The Heaviest Rugby Players Ever: From Cavubati to Skelton

Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes, but at the heavyweight end of the scale the numbers are staggering. The biggest men to play the professional game tip the scales at well over 140 kg — here are some of the heaviest rugby players ever, and what their size means on the field.

The heaviest of all time

The name most often cited as the heaviest Test-capped player in rugby union history is Bill Cavubati. The Fijian prop was listed at around 165 kg (roughly 26 stone) and still earned more than 30 international caps — remarkable for a man of that size.

Modern-day giants

Today's heaviest players are concentrated in the front five, where mass is a genuine weapon:

Ben Tameifuna — the Tonga prop nicknamed Big Ben peaked at around 160 kg before being asked to slim down by his French club.

Uini Atonio — the France tighthead has played Test rugby at over 145 kg, among the heaviest ever to do so regularly.

Will Skelton — the Australia and La Rochelle lock pairs roughly 140 kg with a 2.03 m frame and surprising skill.

Emmanuel Meafou — the France and Toulouse lock stands around 2.03 m and weighs about 145 kg.

Opeti Fonua — at roughly 150 kg, the Tongan is widely regarded as the heaviest back-rower in the professional game.

How heavy is a normal rugby player?

These men are outliers even in a heavyweight sport. The average professional prop weighs around 118 kg, while backs average closer to 99 kg. The heaviest players are almost always props and locks, whose work in the scrum and the maul rewards raw mass.

Size isn't everything

Rugby still has room for the small and quick: Springbok scrum-half Faf de Klerk won the 2019 World Cup at around 80 kg, and winger Cheslin Kolbe — one of the most electric players on the planet — plays at roughly 75 kg. The modern game prizes mass that can still move, and the best big men pair their size with genuine athleticism. Learn how every body type fits into a team in our guide to all 15 rugby positions.