Former World’s Heaviest Rugby Player Sheds Over 20kg in Remarkable Transformation

Saturday, 22 November 2025 at 09:29

bySteven Smith

Rugby is a sport where power, technique, and sheer physical presence can make all the difference. Over the years, several players have taken size to new extremes — but few as dramatically as Ben Tameifuna.

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When Tameifuna returned to Racing 92 after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, reports placed his weight at a massive 166kg, roughly 26 stone. Faced with a clear directive from club management to slim down or move on, he chose to overhaul his physique.

Speaking to RugbyPass in September 2020, Tameifuna revealed:
“I’m down to 146kg today, which is pretty much what I was when I came to France my first season.”

His progress didn’t stop there. He has since dropped an additional 2kg, bringing him to 144kg — a significant transformation for the powerhouse prop.

Curious where he now stands among the sport’s biggest competitors? Here’s a countdown of the top eight heaviest rugby players still active in the professional game.

8. Will Stuart (England) – 135 kg (21 st 4 lb), 6 ft 2 in

England’s tighthead prop, Will Stuart, is one of the biggest rugby players in the Six Nations. At 135 kg, he brings immense power to the scrum and combines it with solid technique and mobility around the field.

7. Romain Taofifénua (France) – 135 kg (21 st 3 lb), 6 ft 8 in

France’s second-row lock, Romain Taofifénua, is renowned for his physicality. His 135 kg frame and 6 ft 8 in height make him one of the heaviest rugby players in the world, while his athleticism allows him to dominate open play as well.

6. Ben Tameifuna (Tonga) – 144 kg, 6 ft

Tameifuna is the heaviest player in the 2023 Rugby World Cup. At 151 kg, he’s a formidable presence in the scrum and surprisingly mobile in open play, making him one of the biggest rugby players in the world today.

5. Emmanuel Meafou (France / Toulouse) – 145 kg (23 st), 6 ft 8 in

Meafou is a towering lock for Toulouse and France. Standing 6 ft 8 in tall and weighing 145 kg, he is one of the biggest rugby players currently active, making him almost impossible to move in contact.

4. Posolo Tuilagi (France) – 145 kg (23 st), 6 ft 4 in

The youngest of the legendary Tuilagi family, Posolo is already one of the heaviest rugby players in the world at just 19 years old. His size, power, and rugby lineage make him a rising superstar in French rugby.

3. Will Skelton (Australia) – 145–150 kg (≈23 st), 6 ft 8 in

Skelton, one of the tallest locks in professional rugby, weighs up to 150 kg. Known for his strength in scrums and lineouts, he combines size with surprising agility, earning a spot among the top heavy rugby players today.

2. Uini Atonio (France) – 146–147 kg (23 st), 6 ft 5 in

French prop Uini Atonio has anchored the French scrum for years. At nearly 147 kg, he is a true heaviest rugby player, delivering immense force in set-pieces while maintaining mobility across the field.

1. Malik Hamadache (France) – 156 kg (24 st 6 lb), 6 ft 4 in

Currently listed as the heaviest professional rugby player, Hamadache tips the scales at 156 kg. His combination of size, experience, and power makes him the ultimate example of a super-heavyweight rugby player in modern professional rugby.