Big Ben – test rugby’s heaviest player
Former Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna has opened up on his weight and now appears to be the heaviest man in test rugby.
Tameifuna tips the scales at 153 kilograms as he prepares to play for Tonga against Wales in Cardiff tomorrow.
The bubbly front rower plays for glamour Paris club Racing 92 these days and reckoned three years of eating French delicacies hadn’t helped him.
‘‘When I came to France I was 148kg so I’ve put on five kilos,’’ Tameifuna told the Daily Mail.
Asked if the extra weight converted to muscle, he joked: ‘‘I bloody hope so. Mate, too many croissants and baguettes.
‘‘Obviously I don’t have a sixpack! I look at food and put on weight.’’
The 27-year-old’s weight puts him just ahead of giant French prop Uini Atonio, who is listed at 151kg and has to have special jerseys made for his test duties with Les Blues.
The Timaru-born Atonio also has New Zealand connections, making his name with Counties Manukau before switching to the French club scene in 2011.
Tameifuna, who has good speed and ball skills for his size, was touted as a potential All Black and trained with the 2012 squad when Ireland toured New Zealand. He was 130kg then and the heaviest player among the All Blacks.
He didn’t get to play a test and has since been used by Tonga. He will earn his seventh test cap for the side against Wales.
Tameifuna is significantly heavier than the current All Blacks props.
Newcomer Karl Tu’inukuafe is the heaviest All Blacks forward at 135kg and famously lost ‘‘30-40kg’’ on doctor’s orders after being told he was heading to an early grave and then took up rugby seriously.
Of the other All Blacks props, Angus Ta’avao is at 128kg, newcomer Tyrell Lomax 127kg, Owen Franks 119kg, Joe Moody 118kg, Nepo Laulala 116kg, Tim Perry 116kg and Ofa Tu’ungafasi 115kg.
The All Blacks locks have height to balance their bulk. Brodie Retallick weighs in at 123kg with Sam Whitelock 115kg and Scott Barrett 112kg.
Tameifuna was in the world champion 2011 New Zealand under20s side that included current All Blacks Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Waisake Naholo, Codie Taylor, Sam Cane, Retallick and Luke Whitelock.
Tameifuna joked that he might be a back trapped in a big man’s body.
‘‘I have a thing for kicking the ball,’’ he said.