15 of the Biggest Beasts in Rugby

Much like the NFL, rugby is a sport that is chock full of beasts. Both sports are similar in many ways so it is not a surprise that the sport of rugby has players that are just as badass as those in the NFL.  I am sure most football fans (American football) think there is no way any sport can match their player’s combination strength and athleticism but these rugby players can more than hold their own. Here are 15 of the biggest beasts in rugby in no particular order.

Jamie Cudmore

Height: 6′ 6″   Weight: 255 lbs

Cudmore is a straight up beast. The Canadian was a troubled youth that was lucky enough to have rugby turn his life around for the better. Take note of the cauliflower ear on both ears. Anyone with cauliflower ear is not someone to be messed with. You don’t get cauliflower ear from being in the chess club. It only comes from doing lots of rugby, boxing, MMA or wrestling. Just a word to the wise.

Henry Tuilagi

Height: 6′ 0″   Weight 282lbs

Henry is the first of the Tuilagi Brothers to appear on this list. He is built like a Samoan brick shit house and is known to be one of the hardest hitters in the game. We were unable to find any definite numbers for his strength but you can tell just by looking at him he doesn’t skip the weight room too often.

For those who don’t know there are 7 brothers in the Tuilagi family, 6 of them play or have formerly played rugby, they are basically all beasts. Three of them have made this list.

Joe Marler

Height: 6′ 0″  Weight: 250 lbs

No doubt he puts in his time in the weight room, but his beard is almost as bad ass as his physique. Opposing players should fear the beard or feel it’s wrath!

Jamie Roberts

Height: 6’4″   Weight: 243lbs

Jamie is a Welsh rugby union player who currently plays for  Harlequins FC. He drops the hammer when in the weight room benching around 365lbs. He is also a qualified doctor, and is studying for a MPhil in Medical Science proving he is more than just a brawny beast.

Manu Tuilagi

Height: 6’0″  Weight: 245lbs
The Samoan is the second of the Tuilagi brothers on this list. He benches 415lbs and is an absolute animal on the field.

James Haskell

Height: 6’4″  Weight: 251lbs

Haskell is an English professional Rugby Union player who currently plays for the London Wasps. He is a gym rat whose workouts can be found on the web and Youtube. He benches over 400lbs and does not skip leg day either.

Sonny Bill Williams

Height: 6’3″  Weight: 240

Sonny Bill is an undeniable beast. The New Zealander was voted the best Rugby League player at the annual RLIF Awards in 2013. Not only is he a force on the rugby field he is also a heavyweight boxer with a 6-0 record with three wins by knock out. His last fight was in Feb of 2013 but he has postponed his boxing career to focus on rugby. He was formerly the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association Heavyweight Champion and World Boxing Association (WBA) International Heavyweight Champion. He can also bench 310lbs for 3 reps. Long story short there isn’t much Sonny Bill can’t do and do well.

Tendai Mtawarira

Height: 6′ 1″   Weight: 256 lbs

Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira is a Zimbabwean-born South African Rugby Union player for the Sharks. Fans don’t call him “The Beast” for no reason, he hits like a beast on the field and lifts like one in the weight room benching  340lbs and squatting 540lbs.

Sean O’Brien

Weight: 238 lbs    Height: 6′ 2″

O’Brien is an Irish professional Rugby Union player from Carlow, Ireland. He has been called a rampaging ball of destruction and is know for his barging runs and ball carrying.

Eben Etzebeth

Height: 6′ 8″   Weight: 271 lbs

Eben Etzebeth is a South African Rugby Union footballer. His shear size is intimidating as hell and the fact that he can bench press 385lbs and do incline dumbbell presses with 175lbs in each hand is flat out scary. At only 22 years of age, the sky is the limit.

Paul O’Connell

Height: 6′ 6″   Weight: 243 lbs

O’Connell is an Irish Rugby Union player. O’Connell also captained the British and Irish Lions on their 2009 tour to South Africa. He also benches 395lbs.

Alesana Tuilagi

Height: 6’1″   Weight: 258 lbs

The last of the infamous Tuilagi brothers on this list is no less beastly than the others. We were unable to find any solid numbers for him in the weight room but him and his brothers are all known to be beasts on the field and in the weight room.

Opeti Fonua

Height: 6’6″   Weight: 330 lbs

This Tongan born rugby union player who plays for English Premiership Team Leicester Tigers is massive. Not only does he have imposing size, he’s also known for his strength and can bench press 440 lbs. (200kg).

This man hits like a brick $hi+ house. If you don’t believe me watch this video for verification.

Pierre Spies

Height: 6’4″   Weight: 238lbs

Pierre  Spies is a South African Rugby Union player. Spies just may have the most impressive physique on this list. He power cleans 300lbs, deadlifts 530lbs and bench presses 360lbs. He also does pull-ups with an extra 110lbs hanging between his legs. Not to mention the fact that he is totally ripped.

David Pocock

Height: 6’o” Weight: 230 Lbs

Australian rugby union player. He is a Brumbies openside flanker and is vice-captain of the Brumbies.

There it is, in a sport that is full of beasts we did our best to narrow it down to 15 of the biggest. It wasn’t easy.

If we missed anyone let us know in the comment section. We do update the article from time to time and we take your suggestions into consideration.