The changing weights of Rugby World Cup-winning hookers
The increase in the weight of professional rugby players over the past 30 years is well documented, with some positions seeing staggering rises. There are a variety of reasons for such changes, but the switch to professionalism perhaps had the most resounding effect on the physicality, with huge strides in the conditioning of players.
Prior to England’s semi-final encounter with the All Blacks at last year’s World Cup, The Guardian showed how much the average weight of each team had increased since the countries met at the 1991 RWC.
The article highlighted that the average weight of an England player rose from 94.3kgs to 105.8kgs and 91.6kgs to 104.6kgs for the All Blacks over the course of 28 years, with the most significant rises coming in the tight five and the outside backs.
It is undeniable that the average weight of players has risen since the amateur era, but it’s slightly different when looking at the game since the dawn of professionalism. Average weights, of course, have continued to increase, particularly in the backs where it has become commonplace to see the formidable frames of players traditionally seen in the pack wearing the numbers 12 to 14 on their backs.
In the forwards, however, the changing demands of the game, especially in terms of the speed, has meant mobility is now favoured over bulk in some cases. This applies to the modern hooker where the role of the player has changed over the 25-year history of the professional game.
When tracking the RWC winning hookers over the nine editions of the competition, there is a clear trend in terms of the weight of players in this position, but it also shows that there has not simply been an upwards movement.
In 1987, the All Blacks’ Sean Fitzpatrick weighed 105kgs (16st 8lbs) while Australia’s Phil Kearns was 108kgs (17st) in 1991 and South Africa’s Chris Rossouw was 105kgs (16st 8lbs) in 1995. There wasn’t too much dissimilarity in the size of hookers during the amateur era and that continued into 1999 with Michael Foley weighing 105kgs (16st 8lbs) and his replacement Jeremy Paul 104kgs (16st 5lbs).
However, come 2003, there was a sharp rise with England’s Steve Thompson weighing 115kgs (18st 2lbs). While Thompson actually played the entirety of that 100-minute final versus Australia, the increase in the use of substitutions meant that larger and more physically dominant players could be deployed for shorter periods and replaced with another similarly built player, something that is an issue today.
The Springboks in 2007 did not differ too greatly from England, with John Smit weighing 116kgs (18st 4lbs) and his replacement Bismarck du Plessis weighing only a kilogram lighter. Smit also played for his country at tighthead prop, which is an indication of the approach Jake White took in 2007 when choosing his front row.
In 2011, Keven Mealamu started for the All Blacks, weighing in at 109kgs (17st 2lbs), with the 115kgs (18st 2lbs) Andrew Hore on the bench. Four years later, Mealamu was a replacement in the final behind the more mobile Dane Coles, albeit one kg heavier at 110kgs. The most recent winners South Africa started with Bongi Mbonambi, who was the lightest hooker to ever win a RWC at 98kgs (15st 6lbs), with substitute Malcolm Marx weighing 107kg (16st 12lbs).
Different sizes of players can sometimes be down to the stylistic approaches of each team. The Springboks in 2019 were no different from any other pack-orientated South African team in the past, but they still fielded the two lightest hookers to win a final this century.
South Africa perhaps provide the best insight into the changing demands of this position, as there is a stark contrast between the amateur era in 1995 and the surge in size come 2007. Twelve years after that win second title, the hookers in Rassie Erasmus’ squad were noticeably different from Jake White’s.
Mbonambi fitted in with South Africa’s tireless, well-conditioned defence, while Marx is one of the leading hookers in the world, recognised for his work at the breakdown. He is more similar to an openside flanker than to a prop, as Smit was in 2007. Indeed, Schalk Brits, the third hooker in South Africa’s squad, actually started in the back row during the tournament in Japan.
'It did turn sour'
Ed Griffiths' behind the scenes insight into the Springboks 1995 #RWC win ??, the back story to the Mandela moment, confronting flag-waving fans, holding clothes hangers for luck & the lost opportunity of it all
– writes @heagneyl https://t.co/XpSHESE4cF
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 24, 2020
The notion of a hooker playing as a loose forward, usually a flanker, is growing more common and was also seen in the RWC with Scotland’s Fraser Brown starting in both positions. Eddie Jones has also used Saracens’ Jack Singleton as a flanker from the bench. This could yet again be symptomatic of the changes to the game and the evolution of the position.
Of course, looking solely at the RWC winners may not necessarily be reflective of the way the entire game operates, but it is reflective of the approach taken by the best team in the world at that time which, in theory, other teams aspire to replicate.
With that said, the average weight of starting hookers in the northern hemisphere during the first week of domestic action in January further suggests that the modern player has moved away from those in the 2000s.
‘Cultural norms will shine through… but there is still a model of what a No2 should look like’
– Josh Raisey compares the average size of the No2s across the three major European club leagues ??? https://t.co/q8eEYQdVxE
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 22, 2020
No2s in the Top 14 averaged 107kgs, while those in the Gallagher Premiership and the Guinness PRO14 were 106kgs. Interestingly, the second-heaviest player across the three leagues was 2007 RWC winner du Plessis, who is now playing for Montpellier. At the age of 36 he may well be a vestige of the former mode of thought.
Thompson, Smit and du Plessis could well have been the exception rather than the rule, but they were nonetheless part of the most successful teams at RWCs and illustrate what a change has occurred over 20 years.
THE WORLD CUP FINAL WINNING HOOKERS
1987 NEW ZEALAND
Sean Fitzpatrick – 1.83m 105kgs (16st 8lbs)
1991 AUSTRALIA
Phil Kearns – 1.83m 108kgs (17st)
1995 SOUTH AFRICA
Chris Rossouw – 1.82m 105kgs (16st 8lbs)
1999 AUSTRALIA
Michael Foley – 1.82m 105kgs (16st 8lbs)
Jeremy Paul – 1.84m 104kgs (16st 5lbs)
2003 ENGLAND
Steve Thompson – 1.91m 115kgs (18st 2lbs)
2007 SOUTH AFRICA
John Smit – 1.86m 116kgs (18st 4lbs)
Bismarck du Plessis – 1.9m 115kgs (18st 2lbs)
2011 NEW ZEALAND
Keven Mealamu – 1.81m 109kgs (17st 2lbs)
Andrew Hore – 1.83m 115kgs (18st 2lbs)
2015 NEW ZEALAND
Dane Coles – 1.84m 110kgs (17st 5lbs)
Keven Mealamu – 1.81m 109kgs (17st 2lbs)
2019 SOUTH AFRICA
Bongi Mbonambi – 1.77m 98kgs (15st 6lbs)
Malcolm Marx – 1.85m 107kgs (16st 12lbs)
(*all weights taken from the Rugby World Cup website)
Comments on RugbyPass
Wayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
1 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
3 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
28 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
2 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
28 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
2 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
3 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
28 Go to comments