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The new heaviest man in test rugby
By Online Editors
Racing 92 prop Ben Tameifuna has been crowned as the heaviest man in test rugby.
All 153kg of Tameifuna will take the field when Tonga meet Wales in Cardiff this weekend.
The front rower spent four seasons playing Super Rugby with the Chiefs before shifting north to Racing in 2015.
"When I came to France I was 148kg so I've put on five kilos," Tameifuna told the Daily Mail.
When asked if the extra weight had been converted to muscle, he said "I bloody hope so. Mate, too many croissants and baguettes. Obviously I don't have a six-pack! I look at food and put on weight."
The 27-year-old's weight sees him leapfrog France prop Uini Atonio who is listed at 151kg.
Atonio was born in Timaru and also spent time playing in New Zealand before shifting to France.
Tameifuna trained with the All Blacks in 2012 but failed to take the field. Then weighing in at 130kg, he was the heaviest player in the All Blacks squad. Tameifuna made his international debut for Tonga last year and will earn his seventh cap this weekend.
Tameifuna represented New Zealand at the Under 20 level and was in the 2011 side that won the world championship and included current All Blacks Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Waisake Naholo, Codie Taylor, Sam Cane, Retallick, and Luke Whitelock.
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If Razor picked jaded players, where is the role of a squad? Where is the anticipated innovation from this group? The season has been a big disappointment considering the talent available (but left sitting on the sideline). Was ready for a fresh approach after the frustration of the Foster era but we only got more of the same and a timid coaching group.
Go to commentsWatching the game now I get a sense of things to come. Ref puts his flag up when Patricks legs go over the line ages after he has released the ball. That is not out in touch.
Then Tele'a has a brain fade and tries to jump into touch, slapping the ball back, when he should know and be trained in running from outside touch and jumping into the field of play with it. If he had of done that simple fix of altering his approach angle there's noway anyone is getting to him to stop the try.
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