How the heights and weights of full-backs compare across the Premiership, Top 14 and PRO14
There are very few positions on a rugby field that offer as much variety in height and weight as the wing. But for a number of reasons, that does not apply for their back three companions in the full-backs position. With that said, there is still not an exemplar of what the perfect full-back should look like.
In every country, there are different players vying for the same position: Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau are examples of two players that have worn the No15 for the Wallabies a lot in recent years but are starkly different in terms of their physical makeup and the way they play the game.
So when looking at the full-backs in the top three leagues in Europe, France’s Top 14, England’s Gallagher Premiership and the Guinness PRO14, a variety would also be expected and a comparison can be made by collating the stats of the starting players on a chosen weekend of domestic action across the continent.
An excellent round of fixtures to compare each league was the first weekend in January which was sufficiently spaced between the Rugby World Cup and the Guinness Six Nations, falling before European fixtures and the Covid-19 pandemic that eventually suspended all play.
This hiatus has meant some players have already moved clubs or retired ahead of the new Top 14 season, or the resumption of the Premiership and PRO14. But the majority of the players are still with the same clubs and their statistics have been taken from their respective club’s website.
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This game-week also featured every player that would start for their country a month later in the opening game of the Six Nations, which helps to know what is required of a Test full-back.
When looking at both height and weight, there was very little that separates each league. In fact, the average weight of players in the PRO14 and the Premiership was the exact same – 90kgs (14st 2lbs) – while the average in the Top 14 was only a kilogram heavier.
Likewise, the full-backs were closely matched in height with only two centimetres separating the league with the tallest full-backs on average – the PRO14 at 1.84m (6ft) – and the smallest – the Premiership at 1.82m (6ft) – with the Top 14 between the two.
It’s uncommon to see an exceptionally small full-back, as it could expose a team under a high ball, which is why only 21 per cent of the players in the Top 14 and PRO14 were under 1.8m and 25 per cent in England.
However, the smallest player in Premiership this particular weekend was Exeter Chiefs’ and Scotland’s Stuart Hogg at 1.75m (5ft 9ins), who is arguably the best full-back in Europe. Wasps’ and Italy’s Matteo Minozzi is the exact same height as the Scot, while Leigh Halfpenny is only 2cm taller, with Jordan Larmour and Thomas Ramos only a 1cm taller than the Welshman.
These are all well-established internationals so while the majority of full-backs in each league were between 1.8m/1.89m, and a sizeable 21 per cent of players over 1.9m in the PRO14, it’s not a necessity to be a certain height as shown by how revered some of the more diminutive players are.
With regards to weight, there is perhaps even less of a requirement for players to fit a particular template than height, which is why it is all the more surprising that there was so little variation between each league.
What’s more, the full-back position lends itself to variation in the size of players. This is because the position could be filled by fly-halves, wingers or specialist full-backs. For instance, Toulon’s Bryce Heem, usually a winger, wore the No15 shirt during this game-week and was the heaviest player out of the three leagues at 105kgs (16st 7lbs).
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Glasgow Warriors, meanwhile, fielded the recently retired Ruaridh Jackson at full-back, who was primarily a fly-half and a vastly different player to Heem. But when looking across the players starting on this particular game-week, there were very few fly-halves/full-back practitioners.
Rather it was full of those that can play across the back three or specialise at full-back. While there are plenty of wingers that are larger than Heem, the Kiwi nears the limit of how big a full-back can be as the position requires players to be quite mobile in covering the entire backfield.
When bearing that in mind, it makes more sense why each league was so closely matched. While the average weight in the Top 14 was a kilogram heavier than the PRO14, 50 per cent of players were between 80-89kgs. A further 50 per cent were between 90-99kgs in the PRO14, which would have been the case in the French league as well had Heem not been the sole representative over 100kgs.
The weights of full-backs in England were slightly more scattered, with 17 per cent over 100kgs and eight per cent under 80kgs. But still, the majority of players were either between 80-89kgs (33 per cent) or between 90-99kgs (42 per cent). The uniquely lithe Minozzi, weighing 77kg (12st 2lbs), is the reason why the average weight of full-backs in England was brought down as it was the league that fielded the heaviest backs by and large on this weekend.
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The Premiership, therefore, shows the greatest range between the heaviest and lightest full-back as well, 24kgs compared to 19kgs in the Top 14 and 17kgs in the PRO14. The gap between the tallest and shortest player was also 18cm, the same as the PRO14, and 4cm more than the Top 14.
However, such a range is apparent across an XV and was still not as broad as the other positions outside of fly-half on this weekend. What these stats do is help reveal the lack of variation within and between leagues in Europe compared to most other positions.
Gallagher Premiership
Average – 1.82m (6ft)/90kgs (14st 2lbs)
Bath: Tom Homer – 1.8m (5ft 11ins)/92kgs (14st 7lbs)
Bristol Bears: Charles Piutau – 1.85m (6ft 1in)/101kgs (15st 13lbs)
Exeter Chiefs: Stuart Hogg – 1.75m (5ft 9ins)/92kgs (14st 6lbs)
Gloucester: Jason Woodward – 1.88m (6ft 2ins)/101kgs (15st 13lbs)
Harlequins: Ross Chisholm – 1.83m (6ft)/85kgs (13st 5lbs)
Leicester Tigers: Telusa Veainu – 1.8m (5ft 11ins)/85kgs (13st 5lbs)
London Irish: Alivereti Veitokani – 1.8m (5ft 11ins)/81kgs (12st 11lbs)
Northampton Saints: George Furbank – 1.82m (6ft)/87kgs (13st 10lbs)
Sale Sharks: Luke James – 1.93m (6ft 4ins)/90kgs (14st 2lbs)
Saracens: Elliot Daly – 1.84m (6ft)/94kgs (14st 11lbs)
Wasps: Matteo Minozzi – 1.75m (5ft 9ins)/77kg (12st 2lbs)
Worcester Warriors: Jamie Shillcock – 1.78m (5ft 10ins)/90kgs (14st 2lbs)
GUINNESS PRO14
Average – 1.84m (6ft)/90kgs (14st 2lbs)
Benetton Treviso: Jayden Hayward – 1.85m (6ft 1in)/90kgs (14st 2lbs)
Cardiff Blues: Hallam Amos – 1.85m (6ft 1in)/97kgs (15st 4lbs)
Cheetahs: Rhyno Smith – 1.73m (5ft 8ins)/81kgs (12st 11lbs)
Connacht: Stephen Fitzgerald – 1.88m (6ft 2ins)/87kgs (13st 10lbs)
Dragons: Will Talbot-Davies – 1.91m (6ft 3ins)/98kgs (15st 6lbs)
Edinburgh: Blair Kinghorn – 1.9m (6ft 3ins)/95kgs (14st 13lbs)
Glasgow Warriors: Ruaridh Jackson – 1.85m (6ft 1ins)/88kgs (13st 12lbs)
Leinster: Jordan Larmour – 1.78m (5ft 10ins)/87kgs (13st 10lbs)
Munster: Shane Daly – 1.91m (6ft 3ins)/92kgs (14st 7lbs)
Ospreys: Cai Evans – 1.85m (6ft 1in)/84kgs (13st 3lbs)
Scarlets: Leigh Halfpenny – 1.77m (5ft 10ins)/85kgs (13st 5lbs)
Southern Kings: Courtney Winnaar – 1.82m (6ft)/86kgs (13st 8lbs)
Ulster: Will Addison – 1.85m (6ft 1in)/93kgs (14st 9lbs)
Zebre: Junior Laloifi – 1.8m (5ft 11ins)/90kgs (14st 2lbs)
TOP 14
Average – 1.83m (6ft)/91kgs (14st 5lbs)
Agen: Mathieu Lamoulie – 1.84m (6ft)/87kgs (13st 10lbs)
Bayonne: Djibril Camara – 1.83m (6ft)/88kgs (13st 12lbs)
Bordeaux: Romain Buros – 1.87m (6ft 2ins)/97kgs (15st 4lbs)
Brive: Rory Scholes – 1.85m (6ft 1in)/91kgs (14st 5lbs)
Castres: Julien Dumora – 1.84m (6ft)/90kgs (14st 2lbs)
Clermont: Setariki Tuicuvu – 1.79m (5ft 10ins)/90kgs (14st 2lbs)
La Rochelle: Jeremy Sinzelle – 1.84m (6ft)/95kgs (14st 13lbs)
Lyon: Toby Arnold – 1.78m (5ft 10ins)/87kgs (13st 10lbs)
Montpellier: Anthony Bouthier – 1.82m (6ft)/86kgs (13st 8lbs)
Pau: Charly Malie – 1.82m (6ft)/87kgs (13st 10lbs)
Racing 92: Simon Zebo – 1.88m (6ft 2ins)/94kgs (14st 11lbs)
Stade Francais: Kylan Hamdaoui – 1.82m (6ft)/89kgs (14st)
Toulon: Bryce Heem – 1.92m (6ft 4ins)/105kgs (16st 7lbs)
Toulouse: Thomas Ramos – 1.78m (5ft 10ins)/87kgs (13st 10lbs)
Since Jimmy Peters first pulled on an England jersey in 1906, black players have forged sporting careers in the game of rugby union, often despite the odds
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Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
60 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
60 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
60 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
60 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
60 Go to comments