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Heavy-hitters: Every Pro D2 team by height, weight and age

Nephi Leatigaga and Jonny May (Getty Images)

The upcoming Pro D2 season sees some absolute giants across the league, with the French second flight rivalling the Top 14, URC and Gallagher Premiership for sheer size.

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The tallest player across the teams is Valence Romans’ Darren O’Shea, standing at an imposing 206 cm, closely followed by Oyonnax’s Manuel Leindekar at 205cm.

The heaviest player in the competition is US Dax’s Nephi Leatigaga, tipping the scales at 149 kg, with Nice’s Aselo Ikahehegi weighing in at 140 kg, as does Ali Oz.

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Among the veterans, Aix’s Jimmy Gopperth leads the way at 41 years old, the former Hurricanes, Leinster, Newcastle, Wasps and Leicester playmaker still going strong.

Caveat: The statistics do not include extensive ‘Espoirs’ rosters which include players that will feature in the Pro D2 regular season.

As such this list trends higher for age than our previous breakdown of both the URC and Gallagher Premiership statistics, where there are typically fewer players on academy contracts.

16. Mont-de-Marsan
David Auradou’s Stade Montois finished mid-table in the last campaign. They’re the lightest squad in the league and also one of the youngest.

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Average age: 27.4 years
Average height: 185.7 cm
Average weight: 101.7 kg
Tallest player: Myles Edwards – 199 cm
Heaviest player: Myles Edwards – 125 kg
Oldest player: Anthony Alvès – 35 years
League finish last time out: 8th

15. Soyaux-Angoulême
One of the lightest in this season’s Pro D2, SA XV Charente squad’s big-name signing was England winger Jonny May.

Average age: 27.2 years
Average height: 185.8 cm
Average weight: 102.1 kg
Tallest player: Ian Kitwanga – 201 cm
Heaviest player: Ian Kitwanga – 122 kg
Oldest player: Motu Matu’u – 37 years
League finish last time out: 12th

Pro D2
Cornell du Preez in his Edinburgh days (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)
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14. Biarritz
The former European Cup finalists sank to a lowly 14th in last year’s Pro D2, with the once mighty club needing to be rescued off the pitch due to their dire finances. They have made some noteworthy signings, including former Scotland back-row Cornell du Preez and Masivesi Dakuwaqa.

Average age: 27.9 years
Average height: 185.1 cm
Average weight: 102.1 kg
Tallest player: Charlie Matthews – 202 cm
Heaviest player: Nodar Shengelia – 127 kg
Oldest player: Piula Fa’Asalele – 36 years
League finish last time out: 14th

13. Grenoble FC
They came within a whisker of being promoted back to the Top 14 and are likely to make a strong case for promotion again this season.

Average age: 26.5 years
Average height: 185.5 cm
Average weight: 102.3 kg
Tallest player: Pierce Phillips – 203 cm
Heaviest player: Cody Thomas – 125 kg
Oldest player: Pierce Phillips – 31 years
League finish last time out: 4th

12. Beziers
Pierre Caillet’s Bezier finished third in last Seaon’s campaign and are among the favourites to contest for promotion again this time around. They won’t be relying on many mass monsters to do it either, with the squad averaging 102kg a man. They’ve signed Saracens prop Christian Judge among others.

Average age: 28.0 years
Average height: 185.2 cm
Average weight: 102.4 kg
Tallest player: Cam Dodson – 201 cm
Heaviest player: Yannick Arroyo – 137 kg
Oldest player: Francisco Fernandes – 39 years
League finish last time out: 3rd

Pro D2
Jonathan Ruru, Jack Whetton and Harry Plummer. (Photo by Andrew Cornaga/Photosport)

11. Colomiers
Colomiers heaviest player is Marco Fepulea’i and their tallest is former Waratah Jack Whetton.

Average age: 25.9 years
Average height: 185.6 cm
Average weight: 103.2 kg
Tallest player: Jack Whetton – 200 cm
Heaviest player: Marco Fepulea’i – 128.0 kg
Oldest player: Anthony Coletta – 35.0 years
League finish last time out: 10th

10. Agen
A lowly 13th last season, SUA will be hoping that the new additions Billy Searle and Jack Maunder can help turn the tide.

Average age: 27.3 years
Average height: 186.1 cm
Average weight: 103.7 kg
Tallest player: William Demotte – 202 cm
Heaviest player: Lasha Macharashvili – 128 kg
Oldest player: Vincent Farré – 34 years
League finish last time out: 13th

9. Stade Aurillacois
A relatively modest recruitment drive over the summer after they finished 9th last time out.

Average age: 25.4 years
Average height: 187.2 cm
Average weight: 103.9 kg
Tallest player: Koen Bloemen – 203 cm
Heaviest player: Mehdi Slamani – 131 kg
Oldest player: Elijah Niko – 34 years
League finish last time out: 9th

8. Valence Romans
Six-foot-nine Munsterman Darren O’Shea is the tallest in the squad. The squad includes former Melbourne Rebels and Leicester Tigers fullback George Worth.

Average age: 28.5 years
Average height: 186.6 cm
Average weight: 104.0 kg
Tallest player: Darren O’Shea – 206 cm
Heaviest player: Gareth Milasinovich – 134 kg
Oldest player: Florian Goumat – 34 years
League finish last time out: 11th

7. Nice
Newly promoted after winning the Championnat Fédéral Nationale last season, the squad include former Leinster centre Tom Daly and Los Pumas prop Facundo Gigena.

Average age: 26.6 years
Average height: 184.6 cm
Average weight: 104.8 kg
Tallest player: Ugo Vignolles – 204 cm
Heaviest player: Aselo Ikahehegi – 140 kg
Oldest player: Jason Fraser – 33 years
League finish last time out: Promoted to ProD2

Pro D2
Asafo Aumua (All Blacks) plaque Facundo Gigena (Argentine) pendant le match du Rugby Championship entre les All Blacks de Nouvelle-Zélande et les Pumas d’Argentine au Cbus Super Stadium le 12 septembre 2021 à Gold Coast, en Australie. (Photo par Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

6. US Dax
Fifth last time out, their heaviest player is former Leicester Tigers loosehead, Nephi Leatigaga, who tips the scales are 23.5 stone.

Average age: 27.3 years
Average height: 187.1 cm
Average weight: 105.2 kg
Tallest player: Alexandre Manukula – 202 cm
Heaviest player: Nephi Leatigaga – 149 kg
Oldest player: Genesis Mamea Lemalu – 36 years
League finish last time out: 5th

5. Nevers
Xavier Péméja’s USON Nevers have five Georgians on the books and with an average bodyweight of 105.5kg across the squad, are getting up there in terms of size as the fifth heaviest in the league.

Average age: 26.2 years
Average height: 185.5 cm
Average weight: 105.5 kg
Tallest player: Ugo Vignolles – 204 cm
Heaviest player: Aselo Ikahehegi – 140 kg
Oldest player: Jason Fraser – 33 years
League finish last time out: 7th

4. Aix-en-Provence (Provence Rugby)
They topped the league last time out but lost out in the promotion play-offs. Have been bolstered by the likes of British & Irish Lions star George North, former Sarries prop Hayden Thompson-Stringer and ex-France flyhalf Jules Plisson.

Average age: 28.2 years
Average height: 186.1 cm
Average weight: 106.4 kg
Tallest player: Izack Rodda – 202 cm
Heaviest player: Thomas Vernet – 127 kg
Oldest player: Jimmy Gopperth – 41 years
League finish last time out: 1

3. Oyonnax
A number of very heavy forwards and a relatively large back division make Oyonnax one of the heaviest rosters in the league. 140kg Ali Oz is the heaviest. They’ll be hoping to bounce back up into the Top 14 after being relegated last season.

Average age: 28.1 years
Average height: 187.5 cm
Average weight: 106.5 kg
Tallest player: Manuel Leindekar – 205 cm
Heaviest player: Ali Oz – 140 kg
Oldest player: Benjamin Gélédan – 34 years
League finish last time out: Relegated from the Top 14

2. Montauban
Ten forwards over 120kg and a heavyweight back line that includes 115kg centre Seva Galala and 108kg Josu Vici help make this one of the most physically imposing teams in the Pro D2.

Average age: 28.9 years
Average height: 187.4 cm
Average weight: 107.1 kg
Tallest player: Frank Bradshaw – 205 cm
Heaviest player: Lucas Seyrolle – 131 kg
Oldest player: Dimitri Vaotoa – 35 years
League finish last time out: 8th

1. Brive
No less than eleven Brive forwards weigh over 120kg while five of their back division weigh over 100kg, making them the league’s heaviest squad.

Average age: 27.2 years
Average height: 187.0 cm
Average weight: 107.4 kg
Tallest player: Renger Van Eerten – 203 cm
Heaviest player: Nathan Fraissenon – 130 kg
Oldest player: Sitaleki Timani – 38 years
League finish last time out: 6th

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Comments

2 Comments
N
NK 178 days ago

Nice and Nevers seem to share certain players according to this summary.

J
JW 181 days ago

Only 140s? Theyve gone down in size then.

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I
IkeaBoy 50 minutes ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 1 hour ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 2 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
f
fl 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“He won a ECL and a domestic treble at the beginning of his career.”

He won 2 ECLs at the beginning of his career (2009, 2011). Since then he’s won 1 in 15 years.


“He then won 3 leagues on the bounce later in his career”

He won 3 leagues on the bounce at the start of his career too - (2009, 2010, 2011).


If we’re judging him by champions league wins, he peaked in his late 30s, early 40s. If we’re judging him by domestic titles he’s stayed pretty consistent over his career. If we’re judging him by overall win rate he peaked at Bayern, and was better at Barcelona than at City. So no, he hasn’t gotten better by every measure.


“You mentioned coaches were older around the mid-2010’s compared to the mid-2000’s. Robson was well above the average age you’ve given for those periods even in the 90’s when in his pomp.”

Robson was 63-64 when he was at Barcelona, so he wasn’t very old. But yeah, he was slightly above the average age of 60 I gave for the top 4 premier league coaches in 2015, and quite a bit above the averages for 2005 and 2025.


“Also, comparing coaches - and their experiences, achievements - at different ages is unstable. It’s not a valid way to compare and tends to torpedo your own logic when you do compare them on equal terms. I can see why you don’t like doing it.”

Well my logic certainly hasn’t been torpedoed. Currently the most successful premier league coaches right now are younger than they were ten years ago. You can throw all the nuance at it that you want, but that fact won’t change. It’s not even clear what comparing managers “on equal terms” would even mean, or why it would be relevant to anything I’ve said.


“You still haven’t answered why Kiss could be a risker appointment?”

Because I’ve been talking to you about football managers. If you want to change the subject then great - I care a lot more about rugby than I do football.

But wrt Kiss, I don’t agree that 25 years experience is actually that useful, given what a different sport rugby was 25 years ago. Obviously in theory more experience can never be a bad thing, but I think 10 years of coaching experience is actually more than enough these days. Erasmus had been a coach for 13 years when he got the SA top job. Andy Farrell had been a coach for 9 when he got the Ireland job. I don’t think anyone would say that either of them were lacking in experience.


Now - what about coaches who do have 25+ years experience? The clearest example of that would be Eddie Jones, who started coaching 31 years ago. He did pretty well everywhere he worked until around 2021 (when he was 61), when results with England hit a sharp decline. He similarly oversaw a terrible run with Australia, and currently isn’t doing a great job with Japan.

Another example is Warren Gatland, who also started coaching full-time 31 years ago, after 5 years as a player-coach. Gatland did pretty well everywhere he went until 2020 (when he was 56), when he did a relatively poor job with the Chiefs, before doing a pretty poor job with the Lions, and then overseeing a genuine disaster with Wales. There are very few other examples, as most coaches retire or step back into lesser roles when they enter their 60s. Mick Byrne actually has 34 years experience in coaching (but only 23 years coaching in rugby) and at 66 he’s the oldest coach of a top 10 side, and he’s actually doing really well. He goes to show that you can continue to be a good coach well into your 60s, but he seems like an outlier.


So the point is - right now, Les Kiss looks like a pretty reliable option, but 5 years ago so did Eddie Jones and Warren Gatland before they went on to prove that coaches often decline as they get older. If Australia want Kiss as a short term appointment to take over after Schmidt leaves in the summer, I don’t think that would be a terrible idea - but NB wanted Kiss as a long term appointment starting in 2027! That’s a massive risk, given the chance that his aptitude will begin to decline.


Its kind of analagous to how players decline. We know (for example) that a fly-half can still be world class at 38, but we also know that most fly-halves peak in their mid-to-late 20s, so it is generally considered a risk to build your game plan around someone much older than that.

171 Go to comments
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AlanCriner 3 hours ago
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