MacGinty all-time best Premiership goal kicker

US Eagles flyhalf AJ MacGinty has been officially confirmed as the most accurate goal kicker in Premiership history for players with 75 or more kicks at goal. A list released by the Aviva Premiership – England’s highest professional division – on Monday had MacGinty on top with a success ratio of 86.67%, one of only five kickers higher than 80% and the only player to reach the 85% plateau. In fact MacGinty’s lead over the second-best Greig Laidlaw – 4.39% – is greater than the different between Laidlaw and the 10th-ranked Jarrod Cunningham – 4.08%.

It’s an impressive statistic for the 28-year-old who currently has 17 caps and 185 points scored for the USA. Laidlaw is a former Scotland captain and British & Irish Lions tourist, long considered one of the most accurate goal kickers in professional rugby. Other names on the list are World Cup Springboks Henry Honiball and Jannie de Beer, and England’s Webb Ellis Cup-winning flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, one of the most celebrated players in the professional era.

Official confirmation comes at an opportune time for MacGinty. His contract with Sale is up at the end of the current season. While he is currently recovering from a medium-term knee injury, he has been in top form for the Sharks this season and could find himself presented with numerous offers from other European clubs. At the very least an improved deal at Sale is certain to be on the table.