Tamaiti Williams became the heaviest-ever All Black when he made his debut for the iconic side two years ago
Tamaiti Williams is one of the biggest players in world rugby and will be going up against Wales this weekend(Image: Photo by Adam Pretty – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Yet another mouth-watering weekend of Test rugby action is upon us with the likes of South Africa, France, Wales and New Zealand all playing on Saturday.
As well as the world class ability and packed out 75,000-seater stadiums, something that separates club and Test rugby is the sheer size of the individuals that play at international level. With South Africa and France both playing this weekend, some of the world’s biggest players are going toe-to-toe. One man who could cause Wales some issues on Saturday afternoon is towering loose-head prop Tamaiti Williams.
The 25-year-old is in the starting XV for the encounter in Cardiff and will be scrummaging against Cardiff tight-head Keiron Assiratti. At 6ft 5in and weighing 23 stone, Williams is one of the biggest physical specimens in the game when considering both height and weight, so Assiratti will have his work cut out in the capital.
He recently signed a monster deal with New Zealand Rugby, taking him through the 2029 with the All Blacks and Crusaders, meaning he’ll be contracted for the next British and Irish Lions tour.
“My whanau and I are blessed and grateful to stay in Christchurch and New Zealand for four more years. We are excited for the opportunity ahead and want to make the most of it,” he said.
“Playing for these teams is living out my dream as a kid, and to do it with my wife and daughter is special to me,” Williams said.
In this article, WalesOnline takes a look at some of the biggest players in Test match rugby. We will be taking into consideration the combination of height and weight, rather than solely the heaviest or tallest players.
Tamaiti Williams is starting against Wales(Image: Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Topping the list of biggest active Test match players is Australia icon Will Skelton. Coming in at 6ft 8in and weighing just under 23 stone, the La Rochelle lock is the absolute embodiment of Test match rugby.
France prop Uini Atonio, similarly to Williams, is a very tall prop at 6ft 5in. He also holds the record for the largest-ever jersey given to a French international, his official size is XXXXXXXXXL (9XL).
Uini Atonio with team-mate Antoine Dupont(Image: Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images)
Ben Tameifuna is the official heaviest player on the planet at 24 stone and eight pounds but also stands at six feet tall, making him a very tough man to bring down.
France have two more of the biggest players in the world – Posolo Tuilagi and Emmanuel Meafou. Their combined weight of 46 stone, three pounds (293.47KG) adds some serious punch to France’s pack.
The biggest rugby players in the worldWill Skelton – 22 stone, 11 lbs and 6 ft 8inUini Atonio – 22 stone, 11 lbs and 6ft 5inBen Tameifuna – 24 stone, eight lbs and 6ftPosolo Tuilagi – 23 stone, six lbs and 6ft 4inEmmanuel Meafou – 22 stone, 11lbs and 6ft 8inTamaiti Williams – 22 stone, nine lbs and 6ft 5inHonourable mentionsRomain Taofifuena – 21 stone, three lbs and 6ft 8inRG Snyman – 20 stone, six lbs and 6ft 9inLood de Jager – 19 stone, nine lbs and 6ft 9in