Kings of Instagram: Dan Carter, Sonny Bill Williams, Johnathan Thurston tops among rugby stars

New Zealander Dan Carter is the highest point scorer in Test match rugby history, and is 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.

With more than 800 thousand Instagram followers, Carter has more than the double the number of the No. 2 (Sonny Bill Williams) and No. 3 (Johnathan Thurston) rugby players combined. 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, Carlin Isles, just missed making the top ten but is closing the gap…

UPDATED January 15, 2018

A post shared by Conor Murray (@conormurray9) on Dec 10, 2017 at 10:06am PST

Conor Murray
Current team: Munster Rugby
Born April 20, 1989 🇮🇪 Limerick, Ireland
Instagram followers: 158 thousand

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: 172 thousand

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: 173 thousand

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: 219 thousand

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: 244 thousand

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

Beauden John Barrett
Current team: Wellington Hurricanes
Born May 27, 1991 🇳🇿 Taranaki, New Zealand
Instagram followers: 318 thousand

A post shared by Israel Folau (@izzyfolau) on Feb 9, 2017 at 11:32pm PST

Israel Folau
Current team: New South Wales Waratahs
Born April 3, 1989 🇦🇺 Minto, Australia
Instagram followers: 339 thousand

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

Johnathan Dean Thurston
Current team: North Queensland Cowboys
Born April 25, 1983 🇦🇺 Brisbane, Australia
Instagram followers: 347 thousand

A post shared by Sonny Bill Williams (@sonnybillwilliams) on Dec 13, 2017 at 8:21am PST

Sonny William Williams
Last team: Gallagher Chiefs
Born August 3, 1985 🇳🇿 Auckland, New Zealand
Instagram followers: 352 thousand

A post shared by Dan Carter (@dancarter_) on Jan 10, 2018 at 1:23pm PST

Daniel William Carter
Current team: Racing 92
Born March 5, 1982 🇳🇿 Leeston, New Zealand
Instagram followers: 831 thousand