The average height and weight of fly-halves in Europe
The increase in the size of rugby players over the past thirty years is plain to see, and something that is substantial. Both backs and forwards have ballooned in size as the game has grown in physicality, but there are some positions that may be impervious to such change.
Fly-half is one which may not have experienced such increases, as the position is less dependent on physical attributes, rather it is tactical and skill-based. If the old expression is true that rugby is full of piano players and piano movers, fly-halves are of course the players, and therefore their physique is irrelevant in some ways.
A bigger flyhalf may provide more defensive stability, but arguably the greatest defensive fly-half ever, Jonny Wilkinson, did not boast a robust frame.
Just as the evolution of the game may not have affected this position as much as others, geography may not have a great bearing either. There are undisputedly stylistically different fly-halves all over the world and in every country, but they are more or less the same build, as once again, their role is not hugely dependent on their physical prowess.
Owen Farrell, Finn Russell and Beauden Barrett may all play the game in different ways, but in terms of the size, they are fairly comparable to one another.
So when looking at fly-halves across Europe, the likelihood is that there will be relatively indistinguishable differences between fly-halves in the top three leagues, France’s Top 14, England’s Gallagher Premiership and the Guinness Pro14.
The best round of fixtures to compare each league was probably the first weekend in January, which was sufficiently spaced between the Rugby World Cup and the Six Nations, before European fixtures and before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended all play.
As it turns out, this hiatus midway through the season has meant some players have already left their clubs ahead of the new Top 14 season, or the resumption of the Premiership and Pro14. The majority of the players are still with the same clubs, and their statistics have been taken from their club’s website.
As expected, there is no alarming variation between any of the leagues when looking at the player stats.
The average height of players on this weekend in the Top 14 and the Premiership was the exact same, 1.82m (6ft), while they were only 2cm taller in the Pro14.
In all three leagues, the majority of players were between 1.8m-1.89m; 50 percent in the Top 14, 58% in the Premiership and 57% in the Pro14, but both the French and English league also opted for smaller fly-halves, with 36 percent and 33 percent, respectively, being 1.7m-1.79m.
Only 21 percent of players in the Pro14 were 1.7m-1.79m, the same amount as those who were 1.9m or more. In contrast, only 14 percent were above that height in France, and eight percent in England.
The three tallest fly-halves during this game week in the Pro14 were Leinster’s Ciaran Crawley, Zebre’s Carlo Canna, both 1.91m (6ft 3ins), and the Southern Kings’ JT Jackson, 1.9m (6ft 3ins); all from different countries.
This spread of heights in the Pro14 is symptomatic of the mix of nations that make up the league, five, which would in turn provide players on either side of the spectrum, something that is perhaps highlighted more distinctly when looking at the weights of players.
At first glance, the weight of fly-halves seems fairly even in Europe, much in the same way heights were. On this occasion, the Premiership and the Pro14 were identical, with players averaging 90kgs (14st 2lbs). Meanwhile, the Top 14 is slightly lighter than the other two, with players averaging 88kgs (13st 12lbs).
In reality, it is the Top 14 and the Pro14 that are more resemblant of one another; 43 percent of players in both leagues were 90kgs+. However, the Pro14 had the only player in Europe over 100kgs on this weekend, the Southern Kings’ Jackson at 100kgs (15st 11lbs), while the Top 14 had the only player under 80kgs, Castres Thomas Fortunel- 76kgs (12st). Except for those anomalous players, both leagues are well matched.
Conversely, 66% of fly-halves in England were over 90kgs, and the rest were between 80-89kgs. This proclivity to select heavier fly-halves is in keeping with the Premiership’s backline selection, where all players were by and large heavier than the other two leagues on this game week. Further, the French league tends to field the lightest backs, particularly seen at scrum-half.
Be that as it may, there is still not a huge amount of difference between each league compared to some other positions.
One thing that is apparent though, is that the heaviest fly-half in each league during this round of fixtures was a South African; Montpellier’s Handré Pollard, 98kgs (15st 6lbs), Sale Sharks’ heaviest Rob du Preez, 98kgs (15st 6lbs), and the Southern Kings’ Jackson, 100kgs (15st 11lbs).
If anything, this reveals South Africa’s preference to produce and select larger and imposing fly-halves, which is no secret. Pollard is the Springboks’ incumbent No10 and is not afraid to take the ball to the line, as was Butch James in the past. Even Morné Steyn was not exactly slight, although he was different to the other two.
Like all positions, there are some extreme examples of fly-halves and there are subtle differences across the continent, but this is not a position where players can plausibly differ by 40kgs and still wear the same shirt number. Of course there is not necessarily a necessity for those in a playmaking role to be akin to one another, but that is clearly what works best.
Top 14
Agen
Léo Berdeu- 1.95m (6ft 5ins)/ 95kgs (14st 13lbs)
Lyon
Patricio Fernandez- 1.93m (6ft 4ins)/ 97kgs (15st 4lbs)
Racing 92
Finn Russell- 1.82m (6ft)/ 87kgs (13st 10lbs)
ASM Clermont Auvergne
Camille Lopez- 1.76m (5ft 9ins)/ 88kgs (13st 12lbs)
Bordeaux-Begles
Ben Botica- 1.78m (5ft 10ins)/ 93kgs (14st 9lbs)
Bayonne
Maxime Lafage- 1.83 (6ft)/ 84kgs (13st 3lbs)
Montpellier
Handré Pollard- 1.88m (6ft 2ins)/ 98kgs (15st 6lbs)
Brive
Enzo Hervé- 1.75m (5ft 9ins)/ 90kgs (14st 2lbs)
Pau
Antoine Hastoy- 1.8m (5ft 11ins)/ 86kgs (13st 8lbs)
La Rochelle
Jules Plisson- 1.84m (6ft)/ 92kgs (14st 7lbs)
Toulon
Louis Carbonel- 1.8m (5ft 11ins)/ 82kgs (12st 13lbs)
Castres
Thomas Fortunel- 1.77m (5ft 10ins)/ 76kgs (12st)
Stade Francais
Nicolas Sanchez- 1.77m (5ft 10ins)/ 83kgs (13st 1lbs)
Toulouse
Romain Ntamack- 1.86m (6ft 1in)/ 86kgs (13st 8lbs)
Average: 1.82m (6ft)/ 88kgs (13st 12lbs)
Gallagher Premiership
Sale Sharks
Rob du Preez- 1.91m (6ft 3ins) / 98kgs (15st 6lbs)
Harlequins
Marcus Smith- 1.75m (5ft 9ins)/ 82kgs (12st 13lbs)
Saracens
Owen Farrell- 1.88m (6ft 2ins)/ 92kgs (14st 7lbs)
Worcester Warriors
Jono Lance- 1.83m (6ft)/ 91kgs (14st 5lbs)
Gloucester
Danny Cipriani- 1.85m (6ft 1in)/ 92kgs (14st 7lbs)
Bath
Rhys Priestland- 1.88m (6ft 2ins)/ 92kgs (14st 7lbs)
Leicester Tigers
George Ford- 1.78m (5ft 10ins)/ 86kgs (13st 8lbs)
Bristol Bears
Callum Sheedy- 1.73m (5ft 8ins)/ 84kgs (13st 3lbs)
Wasps
Jacob Umaga- 1.83m (6ft)/ 91kgs (14st 5lbs)
Northampton Saints
Dan Biggar- 1.88m (6ft 2ins)/ 93kgs (14st 9lbs)
London Irish
Stephen Myler- 1.8m (5ft 11ins)/ 93kgs (14st 9lbs)
Exeter Chiefs
Gareth Steenson- 1.77m (5ft 10ins)/ 83kgs (13st 2lbs)
Average: 1.82m (6ft)/ 90kgs (14st 2lbs)
Guinness Pro14
Ulster
Billy Burns- 1.85m (6ft 1in)/ 86kgs (13st 8lbs)
Munster
Joey Carbery- 1.83m (6ft)/ 86kgs (13st 8lbs)
Cardiff Blues
Jarrod Evans- 1.78m (5ft 10ins)/ 86kgs (13st 8lbs)
Scarlets
Angus O’Brien- 1.8m (5ft 11ins)/ 89kgs (14st)
Edinburgh
Jaco van der Walt- 1.79m (5ft 11ins) / 92kgs (14st 7lbs)
Southern Kings
JT Jackson- 1.9m (6ft 3ins)/ 100kgs (15st 11lbs)
Leinster
Ciaran Frawley- 1.91m (6ft 3ins)/ 91kgs (14st 5lbs)
Connacht
Conor Fitzgerald- 1.81m (5ft 11ins)/ 85kgs (13st 5lbs)
Zebre
Carlo Canna- 1.91m (6ft 3ins)/ 93kgs (14st 9lbs)
Cheetahs
George Whitehead- 1.85m (6ft 1in)/ 89kgs (14st)
Dragons
Sam Davies- 1.8m (5ft 11ins)/ 87kgs (13st 10lbs)
Ospreys
Luke Price- 1.78m (5ft 10ins)/ 86kgs (13st 8lbs)
Benetton Treviso
Tommaso Allan- 1.84m (6ft)/ 91kgs (14st 5lbs)
Glasgow Warriors
Peter Horne- 1.84m (6ft)/ 92kgs (14st 7lbs)
Average: 1.84m (6ft)/ 90kgs (14st 2lbs)
Comments on RugbyPass
I do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
5 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
27 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
27 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
21 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
27 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
27 Go to comments