Ranked: The 10 heaviest international rugby players of all time as ‘undisputed king’ comes out on top
Bill Cavubati tops the heavyweight list.
If you are one of those that likes to tackle a Christmas lunch that looks like a front-row scrum, spare a thought for these giants of Test rugby. They’re the reason reinforced benches exist and scales everywhere live in fear.
Here are the 10 heaviest players ever to earn full international caps, with their careers served alongside your festive feast. Well, unless you can tell us anyone we’ve missed?
10 Frans Malherbe – South Africa – 140 kg
World Cup-winning tighthead and Stormers stalwart. With more than 70 caps, Malherbe is the quiet destroyer who locks down scrums and wins trophies. He’s living proof that festive cheer and front-row power go hand in hand.
9 Taniela Tupou – Australia – 140 kg
The Tongan Thor. A Wallaby crowd favourite with explosive carries and highlight-reel offloads. Over 50 caps and a Super Rugby cult hero with the Reds, Tupou turns scrums into wrecking balls and could outpace Santa’s sleigh.
8 James Johnston – Samoa – 145 kg
A veteran tighthead with 16 Samoa caps and a club career spanning Harlequins, Saracens, Worcester and Brive. Known for his scrummaging strength and uncompromising style, Johnston could carve the turkey one-handed and lift the table with the other.
7 Emmanuel Meafou – France – 145 kg
Toulouse’s towering lock turned French international. A Champions Cup winner and Top 14 champion, Meafou is basically a human crane with boots. He could lift your entire Christmas spread and still ask for gravy.
6 Will Skelton – Australia – 148 kg
Wallabies enforcer and former captain. A Champions Cup winner with Saracens and La Rochelle, Skelton blends mass with mobility and offloading flair. When he enters a maul, it becomes a seasonal avalanche.
5 Posolo Tuilagi – France – 149 kg
The young giant of the Tuilagi dynasty. Already a Test lock for France and a wrecking ball for Perpignan, he brings the family tradition of destruction to the second-row. If you think your Christmas tree is big, try decorating Posolo.
4 Asenathi Ntlabakanye – South Africa – 150 kg
The Bok beast who debuted in 2024 after dominating for the Lions. A tighthead with raw power and growing reputation, he’s tipped to be a Springbok mainstay for years. If your dining table groans under the weight of food, imagine a scrum with Ntlabakanye at full tilt.
3 Uini Atonio – France – 155 kg
The French colossus with more than 70 caps and a Six Nations title to his name. A cornerstone of La Rochelle’s rise, Atonio has lifted European silverware and remains the immovable object in Les Bleus’ front-row. He makes a Yule log look like a breadstick.
2 Ben Tameifuna – Tonga – 160 kg
The modern monster. Over 40 caps for Tonga and still anchoring their scrum as captain. A Chiefs favourite in Super Rugby before conquering Europe with Racing 92 and Bordeaux, Tameifuna combines brute force with surprising handling skills. He makes Christmas hams look like cocktail sausages.
1 Bill Cavubati – Fiji – 167 kg
The undisputed king of heavyweight rugby. Big Bill earned his caps for Fiji in the early 2000s, famously packing down against the All Blacks in 2005. A Wellington stalwart and Hurricanes squad man, he was a cult figure for sheer size and scrummaging power. If your turkey feels heavy, imagine hauling Cavubati through 80 minutes.
So as you loosen the belt and eye your third helping, remember these titans. Your plate might look heavy, but it’s nothing compared to a Cavubati scrum. May your lunch be as epic as a Pacific Island prop in full flight.