Rochelle, Diego and Abdel on their richly deserved inductions into the World Rugby Hall of Fame, joining Joel and Zinzan in taking our class of 2026 to seven members.
“They have each made their mark on our sport, not only on the pitch but also off it. Jen was a trailblazer for women’s rugby in the USA, Sue is still the Red Roses’ record try-scorer and Rochelle won three Women’s Rugby World Cups.
“I actually made my test debut for Australia against an Italy side featuring Diego, who would go on to become a talisman for the Azzurri. Abdel continues to be a driving force within the game, just as he was on the field, as a World Rugby Council member and steadfast chair of the men’s High-Performance Committee.”
John Eales, Chair of the Hall of Fame panel and a Hall of Fame inductee, said: “This year’s inductees represent the very best of our sport with extraordinary talent matched by humility, leadership and an unwavering commitment to rugby’s values. From World Cup-winning moments etched in history to the quiet, tireless work many have done to grow and champion the game long after their playing days, each of them has shaped rugby for the better. On behalf of the Hall of Fame, I warmly welcome them into the fold.”
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