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10 of the most monstrous specimens at the World Rugby U20 Championship
By Ian Cameron
If you wanted evidence of the increasing size of players entering the ranks of professional rugby, you don't have to go to far. The World Rugby U20 Championship which is currently being played out in Georgia has some giant specimens on show.
In many respects it's hardly surprising, as the bulk of players competing for Tier 1 sides in the competition are attached to professional sides: be it as part of an academy, on the verge of signing fully professional contracts, or some in cases fully fledged professionals already competing at the top level for their clubs. Both Kirwin Bosch at the Sharks and Zach Mercer at Bath spring to mind.
A few years short years ago if an U20s player tipped the scales at 130kg, it would have drawn considerable attention. Now - while not quite the norm - these monstrous teens are certainly more common place.
The tournament was in fact denied it's largest specimen. 6'4, 145kg Vaauli Faamausili (that's nearly 23 stone in old money) was part of the Wallabies U20s who competed in the Oceania U20s competition last month. The Rebels U20s giant is not however part of the squad that is competing in Georgia.
Yet he would not have been the only huge specimen at the tournament. Here's a run down of the tournament's largest man-children.
Argentina
Lucas Martin Paulos Adler
Lock
199cm
123kg
Australia
Gavin Luka
Prop
188cm
132kg
France
Daniel Brennan
Prop
192cm
130kg
France
Georges-Henri Colombe Reazel
193cm
133kg
New Zealand
Alex Falani Fidow
Prop
187cm
128kg
Samoa
Suetena Asomua
Lock
197cm
125kg
Scotland
Fergus Bradbury
Prop
193cm
129kg
Scotland
Adam Scott Nicol
Prop
185cm
129kg
South Africa
Carlu Johann Sadie
Prop
180cm
126kg
South Africa
Gerhardus Steenkamp
Prop
194cm
128kg
Wales
Prop
Rhys Michael Timothy Carre
190cm
128kg
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Latest Comments
Good summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
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