Rugby’s ‘Beefiest’ Players
Ireland courageously beat the French this weekend at the Aviva Stadium, finishing the game Ireland 26 – 14 France. Since the boys in green found a way to deal with the notoriously large French pack, we thought we’d take a look at how ‘beefy’ (see what we did there?) some of these French players are and compare them to some other man mountains around the world.
Uini Atonio
Uini Atonio would have well stood out as the heaviest player on the pitch, so it was fortunate for Ireland that he was unable to play due to injury. The monster French prop is the current heaviest player in world rugby. Atonio, who was born in New Zealand, is 6ft 6 tall and 145kg and is a daunting prospect to try to take down! The player had to get a special rugby jersey made for him for his Test debut against Fiji at the end of last year as there were no sizes to fit his considerably ample frame.
To put it in context, while we pride ourselves on our wide, abundant selection beef, we would have to find 5,100 ounces or five hundred and ten 10oz Ribeye steaks to match his weight. A man mountain for sure.
Sébastien Vahaamahina
Sebastien was born on 21 October 1991 in Nouméa, New Caledonia (a special collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean). He lines up in the second row or backrow if needed and currently plays his rugby with Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14. He began his career with Brive before moving to Perpignan from 2011 to 2014.
Standing over 2 metres tall (6ft 7) and weighing in at an impressive 126kg, which is almost 20 st! but is still 20kgs lighter than Atonio.
Will Skelton
Definitely not a French player, Skelton was born in Auckland, New Zealand, but plays for Australia having moved with his family to Sydney at the age of 10. Though smaller than his younger brother, Cameron – also a rugby player, Will weighed a mighty 150kg while still a teenager (his playing weight is now 140 kg or under), and he wears a size 18 to 19 boot which he has specially made.
At 6ft 8, he’s the tallest on our list with an impressive weight of 140kg to carry around the park.
The crown for heaviest, beefiest international rugby player goes to:
Bill Cavubati
Born 21 July 1970, Bill is a former professional rugby union player. He played for Fiji in the 1990’s and his position of choice was tighthead prop. Cavubati’s claim to fame is that he is the heaviest player ever to receive the honour of an International Cap, weighing in at a massive 165 kg (364 lb, 26 st 0 lb) or two Keith Earls! Two!
If any of the above players graced our restaurant we would have to make sure to have an ample selection of steak available. Our Cote du Boeuf is made for two but we feel that, in this instance, special arrangements might have to be made to feed such a hungry pack of players.
Saying that we have been lucky to welcome the Argentinian Rugby Team to our restaurant before, and would relish the opportunity to give the French team a good grilling for a full ASADOR experience.
