Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Champions Cup final packs may be the heaviest ever

Will Skelton and Ronan O'Gara (EPCR)

When it comes to heavyweight finals, it doesn’t come much heavier than Toulouse versus La Rochelle – literally.

ADVERTISEMENT

Between the sides there are two players that tip the scales at 140kg plus, La Rochelle’s Uini Atonio at 145kg and Will Skelton at 140kg. Skelton is listed on the LAR website at 125kg but told RugbyPass recently that he is playing at around 140kg, having been as high as 157kg earlier in his career. In total, there are three 130kg plus forwards in both starting packs, when you include former All Black Charlie Faumuina, who is listed at 130kg.

Yet while the yellow and blacks boast the heaviest individual players, it’s Toulouse that have the heavier pack.  The average weight of a starting Toulouse forward is 118kg (18 stone 8Ibs) a man, or 944kg, according to their official club weights. By way of a yardstick, that’s a good 30kg heavier than the average international pack.

Video Spacer

Spirit of Rugby – Ep 2

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Spirit of Rugby – Ep 2

      La Rochelle average out at 117.25kg (18 stone 6Ibs) a man, with a total pack weight of 938kg.

      Stade Toulousain also has considerably more bulk to call up from the bench with 125kg David Ainu’u, 130kg Joe Tekori and 123 kg Clement Castets to summon to the fray.

      Both sides, as is broadly the tradition in the Top 14, have comparatively modestly sized backs in comparison with the Gallagher Premiership, Super Rugby or the PRO14. Levani Botia tops out La Rochelle’s back division at 103kg, while Toulouse’s heaviest back is former Connacht centre Pita Ahki at 96kg.

      TOULOUSE: 15. Maxime Medard; 14. Cheslin Kolbe, 13. Juan Cruz MallIa, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Matthis Lebel; 10. Romain Ntamack, 9. Antoine Dupont (capt); 1. Cyril Baille, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 4. Rory Arnold, 5. Richie Arnold, 6. Rynhardt Elstadt, 7. Francois Cros, 8. Jerome Kaino. Reps: 16. Guillaume Marchand, 17. Clement Castets, 18. David Ainu’u, 19. Joe Tekori, 20. Thibaud Flament, 21. Selevasio Tolofua, 22. Baptiste Germain, 23. Thomas Ramos.

      LA ROCHELLE: 15. Brice Dulin; 14. Dillyn Leyds, 13. Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12. Levani Botia, 11. Raymond Rhule; 10. Ihaia West, 9. Tawera Kerr Barlow; 1. Dany Priso, 2. Pierre Bourgarit, 3. Uini Atonio, 4. Romain Sazy (capt), 5. Will Skelton, 6. Gregory Alldritt, 7. Kevin Gourdon, 8. Victor Vito. Reps: Reps: 16. Facundo Bosch, 17. Reda Wardi, 18. Arthur Joly, 19. Thomas Lavault, 20. Wiaan Liebenberg, 21. Paul Boudehent, 22. Arthur Retiere, 23. Jules Plisson.

      ADVERTISEMENT
      ADVERTISEMENT
      Play Video

      South Africa vs Black Ferns XV | Women's International | Full Match Replay

      Play Video

      England vs Spain | Women's International | Full Match Replay

      Play Video

      Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | Second Match | Full Match Replay

      Play Video

      Ireland vs Scotland | Women's International | Full Match Replay

      Play Video

      Should the Lions’ last-minute try have stood? | Whistle Watch

      Play Video

      Lions Share | Episode 6

      Play Video

      KOKO Show | July 29th | George Gregan Stops by to lift spirits after the MCG Madness

      Play Video

      Historic Lions Series win at the MCG | Ep 7: The Ultimate Test

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Long Reads

      Comments on RugbyPass

      TRENDING
      TRENDING Former All Black flyer chooses Western Force for Super Rugby return Former All Black chooses Perth for Super return