The tallest rugby players have always had a natural advantage in the second row.
Rugby is a game for all shapes and sizes, but a few extra inches can transform a line-out — and make a player impossible to miss.
Here are some of the tallest rugby players to have played professionally, starting with the smallest on this list and finishing with two extraordinary seven-foot locks.
Note: Player heights can differ slightly between club and international profiles.
Tallest Rugby players
10=. Eben Etzebeth – 2.03m (6ft 8in)
Etzebeth is one of the most intimidating forwards of his generation. The Springbok lock has won World Cups in 2019 and 2023, bringing far more than height to South Africa’s pack.
Quirky fact: Despite being among the biggest players in Test rugby, Etzebeth has scored tries in three different Rugby World Cup tournaments.
10=. Will Skelton – 2.03m (6ft 8in)
Skelton has combined his huge frame with surprisingly soft hands throughout his career.
The Australia international has played in Super Rugby, the PREM and France, where he captained La Rochelle to Champions Cup success.
Quirky fact: Skelton was born in New Zealand before representing Australia at Test level.
8=. Richie Gray – 2.06m (6ft 9in)
The Scotland and British & Irish Lions lock has played for Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks, Castres and Toulouse.
Being one of the tallest rugby players made him a regular line-out option throughout a long international career.
Quirky fact: His younger brother Jonny is also a Scotland international lock — but is considerably shorter.
8=. Luke Charteris – 2.06m (6ft 9in)
Charteris won 74 caps for Wales and featured at three Rugby World Cups.
The former Dragons and Bath lock was known not only for his reach, but his immense defence.
Quirky fact: Charteris made a remarkable 31 tackles in one Six Nations match against France in 2011.
6=. Rory Arnold – 2.08m (6ft 10in)
“Three-Storey Rory” became the tallest player in Wallabies history when he made his Test debut. The former Brumbies and Toulouse lock is one of the most obvious line-out targets in world rugby.
Quirky fact: Arnold only began playing rugby seriously as a teenager and initially struggled to find boots big enough for his size 16 feet.
6=. Andries Bekker – 2.08m (6ft 10in)
Bekker won 32 caps for the Springboks and was a key figure for the Stormers before moving to Japan. His reach made him one of South Africa’s leading line-out operators.
Quirky fact: Bekker played alongside former Springbok captain Jean de Villiers for both the Stormers and South Africa.
4=. Devin Toner – 2.09m (6ft 10in)
“Big Dev” became a Leinster legend and won 70 caps for Ireland.
He was key to the side that won the 2018 Grand Slam and became one of the best forwards in Europe.
Quirky fact: Toner is Leinster’s all-time appearance holder.
4=. Martin Bayfield – 2.10m (6ft 10in)
Bayfield won 31 England caps and toured with the British & Irish Lions. He is now one of rugby’s most recognisable broadcasters.
Quirky fact: Bayfield was Robbie Coltrane’s body double for Hagrid in the Harry Potter films.
2. Will Carrick-Smith – 2.11m (6ft 11in)
Carrick-Smith played for Exeter Chiefs, London Scottish and Bedford Blues.
His extraordinary height saw him recognised as the tallest rugby players in the English top flight during his Exeter spell.
Quirky fact: His teammates nicknamed him “Tree”.
1=. Dean Williams – 2.13m (7ft)
Williams played club rugby in England and New Zealand and matched the tallest height associated with elite rugby.
He didn't win an international cap, but there were few players anywhere in the game who could match his size.
Quirky fact: Williams stood exactly 7ft tall — the same height as the tallest international rugby player ever.
1=. Richard Metcalfe – 2.13m (7ft)
Scotland’s Metcalfe remains the tallest international rugby player ever.
He won 13 caps between 2000 and 2001, playing for Newcastle Falcons, Northampton Saints, Edinburgh and Borders.
Remains the tallest rugby player of all-time.
Quirky fact: The giant lock scored a try against New Zealand in 2000. Guinness World Records recognises Metcalfe as the tallest international rugby union player ever.
