There's a new heaviest rugby player on the planet
It would appear the title of the heaviest rugby player – competing in the sport at a professional level – has once again changed hands.
In recent seasons – and depending on which website you trust – the title has generally been held by one of either Bordeaux’s Ben Tameifuna or La Rochelle Uni Atonio; the pair typically clocking in somewhere between 150kg and 153kg, with Tameifuna having once tipped 166kg when returning to Racing 92 from an extended off-season on the islands. The Parisian refused to play him and he was quickly put on a diet.
Both have slimmed down significantly though, with Atonio in particular needing to remain relatively svelt for his duties with the French national team. The pair are now in the mid to late 140kgs (Atonio 145kg, Tameifuna 148kg on their respective club websites).
There have been plenty of new giant entrants to the list of late. Tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye was listed at 153kg by the Lions last season, while fellow South African JJ van der Mescht, who plays in the second row for Stade Francais, was confirmed as weighing 154kg by coach Paul Gustard.
However, a new name can now claim the title after years of being a few kilos shy of the top spot. Malik Hamadache is listed on Agen’s website as weighing 156kg, which translates to 24 stone 6 pounds, or 343 Ibs. We say a ‘new name’ but Hamadache is a 34-year-old veteran of the French leagues, having played for Albi, Montpellier, Pau and most recently Agen. Born in Avignon of Algerian parents, he won a solidarity cap for France back in 2018/19.
If the 156kg stat is accurate, it makes the weather-worn tighthead the heaviest rugby player currently listed by a professional club anywhere on the planet.
The only potential outside threat to the title is Walid Maamry, who currently plays for Bédarrides Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vaucluse Rugby in the fourth flight on French rugby, which we understand to be a semi-professional league. We also cannot locate a credible current weight for Maamry, who once tipped the scales at 170kg as a France U18s player. He lodged a complaint after he was badly bitten on the finger in a match against Macon in November of last year, after which his internet trail goes cold. He plays tighthead and second row.
For more heavyweight rugby players check out our ‘Heaviest XV’.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 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!
5 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 …
33 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
4 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.
5 Go to comments