The average size of a professional rugby player in Europe is 102kg in weight and 1.87 meters in height. The average size of a forward is 112.55kg and 1.90m and the average size of a back is 1.83m in height and 91.7kg in weight.
However, there are significant variations from the average by position as revealed in the table below.
Average Rugby Player Size By Position
| Position | Average Heights and Weights Per Competition | Overall Averages (height/weight) |
| Loosehead prop | Top 14: 1.83m (6ft)/ 118kgs (18st 8lbs) Premiership: 1.84m (6ft)/ 117kgs (18st 6lbs) PRO14: 1.84m (6ft)/ 115kgs (18st 1lbs) | 1.84m/116.6kg 6.04ft/in 18.36st |
| Hooker | Top 14: 1.81m (5ft 11ins)/ 107kgs (16st 12lbs) Premiership: 1.82 (6ft 0ins)/ 106kgs (16st 10lbs) PRO14: 1.83m (6ft 0ins)/ 106kgs (16st 10lbs) | 1.82m/106.3kg 5.97ft/in 16.69st |
| Tighthead prop | Top 14: 1.85m (6ft 1ins)/ 118kgs(18st 8lbs) Premiership: 1.87m (6ft 2ins)/ 121kgs (19st) PRO14: 1.85m (6ft 1ins)/ 118kgs (18st 8lbs) | 1.86m/119kg 6.1ft/in 18.74st |
| Lock | Top 14: 2m (6ft 7ins) / 117.5kgs (18st 7lbs) Premiership: 1.98m (6ft 6ins) / 117.7kgs (18st 8lbs) PRO14: 1.98m (6ft 6ins)/ 114kgs (17st 13lbs) | 1.98m/116.4kg 6.5ft/in 18.33st |
| Flankers | Top 14: No7: 1.92m (6ft 4ins)/ 107kgs, No6: 1.92m (6ft 4ins)/ 105kgs Premiership No7: 1.87m (6ft 2ins)/ 105kgs (16st 7lbs), No6: Avg. 1.95m (6ft 5ins)/ 113kgs (17st 11lbs) PRO14 No7: 1.88m (6ft 2ins)/ 104kgs(16st 5lbs) No6: 1.91m (6ft 3ins)/ 109kgs (17st 2lbs) | 1.91m/107.2kg 6.27ft/in 16.88st |
| No 8 | Top 14: 1.91m (6ft 3ins)/ 113kgs (17st 11lbs) Premiership: 1.9m (6ft 3ins)/ 113kgs (17st 11lbs) PRO14 : 1.91m (6ft 3ins)/ 108kgs (17st) | 1.91m/111.33kg 6.23ft/in 17.53st |
| Scrum-half | Top 14: 1.76m (5ft 9ins)/79kgs (12st 6lbs) Premiership: 1.76m (5ft 9ins)/ 84kgs (13st 3lbs) PRO14: 1.77m (5ft 10ins)/ 84kgs (13st 3lbs) | 1.76m/82.33kg 5.77ft/in 12.96st |
| Fly-half | Top 14: 1.82m (6ft)/ 88kgs (13st 12lbs) Premiership: 1.82m (6ft)/ 90kgs (14st 2lbs) PRO14: 1.84m (6ft)/ 90kgs (14st 2lbs) | 1.83m/89.33kg 6ft/in 14.01st |
| Inside centre | Top 14: 1.84m (6ft)/ 97kgs (15st 4lbs) Premiership: 1.84m (6ft)/ 101kgs (16st) PRO14: 1.86m (6ft 1in)/ 99.5kgs (15st 9lbs) | 1.85m/99.16kg 6.1ft/in 15.62st |
| Outside centre | Top 14: 1.84m (6ft)/ 94kgs (14st 11lbs) Premiership: 1.87m (6ft 2ins)/ 99kgs (15st 8lbs) PRO14: 1.83m (6ft)/ 94kgs (14st 11lbs) | 1.85m/95.67kg 6.1ft/in 15.07st |
| Wingers | Top 14: Left wing: 1.83m (6ft)/ 90kgs (14st 2lbs) Right wing: 1.84m (6ft)/ 91kgs (14st 5lbs) Premiership: Left wing: 1.84m (6ft)/ 95kgs (14st 13lbs) Right wing: 1.84m (6ft)/ 96kgs (15st 2lbs) PRO14: Left wing: 1.83m (6ft)/ 90kgs (14st 2lbs) Right wing: 1.84m (6ft)/ 93kgs (14st 9lbs) | 1.84m/92.5kg 6ft 14.57st |
| Fullback | Top 14: 1.83m (6ft)/ 91kgs (14st 5lbs) Premiership: 1.82m (6ft)/90kgs (14st 2lbs) PRO14: 1.84m (6ft)/ 90kgs (14st 2lbs) | 1.83m/90.34kg 6ft 14.22st |
Source: The above information is based on data taken from clubs own websites.
For players to reach the sizes in the charts bove then it is imperative they get the right quantity and quality of calories in the right split, of protein, carbohydrate and fats. That is why England Rugby have partnered with Optimum Nutrition X and this is one of their best sellers:
As you can imagine, meeting the needs of England Rugby takes some doing which is why they have an entire series of: weight gainers, protein powders/bars, creatine, amino acids and multivitamins to support professional atheletes.
The good news is that you can use them to build your physique regardless of what level you are playing at. Check out the full series of Optimum Nutrition X products for rugby players here.
What is the average size of a back and forward in rugby union?
| Position | Size (height/weight) |
| Forwards | 1.90m/112.55kg6.2ft/in 17.72st |
| Backs | 1.83m/91.69kg6.0ft/in 14.44st |
| Overall | 1.87m/102.12kg6.14ft/in 16.01st |
How big do you need to be to play rugby?
In rugby you need to be big enough to the point that you are not seen as a weakness by the opposition. Technique can make up for a lot in rugby but if you were significantly under the average numbers in the chart above, then opposition coaches might start to single you out as a potential area of weakness.
That said, there is a position for all shapes and sizes in rugby, so, if you are tall and lanky you could play in the second row. If you are small and fast you could be a winger or scrum-half. In professional rugby there are going to be some positions where it would probably not be possible to compete without reaching a certain size.
To play as a loosehead prop, for example, in the professional game the average size and weight is 116kg and 1.84 in height. Depending on scrummaging technique, style and the competence of the rest of the front row you may be able to compete giving away 5-10 kilos in weight, but when you start giving away more than that it makes it very difficult to hold your own in the scrum.
Opposition coaches would surely target you as an area of weakness to exploit and some weeks you would be playing against monsters who are well above the average weight of 116kg and probably pushing 125kg. That would make for a very long afternoon in the scrum.
In the backs, however, size and weight is less important. If you are fast and skilful then you will base your game around that and the team will hopefully play to your strengths, whereas if you are larger than average you might be a crash ball specialist in the centres. So, really it is a case of finding a position to suit your natural body size and build.
Of course, it is not unheard of for coaches to send academy players away and tell them to ‘bulk up’ for a few months before they try their hand at senior rugby, especially in the front five.
However, this should never be above what a player’s natural body type and frame can comfortably handle. The biggest players around in the game are often huge because they simply have the genetics for it which no amount of training can make up for.
In the world of amateur rugby, though, there are not going to be any real ‘minimum weight’ limits. Players are nowhere near as big and powerful as in the professional ranks and so provided you are in a suitable position for your body type then there would be know great reason to bulk up other than to improve performance and for fun.
Personally, I started my life in senior rugby at fly-half in level 5 rugby in England. At that time I was around 85 kilos and 17 years of age. Fast forward to my early twenties I was a centre and weighed in at 90 odd kilos.
Now, at 40 I weigh in at around 100 kilos and there’s no surprise that these days I roam around in the second row or back row. So, really my weight and position have been clearly linked.
Suggested reading: Why Rugby Players Are So Big And Fat
Why are rugby players so big?
Rugby players need to be big because the demands of their position requires that of them. For example, the number 8 is expected to be a ball carrier and will often pick the ball up from a static position at the base of a scrum and have to run directly at and through opponents.
Clearly, the bigger the number 8 is, then the easier it will be for them to cross the gain line and provide an attacking platform for their team.
The second reason for rugby players being so big is simply for defensive purposes. Some positions are regularly required to tackle opposition forwards who are running at them, this requires considerable size, bravery and technique if they are to be effective.
Thirdly, genetics and training. There are some amazing, naturally big athletes from the pacific islands who when they follow the correct training regime and diet experience massive muscular gains that mere mortals like myself probably never could, Rupeni Caucaunibuca being one of my favourite.
The world of protein drinks and power shakes is now within the reach of the average guy in the street and so anyone can make gains in muscle and get bigger with the correct amount of discipline and the correct type of training programme, so improved product supplementation is another reason rugby players are big.
Who is the smallest and biggest rugby player?
The smallest international player at the time of writing is Fumiaki Tanaka. He plays scrum-half for Japan and weighs in at just 72kg and 166cm in height. In stark contrast, the heaviest player in international rugby is prop Ben Tameifuna of Tonga, who weighs in at 155kg and is 182cm in height. The tallest player in world rugby is currently Roy Arnold, an Australian lock at an astonishing 208cms.
And of course, no conversation about rugby and size would be complete without reflecting on the late great Jonah Lomu. At 195cms tall and 125kg, his pace was extraordinary, rumoured to have clocked an incredible 10.8 seconds for the 100 metres. In full flight he was almost impossible to stop. I’ll personally never forget his 4 try demolition of England in the 1995 world cup.
I hope over the course of this article you can see that no matter what size or shape you are, there is a place in rugby for you! If you need help selecting a suitable position to play then check out this position selection guide here.
Photo Credit: All Blacks vs Australia, October 2011 jeanfrancois beausejour from cannes, france, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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