Ranked: The Heaviest Test Packs This July

June 22, 2022
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Ultimate Rugby

The test season is back, and with all the squads locked in for July, we check the scales and see which team could field the heaviest pack.

Taking the weights listed on the respective club team websites or the test websites, we have selected each team’s heaviest possible pack.

We have selected the players in their primary positions as much as possible.

Here are the sixteen teams, ranked from lightest to heaviest:

16. Uruguay - 858 kilograms

Uruguay’s front row weighs a tidy 358kg, but it is in the back five where they concede weight, with the loose trio weighing just 283 kg.

Uruguay's heaviest possible pack (1-8): Juan Echeverria (114 kg), Emiliano Faccennini (110), Guillermo Pujadas (134 kg), Eric Dosantos (112 kg), Diego Magno (105 kg), Lucas Bianchi (100 kg), Manuel Ardao (90 kg), and Carlos Deus (93 kg).

15. Georgia - 928 kilograms

The Georgians are surprisingly low on the list, with the Europeans renowned for their scrummaging prowess and big packs.

Perhaps this indicates that technique trumps weight or that they are looking for a more dynamic forward pack this July.

Second rower Konstantin Mikautadze is the heaviest forward at 130 kilograms.

Georgia’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): Nika Abuladze (122 kg), Giorgi Chkoidze (110 kg), Luka Japaridze (125 kg), Konstantin Mikautadze (130 kg), Nodar Cheishvili (117 kg), Otar Giorgadze (110 kg), Beka Saghinadze (108), and Beka Gorgadze (106 kg).

=14. Japan & Scotland - 930 kilograms

Japan and Scotland’s heaviest packs weigh in at 930 kg.

Scotland does have the heavier front row at 365 kg compared to Japan’s 336 kilograms, but Jamie Joseph’s side gets the edge in the back row with a combined weight of 357 kilograms compared to Gregor Townsend’s 326 kg.

Japan’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): Keita Inagaki (116 kg), Daigo Hashimoto (105 kg), Asaeli Ai Valu (105 kg), Sanaila Waqa (120 kg), Warner Dearns (117 kg), Ben Gunter (120 kg), Michael Leitch (113 kg), and Tevita Tatfu (124 kg).

Scotland’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): Jamie Bhatti (128 kg), Ewan Ashman (119 kg), Zander Fagerson (126 kg), Jonny Gray (121 kg), Grant Gilchrist (118 kg), Luke Crosbie (118 kg), Hamish Watson (102 kg), and Magnus Bradbury (116 kg).

12. Ireland - 932 kilograms

Ryan Baird and Tadhg Beirne are capable of playing in the back row for Ireland, meaning that Andy Farrell can field a heavier pack.

Ireland’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): Finlay Bealham (121 kg), Dan Sheehan (111 kg), Tadhg Furlong (125 kg), Joe McCarthy (119 kg), Iain Henderson (116 kg), Ryan Baird (113 kg), Tadhg Beirne (113 kg), Jack Conan (114 kg).

11. Australia - 937 kilograms

Even without Rory Arnold, Izack Rodda and Will Skelton, Dave Rennie can still field a relatively hefty pack of forwards.

Taniela Tupou (135 kg) certainly adds a good deal of weight to the front row and comfortably outweighs the rest of his pack by at least 14 kilograms.

Australia’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): Angus Bell (121 kg), Dave Porecki (107 kg), Taniela Tupou (135 kg), Cadeyrn Neville (120 kg), Matt Phillip (113 kg), Jed Holloway (118 kg), Rob Valetini (113 kg), and Harry Wilson (108 kg).

10. Fiji - 948 kilograms

The Fijians crack the top 10 and are one meal away from outweighing their fellow Pacific Islander’s Samoa.

Veteran tighthead Manasa Saulo is the heaviest in the squad at 132 kilograms.

Fiji’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): Eroni Mawi (127 kg), Mesulame Dolokoto (115 kg), Manasa Saulo (132 kg), Ratu Leone Rotusolia (123 kg), Api Ratuniyarawa (122 kg), Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta (110 kg), Levani Botia (105 kg), and Albert Tuisue (114 kg).

9. Samoa - 949 kilograms

Samoa’s tighthead prop Kalolo Tuiloma is the third heaviest prop in the 16 test teams, weighing 137 kilograms.

Jordan Taufua is the only player in the selected pack not hitting at least 100 kilograms.

Samoa’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): Sef Faagase (117 kg), Andrew Tuala (125 kg), Kalolo Tuiloma (137 kg), Chris Vui (118 kg), Samuel Slade (118 kg), Theo McFarland (115 kg), Henry Stowers (110 kg), and Jordan Tuafua (109 kg).

8. France - 952 kilograms

Although Fabien Galthie has rested several frontline players, he can still field a hefty pack in the two tests against Japan.

Cyril Baille, Paul Willemse and Uini Atonio would have made France the second heaviest pack this July.

France’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): Dany Priso (110 kg), Christopher Tolofua (132 kg), Demba Bamba (123 kg), Thomas Jolmes (125 kg), Remi Piquette (117 kg), Thibaud Flament (116 kg), Charles Ollivon (113 kg), and Selevasio Tolofua (116 kg).

7. New Zealand - 955 kilograms

The surprising addition of Karl Tu’inukuafe (135 kg) in the All Blacks squad, considering his move to France, means that the Kiwi pack ranks as high as seventh.

Tupou Vaa’i’s possible appearance on the blindside of the scrum helps too.

New Zealand heaviest possible pack (1-8): Karl Tu’inukuafe (135 kg), Samisoni Taukei’aho (115 kg), Angus Ta’avao (124 kg), Brodie Retallick (123 kg), Samuel Whitelock (117 kg), Tupou Vaa’i (118 kg), Dalton Papali’i (113 kg), and Pita Gus Sowakula (110 kg).

6. Wales - 956 kilograms

Wales will undoubtedly need a heavy pack to take on the Springboks, and although Wayne Pivac cannot match the South Africans on the scale, he isn’t too far off.

Wales’ heaviest possible pack (1-8): Rhys Carre (135 kg), Ryan Elias (111 kg), Tomas Francis (126 kg), Will Rowlands (124 kg), Adam Beard (123 kg), Dan Lydiate (111 kg), Taine Basham (110 kg), and James Ratti (116 kg).

= 5. Argentina and USA - 963 kilograms

Michael Cheika and Gary Gold have included some big bodies for the July internationals.

Cheika has called on the services of uncapped La Rochelle tighthead prop Joel Sclavi who, at 144 kilograms, is only the second-heaviest player this July.

Gold, meanwhile, has two players tipping over 130 kilograms in Siaosi Mahoni (133 kg) and Titi Lamositele (132 kg)

Argentina's heaviest possible pack (1-8): Thomas Gallo (107 kg), Julian Montoya (113 kg), Joel Sclavi (144 kg), Tomas Lavanini (125 kg), Lucas Paulos (119 kg), Matías Alemanno (117 kg), Marcos Kremer (116 kg), and Facundo Isa (122 kg).

USA’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): David Ainu’u (125 kg), Joe Taufete’e (124 kg), Titi Lamositele (132 kg), Siaosi Mahoni (133 kg), Samu Manoa (124 kg), Moni Tonga’uiha (106 kg), Malon Al-Jiboori (104 kg), and Cameron Dolan (115 kg).

3. England - 965 kilograms

Eddie Jones has the third heaviest pack at his disposal if he wishes to use it.

The Vunipolas add 256 kilograms to the pack if both players start, while Will Stuart could add a further 132 kilograms.

Isiekwe, Chessum, Lawes, and Itoje could all play in the back and second row and weigh between 115 and 120 kilograms.

England’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): Mako Vunipola (126 kg), Jamie George (114 kg), Will Stuart (132 kg), Nick Isiekwe (120 kg), Ollie Chessum (118 kg), Courtney Lawes or Maro Itoje (115 kg), Tom Curry (110 kg), and Billy Vunipola (130 kg).

2. South Africa - 981 kilograms

It’s no surprise that the South Africans are ranked right near the top of the list.

Jacques Nienaber does have a few ‘swing props’ in his squad, with Thomas du Toit one of those players who can play on both sides. According to the Sharks and Stormers’ websites, du Toit outweighs Malherbe by 4 kilograms as both players come in around 130 kg.

South Africa's heaviest possible pack (1-8): Thomas du Toit (134 kg), Malcolm Marx (117 kg), Frans Malherbe (130 kg), Eben Etzebeth (122 kg), Lood de Jager (125 kg), Rynhardt Elstadt (117 kg), Pieter-Steph du Toit (120 kg), and Marcell Coetzee (116 kg).

1. Tonga - 994 kilograms

Unsurprisingly, Tonga tip the scales more than any other side, with Big Ben Tameifuna the heaviest forward this July, weighing 148 kilograms.

He is joined by fellow powerhouse David Lolohea (135 kg) in the squad, as is second-rower Veikoso Poloniati (130 kg).

Tasman hooker Sam Moli is the lightest forward in the potential pack weighing 114 kilograms.

Tonga’s heaviest possible pack (1-8): David Lolohea (135 kg), Sam Moli (114 kg), Ben Tameifuna (148 kg), Sam Lousi (121 kg), Veikoso Poloniati (130 kg), Sione Tu’ipulotu (116 kg), Solomone Funaki (116 kg), and Tanginoa Halaifonua (115 kg).