How the heights and weights of locks compare across the Premiership, Top 14 and PRO14
A lot is demanded from second rows in the modern game as it is one position that has had to evolve with changing demands. Lumbering giants who were used as ballast in the scrum and elevation in the lineout are now replaced by far more athletic players who pose many more threats around the field. Yet, the strength at the set-piece is still a prerequisite for any lock.
While there may not be as much variation between locks as there is with other positions in the game, there are still nuances and subtle differences in how the game is approached in different parts of the world. For instance, South Africa has a long history of producing monstrous locks, something visible in their recent World Cup victory where they opted for four in their matchday 23.
There are also differences across Europe when comparing the height and weight of locks in the top three leagues, France’s Top 14, England’s Gallagher Premiership and the Guinness PRO14, which reflects the different styles. A good round of fixtures to compare the leagues was the first weekend of January as it fell between the RWC and the Six Nations and came before the European fixtures and the suspension of rugby due to the coronavirus pandemic. We have sifted through the size of every starting lock in all fixtures and calculated an average.
It’s unsurprising when looking at the three leagues that locks in the Top 14 were the tallest, averaging 1.99m (6ft 6ins). This was almost 2cms taller than both the Premiership, 1.98m (6ft 6ins), and the PRO14, 1.98m (6ft 6ins). The French league is characterised by its focus on set-piece, which is why teams tend to operate with larger back row players as well to provide more options at the lineout and weight in the scrum.
While the Top 14 fields taller players, what is most noticeable is that 57 per cent of the locks in the league were 2m (6ft 7ins) and over, with Toulouse’s Rory Arnold being the tallest in Europe on this particular weekend at 2.08m (6ft 10ins). This is compared to only 33 per cent in the Premiership and 32 per cent in the PRO14.
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Meanwhile, all three leagues barely fielded any players under 1.95m (6ft 5ins), which would be nearing the shorter end of the spectrum for locks. Only 14 per cent in the Top14 and the PRO14 were under 1.95m – and 17 per cent were in the Premiership. This suggests there is a minimum standard for the height of a lock that none of the leagues chooses to go below.
What is apparent is the smallest locks tend to be back rows who have moved into the engine room. All four of the smallest second rows in the Premiership, at 1.92m (6ft 4ins), can also play at flanker or No8, while the shortest lock in the Top 14 was France’s Gillian Galan, 1.93m (6ft 4ins), who was making a rare excursion into the second row from the base of the scrum, a position he is far more accustomed to.
Although it does not come as a surprise that the Top 14 offered the tallest players, it is interesting that it didn’t have the heaviest. The Premiership was the heaviest league on average at 117.7kgs (18st 8lbs), although the Top 14 was virtually identical, 117.5kgs.
The similarities did not end there, however, as France had 39 per cent of players over 120kgs (18st 13lbs) compared to England’s 38 per cent, and only seven per cent under 110kgs (17st 5lbs) compared to none in England. So not only was the average weight of players the same, the range of weights was more or less identical in France and England.
These two leagues differ from the PRO14, which had an average weight of 114kgs (17st 13lbs) on this weekend. This may be down to a stylistic differentiation between the leagues, as it has frequently been seen that the PRO14 opts for smaller players, particularly in the pack, which may facilitate a faster league. Only eleven per cent of players in this league were over 120kgs (18st 13lbs), which is quite a drop from the Anglo-French percentage, while another 18 per cent were under 110kgs (17st 5lbs), which is a rise from their European counterparts.
The lighter locks in the PRO14 are simply consistent with the other positions in the pack, who are typically lighter than the more ‘pack heavy’ French and English leagues.
Ultimately, there is not a huge amount of differentiation in height between the three leagues as there are general requirements of a lock. In terms of weight, though, there is a bit more variation, as some players are lighter than second rows of a previous era.
Ireland’s James Ryan, who is one of the leading locks in the world, weighs in at 107kgs on the Leinster website, far below the average of the PRO14. Likewise, England’s Maro Itoje, who could well be Ryan’s partner for the British and Irish Lions next summer, also falls under the average weight in the Premiership. These two are perhaps signs of the new breed of dynamic locks, but that doesn’t exclude far bigger players as it depends on each team’s approach.
GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Average 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/117.7kg (18st 8lbs)
Bath
Josh McNally – 2.01m (6ft 7ins)/125kg (19st 10lbs)
Elliott Stooke – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/120kg (18st 13lbs)
Bristol Bears
Ed Holmes – 1.96m (6ft 5ins)/118kg (18st 8lbs)
Chris Vui – 1.96m (6ft 5ins)/118kg (18st 8lbs)
Exeter Chiefs
Jannes Kirsten – 1.92m (6ft 4ins)/113kg (17st 11lbs)
Dave Dennis – 1.92m (6ft 4ins)/113kg (17st 11lbs)
Gloucester
Alex Craig – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/112kg (17st 9lbs)
Franco Mostert – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/112kg (17st 9lbs)
Harlequins
Stephan Lewies – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/113kg (17st 11lbs)
Matt Symons – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/120kg (18st 13lbs)
Leicester Tigers
Calum Green – 1.93m (6ft 4ins)/119kg (18st 10lbs)
Tomás Lavanini – 2m01 (6ft 7ins)/130.1kg (20st 7lbs)
London Irish
Franco van der Merwe – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/116kg (18st 4lbs)
Adam Coleman – 2.07m (6ft 10ins)/122kg (19st 3lbs)
Northampton Saints
Alex Moon – 2.01m (6ft 7ins)/123kg (19st 5lbs)
Dave Ribbans – 2.02m (6ft 8ins)/121kg (19st 1lb)
Sale Sharks
Bryn Evans – 1.96m (6ft 5ins)/115kg (18st 2lbs)
Jean-Luc du Preez – 1.93m (6ft 4ins)/114kg (17st 13lbs)
Saracens
Maro Itoje – 1.95m (6ft 5ins)/115kg (18st 2lbs)
Will Skelton – 2.03m (6ft 8ins)/125kg (19st 10lbs)
Worcester Warriors
Anton Bresler – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/111kg (17st 7lbs)
Graham Kitchener- 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/118kg (18st 8lbs)
Wasps
Thibaud Flament – 2.01m (6ft 7ins)/110kg (17st 5lbs)
Charlie Matthews – 2.01m (6ft 7ins)/121kg (19st 1lbs)
GUINNESS PRO14 – Average 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/114kg (17st 13lbs)
Benetton
Irne Philip Herbst – 2m (6ft 7ins)/120kg (18st 13lbs)
Federico Ruzza – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/108kg (17st)
Cardiff Blues
Filo Paulo – 2.03m (6ft 8ins)/122kg (19st 3lbs)
Josh Turnbull – 1m93 (6ft 4ins)/115kg (18st)
Cheetahs
Sintu Manjezi – 2m (6ft 7ins)/114kg (17st 13lbs)
Walt Steenkamp – 2m (6ft 7ins)/104kg (16st 5lbs)
Connacht
Niall Murray – 2.01m (6ft 7ins)/100kg (15st 11lbs)
Gavin Thornbury – 2.04m (6ft 8ins)/117kg (18st 4lbs)
Dragons
Joe Davies – 1.97m (6ft 6ins)/109kg (17st 2lbs)
Matthew Screech – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/116kg (18st 4lbs)
Edinburgh
Lewis Carmichael – 1.96m (6ft 5ins)/110kg (17st 5lbs)
Grant Gilchrist – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/118kg (18st 8lbs)
Glasgow Warriors
Rob Harley – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/110kg (17st 5lbs)
Tim Swinson – 1.93m (6ft 4ins)/112kg (17st 9lbs)
Leinster
Ross Molony – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/111kg (17st 7lbs)
James Ryan – 2.03m (6ft 8ins)/107kg (16st 9lbs)
Munster
Fineen Wycherley – 1.93m (6ft 4ins)/112kg (17st 9lbs)
Darren O’Shea – 2.06m (6ft 9ins)/117kg (18st 4lbs)
Ospreys
Bradley Davies – 1m98 (6’6”) / 122kg (19st.3lb)
Adam Beard – 2m03 (6’8”) / 117kg (18st.4lb)
Scarlets
Jake Ball – 1.97m (6ft 6ins)/121kg (19st 1lb)
Tevita Ratuva – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/110kg (17st 5lbs)
Southern Kings
Jerry Sexton – 1.96m (6ft 5ins)/113kg (17st 11lbs)
Aston Fortuin – 1.97m (6ft 6ins)/114kg (17st 13lbs)
Ulster
Alan O’Connor – 1.96m (6ft 5ins)/114kg (17st 13lbs)
Iain Henderson – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/117kg (18st 4lbs)
Zebre
Dave Sisi – 1.93m (6ft 4ins)/117kg (18st 4lbs)
Ian Nagle – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/113kg (17st 11lbs)
TOP 14 – Average 1.99m (6ft 6ins)/117.5kg (18st 7lbs)
Agen
Tom Murday – 2m (6ft 7ins)/118kg (18st 8lbs)
Andres Zafra – 1.97m (6ft 6ins)/116kg (18st 4lbs)
Bayonne
Mariano Galarza – 2.02m (6ft 8ins)/116kg (18st 4lbs)
Guillaume Ducat – 2.05m (6ft 9ins)/115kg (18st 2lbs)
Bordeaux
Alexandre Flanquart – 2.06m (6ft 9ins)/120kg (18st 13lbs)
Kane Douglas – 2.02m (6ft 8ins)/119kg (18st 10lbs)
Brive
Peet Marais – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/118kg (18st 8lbs)
Victor Lebas – 1.93m (6ft 4ins)/105kg (16st 8lbs)
Castres
Kevin Gimeno – 1m95 (6’5”) / 106kg (16st.10lb)
Victor Moreaux – 2m (6’7”) / 123kg (19st.5lb)
Clermont
George Merrick – 2.01m (6ft 7ins)/123kg (19st 5lbs)
Sebastien Vahaamahina – 2.03m (6ft 8ins)/125kg (19st 10lbs)
La Rochelle
Thomas Lavault – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/110kg (17st 5lbs)
Mathieu Tanguy – 1.94m (6ft 4ins)/110kg (17st 5lbs)
Lyon
Kilian Geraci – 2m (6ft 7ins)/111kg (17st 7lbs)
Hendrik Roodt – 1m98 (6ft 6ins)/121kg (19st 1lb)
Montpellier
Konstantine Mikautadze – 2m (6ft 7ins)/127kg (20st)
Paul Willemse – 2.01m (6ft 7ins)/129kg (20st 4lbs)
Pau
Fabrice Metz – 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/120kg (18st 13lbs)
Daniel Ramsay – 1.97m (6ft 6ins)/114kg (17st 13lbs)
Racing 92
Dominic Bird – 2.06m (6ft 9ins)/112kg (17st 9lbs)
Boris Palu – 1.94m (6ft 4ins)/113kg (17st 11lbs)
Stade Francais
Yoann Maestri – 2.02m (6ft 8ins)/119kg (18st 10lbs)
Paul Gabrillagues – 1.99m (6ft 6ins)/119kg (18st 10lbs)
Toulon
Romain Taofifenua – 2m (6ft 7ins)/120kg (18st 13lbs)
Swan Rebbadj – 2.01m (6ft 7ins)/112kg (17st 9lbs)
Toulouse
Rory Arnold – 2.08m (6ft 10ins)/120kg (18st 13lbs)
Gillian Galan – 1.93m (6ft 4ins)/130kg (20st 7lbs)
Comments on RugbyPass
What was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
27 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
27 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
27 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to comments