There's a new heaviest rugby player on the planet
It would appear the title of the heaviest rugby player - competing in the sport at a professional level - has once again changed hands.
In recent seasons - and depending on which website you trust - the title has generally been held by one of either Bordeaux's Ben Tameifuna or La Rochelle Uni Atonio; the pair typically clocking in somewhere between 150kg and 153kg, with Tameifuna having once tipped 166kg when returning to Racing 92 from an extended off-season on the islands. The Parisian refused to play him and he was quickly put on a diet.
Both have slimmed down significantly though, with Atonio in particular needing to remain relatively svelt for his duties with the French national team. The pair are now in the mid to late 140kgs (Atonio 145kg, Tameifuna 148kg on their respective club websites).
There have been plenty of new giant entrants to the list of late. Tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye was listed at 153kg by the Lions last season, while fellow South African JJ van der Mescht, who plays in the second row for Stade Francais, was confirmed as weighing 154kg by coach Paul Gustard.
However, a new name can now claim the title after years of being a few kilos shy of the top spot. Malik Hamadache is listed on Agen's website as weighing 156kg, which translates to 24 stone 6 pounds, or 343 Ibs. We say a 'new name' but Hamadache is a 34-year-old veteran of the French leagues, having played for Albi, Montpellier, Pau and most recently Agen. Born in Avignon of Algerian parents, he won a solidarity cap for France back in 2018/19.
If the 156kg stat is accurate, it makes the weather-worn tighthead the heaviest rugby player currently listed by a professional club anywhere on the planet.
The only potential outside threat to the title is Walid Maamry, who currently plays for Bédarrides Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vaucluse Rugby in the fourth flight on French rugby, which we understand to be a semi-professional league. We also cannot locate a credible current weight for Maamry, who once tipped the scales at 170kg as a France U18s player. He lodged a complaint after he was badly bitten on the finger in a match against Macon in November of last year, after which his internet trail goes cold. He plays tighthead and second row.
For more heavyweight rugby players check out our 'Heaviest XV'.
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I’m hoping that the Reds can win their last 4 games with a couple of try bonus points. The pessimist in me wouldn't be surprised if the Drua and the Tahs knock the Reds over. The Reds may end up ruing the fact they were distinctly 2nd best against the Force and just so clunky against Moana Pasifica. The Brumbies should win all their remaining games with some bonus points giving them at least a top 2 finish as the leading Kiwi sides will take points off each other. How the Brumbies handle the fact that they will be expected to beat the Crusaders will fascinate me. You’d probably have to go back to 2001 for the last time the Brumbies would go into a game against the Crusaders nearly odds on to win.
Go to commentsFree to air is the key to fan expansion. I attended last weeks game at Suncorp (Reds v Blues) and the total cost is prohibitive to most people that wish to attend. Two tickets $130, parking (event day gouging) $75, road tolls $20, dinner beforehand $130, plus some petrol and a beer inside the stadium and a single game starts to cost $300-400. Who can afford that week in week out, I’d love to go more but could only afford this one game to see the Blues, I’d have loved to have seen more NZ teams here but I’d need to stop eating or sell a kidney.
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