The average height and weight of outside centres
While it is hard to perfectly describe what an ideal outside centre looks like, there are still expectations and requirements among different rugby cultures. The best No.13s in history have differed from one another in terms of height and weight, but have all been successful, as it is a position where there is not necessarily a blueprint to which players should aspire to.
But there are still patterns that emerge when comparing outside centres across the top three leagues in Europe, France’s Top 14, England’s Gallagher Premiership and the Guinness Pro14.
The best week so far in 2020 to compare the three leagues was probably the first in January, as that was the last time teams could field their strongest teams before the European cups, the Six Nations and now the coronavirus outbreak.
When looking at the No.13 position, there is a discernible divide between the Premiership and the other two leagues in Europe, with the English league fielding significantly bigger players.
The centres in the Top 14 and the Pro14 are nearly identical, only differing slightly in height. The average weight in both leagues was 94kg (14st11lb), while the French league was on average only a centimetre taller at 1m84 (6’0”) compared to 1m83 (6’0”).
There is still some differentiation between the two leagues though, partly the range of sizes in the Pro14, which had the joint heaviest, the lightest and the joint shortest players in Europe. These were the Cheetahs’ Sibusiso Sithole at 107kg (17st), the Scarlets’ Steffan Hughes at 83kg (13st1lb), and Glasgow Warriors’ Nick Grigg at 1m75 (5’9”).
So while there is quite a range of sizes of Pro14 outside centres, there is much more parity across the league in France, as was the case with inside centres as well. The Top 14 had no players over 100kg (15st11lb) while the Pro14 had three, and only two under 90kg (14st2lb) compared to the Pro14’s three, meaning the French league tends to stick roughly to the same bracket.
Likewise, no player was taller than 1m90 (6’3”) in France, while Leinster’s Garry Ringrose was, and only one player, Brive’s Guillaume Galletier, was under 1m80 (5’11”), while three were in the Pro14, and four more were exactly 1m80.
In spite of there being more extremes in size in the Pro14, it still matches up almost identically to the Top 14 in the No.13 shirt.
The stark difference is between those two leagues and the Premiership, where outside centres weighed 5kg (11lb) more on average at 99kg (15st8lb). The English league also boasted taller outside centres on this weekend on average, at 1m87 (6’2”).
This was the same in the inside centre position, which is an indication that the Premiership is a league that favours larger centres. In this circumstance, there was an even greater difference in average weights between the Premiership and the other two leagues than there was at No.12.
One feature, however, which perhaps illuminates a cultural difference between France and the British Isles, is that the outside centres in the Top 14 tended to weigh more than their midfield partner inside.
Only 43 per cent of the No.13s across France were lighter than the player inside them, with 50 per cent being heavier, and the rest being the same.
French clubs have all but halted recruitment as the pandemic accelerates changes to the LNR that JIFF recruitment regulation had already started
– @Jamesonrugby looks at French rugby's increasingly uncertain future ??https://t.co/j3auEG6u5R
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 8, 2020
The Premiership and Pro14 are quite similar in this respect, as only 33 per cent were heavier in the Premiership, and 29 per cent were heavier in the Pro14. Having said this, two of the No.13s in England that were lighter than their partner still weighed in at over 100kg, which is yet again another indication of the league’s proclivity to pick more sizeable midfield combinations.
In terms of height, there was more or less an even split as to whether the outside centre was taller or shorter than the inside centre in France and England, although 71 per cent were smaller in the Pro14. Then again, the height of a centre can vary, as it does not carry as much significance as it does in the pack.
French rugby has largely opted to field larger outside centres in the modern era, with players like Aurelien Rougerie, Mathieu Bastareaud and Virimi Vakatawa wearing the shirt this century to devastating effect. So in this respect, the Top 14 still maintains that custom, whereas teams elsewhere tend to deploy more colossal No.12s.
Damian Hopley sets the record straight about the alleged strike action by Premiership players https://t.co/yFOBrjAlhI
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 8, 2020
With that in mind, there were still five players in England on this weekend that weighed more than the heaviest three players in France, Stade Français’ Gaël Fickou, Bayonne’s Alofa Alofa, and ASM Clermont Auvergne’s Isaia Toeava, all of whom were 100kg (15st11lb), as well as one that weighed the same. Leicester Tigers’ Jaco Taute, was the heaviest across England, and joint heaviest in Europe, at 108kg (17st).
Similarly, there were five players in England that were taller than Fickou, who, at 1m90 (6’3”), was the tallest player in France, with London Irish’s Curtis Rona being the tallest in Europe at 1m95 (6’5”).
This goes to show that while the Top 14 does play larger outside centres, they are still dwarfed when compared to those in England. This may surprise some given the physical nature of the French league up front.
While the packs in the Top 14 traditionally are more formidable physically than those in the Pro14, the two leagues are much more equal in the midfield. Meanwhile, the Premiership takes on the mantle of being the physically imposing league in the centres, with their players out-matching their counterparts elsewhere in Europe.
*stats are taken from each club’s website.
TOP 14
Agen: Johann Sadie- 1m88 (6’2”)/ 96kg (15st2lb)
Lyon: Pierre-Louis Barassi- 1m88 (6’2”)/ 91kg (15st5lb)
Racing 92: Virimi Vakatawa- 1m86 (6’1”)/ 92kg (14st7lb)
ASM Clermont Auvergne: Isaia Toeava- 1m81 (5’11”)/ 100kg (15st11lb)
Bordeaux-Begles: Jean-Baptiste Dubié- 1m81 (5’11”)/ 86kg (13st8lb)
Bayonne: Alofa Alofa- 1m85 (6’1”)/ 100kg (15lb11lb)
Montpellier: Arthur Vincent- 1m82 (6’0”)/ 90kg (14st2lb)
Brive: Guillaume Galletier- 1m78 (5’10”)/ 89kg (14st)
Pau: Alexandre Dumoulin- 1m89 (6’2”)/ 97kg (15st4lb)
La Rochelle: Geoffrey Doumayrou- 1m86 (6’1”)/ 92kg )14st7lb)
Toulon: Julien Hériteau- 1m82 (6’0”)/ 96kg (15st2lb)
Castres: Thomas Combezou- 1m82 (6’0”)/ 93kg (14st9lb)
Stade Francais: Gaël Fickou- 1m90 (6’3”)/ 100kg (15st11lb)
Toulouse: Sofiane Guitoune- 1m84 (6’0”)/ 97kg (15st4lb)
Average: 1m84 (6’0”)/ 94kg (14st11lb)
PREMIERSHIP
Sale Sharks: Sam James- 1m93 (6’4”)/ 98kg (15st6lb)
Harlequins: Cadan Murley- 1m75 (5’9”)/ 96kg (15st2lb)
Saracens: Alex Lozowski- 1m84 (6’0”)/ 90kg (14st2lb)
Worcester Warriors: Ashley Beck- 1m91 (6’3”)/ 100kg (15st11lb)
Gloucester: Chris Harris- 1m88 (6’2”)/ 104kg (16st5lb)
Bath: Jonathan Joseph- 1m83 (6’0”)/ 91kg (15st5lb)
Leicester Tigers: Jaco Taute- 1m91 (6’3”)/ 108kg (17st)
Bristol Bears: Piers O’Connor- 1m85 (6’1”)/ 102kg (16st1lb)
Wasps: Malakai Fekitoa- 1m87 (6’2”)/ 99kg (15st8lb)
Northampton Saints: Rory Hutchinson- 1m81 (5’11”)/ 95kg (14st13lb)
London Irish: Curtis Rona- 1m95 (6’5”)/ 101kg (16st)
Exeter Chiefs: Ollie Devoto- 1m92 (6’4”)/ 101kg (16st)
Average: 1m87 (6’2”)/ 99kg (15st8lb)
PRO 14
Ulster: Luke Marshall- 1m80 (5’11”)/ 97kg (15st4lb)
Munster: Sam Arnold- 1m83 (6’0”)/ 95kg (14st13lb)
Cardiff Blues: Rey Lee-Lo- 1m80 (5’11”)/ 90kg (14st2lb)
Scarlets: Steffan Hughes- 1m78 (5’10”)/ 83kg (13st1lb)
Edinburgh: James Johnstone- 1m78 (5’10”)/ 90kg (14st2lb)
Southern Kings: Sibusiso Sithole- 1m80 (5’11”)/ 107kg (17st)
Leinster: Garry Ringrose- 1m91 (6’3”)/ 94kg (14st11lb)
Connacht: Kyle Godwin- 1m87 (6’2”)/ 93kg (14st9lb)
Zebre: Giulio Bisegni- 1m80 (5’11”)/ 88kg (13st2lb)
Cheetahs: William Small-Smith- 1m84 (6’0”)/ 94kg (14st11lb)
Dragons: Tyler Morgan- 1m86m (6’1”)/ 104kg (16st5lb)
Ospreys: Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler- 1m90 (6’3”)/ 98kg (15st6lb)
Benetton Treviso: Iliesa Ratuva- 1m86 (6’1”)/ 100kg (15st11lb)
Glasgow Warriors: Nick Grigg- 1m75 (5’9”)/ 89kg (14st)
Average: 1m83 (6’0”)/ 94kg (14st11lb)
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments