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Leicester Tigers set to sign one of the heaviest rugby players on the planet - 23 stone plus Nephi Leatigaga
By Ian Cameron
Leicester Tigers, whose Premiership fortunes took a dramatic upswing last week, have unsurprisingly been linked with a raft of players as the season draws to a close.
Of the biggest players - in a literal sense - set to sign is Samoan international Nephi Leatigaga. The Mail Online are reporting that giant loosehead is heading to Welford Road this summer.
Leatigaga stands six foot four inches and tips the scales at an impressive 150kg, making him one of the heaviest professional players on the planet. By comparison, that's 35kg (the guts of five stone) heavier than current first choice Tigers' loosehead Ellis Genge (116kg).
Leatigaga is still a couple of kilos shy of both Ben Tameifuna (153kg) and Uini Antonio (152kg), albeit the Samoan cuts a somewhat leaner figure than either of those behemoths.
Despite his massive dimensions, his club nickname at Biarritz is 'Lady Gaga' - a crude and somewhat predictable bastardisation of his Samoan surname.
The massive loosehead was actually linked with the Premiership sides this time last year, before going on to play a season with Biarritz in the ProD2.
RugbyRama reported in 2018 that the 25-year-old was headed to Leicester, albeit in the summer of 2019.
In the backs there are also incoming signing.
It was also reported at the end of last year that Leicester closing in on Leinster centre Noel Reid, who has one cap for Ireland - a move that looks to be going ahead. His ability to play multiple positions in the back line is apparently highly-prized by the Gallagher Premiership outfit.
Reid has over 100 appearances for Leinster but has failed to behind Robbie Henshaw, Garry Ringrose and increasingly Rory O'Loughlin in the centres. His ability to cover 10, 12 and the 15 have made him a valuable asset to be deployed from the bench.
His signature is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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Latest Comments
Does anyone know a way to loook at how many mins each player has played whilst on tour?
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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