Many of the worlds best rugby players have modest PBs on the bench press. Heavy is a relative term, but for rugby strength workouts, it means working with weights of 85% or more of your 1RM and using the 1-5 rep range. Related: Best Creatine for Muscle and Strength. He holds the title of the Strongest Man of Germany and a world record for log lifts in the 105k category (165 kilograms). It's appropriate Larry Allen is #1 alphabetically, because, with the possible exception of Terry Long, he is the strongest NFL player of all-time. This raises a question: How strong are rugby players? Khaleke Hudson, LB, Michigan. Who Are The Biggest Bodybuilders in The World? And a lot of them will completely dwarf American football players. Lions contender Porter is poised to make a sizeable impact for Ireland moving forward. Aled de Malmanche (Stade Francis, retired) 220kg, Andrew Sheridan (Sale Shark, retired) 215kg, David Pocock (Panasonic Wildknights) 185kg, Pierre Spies (Montpellier, retired) 165kg, Sam Whitelock (Panasonic Wildknights) 160kg, Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) 140kg. In 2006, Mike Kudla was said to be one of the strongest players in the draft, and a weight room fanatic. From the moment he made his international debut at a world cup qualifier, the rugby world knew it had a new star-tight head prop. Joe Marler is probably Englands biggest Rugby Union player, or at least we weren't able to find any bigger rugby players in England. It fatigues your muscles and disrupts the central nervous system. REACTION: World Rugby chiefs have called for "comprehensive consultation" after the launch of a new short-form international Rugby Union competition. If you put Tendai into any kind of physical sport, he wouldnt stop surprising you with athletic talent and sheer force. We spoke to Razor at the end of the game," Hansen told journalists, referring to Robertson's nickname. Register your interest for the British & Irish Lions tickets in South Africa 2021. If you can lift something twice or more, youre actually measuring strength endurance, which is something quite different. Former Game of Thrones star Hafthor Bjornsson has blown fans away after footage emerged of him doing a dumbbell bench press with wife Kelsey Henson. While the NFL keeps track of bench press statistics, the focus is on how many reps a player can bench at 102 kg. The Springboks, for example, expect Test players to bench press between 1.3 to 1.5 times their bodyweight, position-dependent. Take 3-5 minutes between sets lifting heavy weights takes a lot out of your body. We strive to educate and inform our visitors so that they can make the correct training, nutrition and supplement decisions. Jonah Lomu Pictures And Photos Getty Images. While this is somewhat higher than what a front-row rugby player is doing, these also tend to be much heavier players. Weight, About So, while getting stronger will probably improve your playing performance, dont neglect the other aspects of your fitness. Aled de Malmanche (Stade Francis, retired) 220kgAndrew Sheridan (Sale Shark, retired) 215kgAlfie Tooala Vaeluaga (Samoa) 210kgWill Griff John (Sale Sharks) 210kgNicky Smith (Ospreys) 200kgRory Sutherland (Edinburgh) 200kgJack Whetton (Highlanders) 195kgBen Tameifuna (Racing 92) 190kgManu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) 190kgSiate Tokolahi (Highlanders) 190kgCian Healy (Leinster) 190kgDavid Kilcoyne (Munster) 187.5kgJackson Wray (Saracens) 187.5kgMaro Itoje (Saracens) 187.5kgDavid Pocock (Panasonic Wildknights) 185kgJoe Moody (Crusaders) 180kgPouri Rakete-Stones (Hawks Bay) 180kgMax Lahiff (Bristol Bears) 180kgWill Genia (Rebels) 180kgDigby Ioane (Glendale Raptors) 180kgMike McCarthy (Leinster, retired) 180kgTendai Mtawarira (Old Glory) 180kgPaul OConnell (Munster, retired) 179kgNemani Nadolo (Montpellier) 175kgEben Etzebeth (Toulon) 175kgJaycob Matiu (Northland) 170kgBen Funnell (Crusaders) 165kgPierre Spies (Montpellier, retired) 165kgMatt Vaai (Counties Manukau) 162.5kgPete Samu (Brumbies) 160kgSam Whitelock (Panasonic Wildknights) 160kgMatt Todd (Crusaders) 150kgCaleb Timu (Montpellier) 150kgCourtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) 140kgJim Hamilton (Saracens, retired) 140kgDan Carter (free agent) 145kgSonny Bill Williams (ex-Blues) 140kgRichie Mounga (Crusaders) 137kg, Bosch gets captain's armband for clash against Stormers, Crusaders dedicate first win to absent Razor, Pushback after launch of 'World 12s' event. This exercise should be performed 1 to 2 times a week. Here's a look at the 10 strongest players at this week's combine, guys who bench pressed 225 pounds at least 30 times: T10. Hes also one of the strongest on the South African squad as he can reportedly bench press 385 lbs. Upper body strength remains a valuable asset in the game, once it doesnt come at the cost of compromising a players speed or endurance. Rugby simply will never appease everybody', Harlequins' take on 'unique' Dombrandt now thriving with England, How the world reacted to Ardie Savea's 'nasty' gesture. LARRY ALLEN . Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'2htYY6ZvTf18aDUxkz-Mcg',sig:'zIwDG4NVxCbu0VMLj2q4Nu4nI6CAIkHzoqiOtv8fl_A=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1385946782',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); JNemani is another mountain of a man on this list. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Rugby is not a weight-lifting competition; its a contact sport that requires speed, endurance, and explosive strength of its athletes. It made him one of the strongest players in combine history. One Pro14 head coach RugbyPass spoke to said that he was interested in creating powerful, fast athletes, regardless of their size. Whether you want to sprint faster, jump higher in the lineout, or tackle harder, the squat will develop the muscles needed for your success. Us, Contact The vast majority of figures come from comments made by teammates, coaches or the player themselves in the media. Perform these once per week and 5 sets 4. 3.Ben Wallace. The upper body session will center around bench press, pull-ups, and possibly military press. Rugby does quite respectably in the squat when compared with NFL football. Apparently, he can squat over 540 lbs, which makes him possibly the strongest rugby player in his country. Apparently, he can bench press over 400 lbs, which explains why fans look forward to him simply pushing other players out of the way. Josua Tuisova Height: 6'11" Weight: 249 lbs Josua is a Fijian rugby union player who is known for his strong running and physical play. Strength can be measured in several ways, but the most practical is doing 1RM testing on common gym exercises. Rugby is not a weight-lifting competition; it's a contact sport that requires speed, endurance, and explosive strength of its athletes. Lets get back to Australia and take a look at David Pocock, weighing in at over 250 lbs. This should give you the work capacity to increase your old bench press max by 10% to 15%. And we look at how they match up in strength to NFL players and professional powerlifters. We also found a good highlight video that shows what a beast he is as well. In number 2 spot is Biyi Alo of Wasps who has bench pressed 220kg (484 pounds). Unfortunately, we cant find how much he can lift anywhere on the web, I guarantee its a lot though, just look at the traps on that dude! Andrew Porter - Ireland. Someone has timed him running 90 meters in 10 seconds, which isn't far off Olympic sprint speeds. We do update the article from time to time, and we take your suggestions into consideration. This is some serious weight, particularly for athletes in a sport that requires high amounts of running without a break. It would be interesting to see just how much a player like Gheorghe Gajion or Biyi Alo could bench press if they quit rugby and focused on powerlifting. It's a sports' clich, but the bench press continues to occupy a uniquely macho seat in the pantheon of weight training disciplines, and professional rugby players are by no means immune. Who is your favourite to win the driver's championship this year? This allows (and demands) that players prioritize strength in a way that would be counterproductive in rugby. Many rugby players go into the weight room with no real plan and dont follow a program. Powerlifting Flat Bench by Bells of Steel Review, 9 Best Folding Squat Racks for Home Gyms in 2023. The Waratahs battled their way back into the game to regain the lead then emptied their bench to add an extra hit of energy. Rugby is one of a few sports that demands a high level of all-round fitness. In a rugby context, an enormous bench press is not necessarily indicative of anything other than a strong upper body. Bench Press: 500 lbs (PR), 35 reps of 225 lbs. The coaches and physios constantly adjust training based on these metrics. And because he was a professional boxer in New Zealand, its another reason to be careful of his barging runs. Cal made its final home rugby match of the season a good one as the Golden Bears beat defending national champion Army 31-14 on a rainy, windy Saturday afternoon at Witter Rugby Field in Berkeley. That said, every rugger is different, and while some players are superhuman in the gym, others are only somewhat above average. But how does it compare to other top power sports? The Skinfold standard and bleep test levels . Calculate Your Strength Level kg kg years old Calculate Level Recommended Program For Bench Press we recommend following the Candito 6 Week Strength program on Boostcamp. Opposing players should fear the beard or feel its wrath! READ MORE: Rugby Australia set for massive pay player cuts as deal nears fruition Super Rugby: New Zealand Rugby announces review into Super Rugby model Rugby: Sanzaar boss Andy Marinos reveals cutoff date for revamped Super Rugby competition Rugby: Why All Blacks fans should hope the Wallabies become a powerful force again. Bench press records: Gheorghe Gajion (Ospreys) - 230kg Aled de Malmanche (Stade Francis, retired) - 220kg Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks, retired) - 215kg Thats an immense size, and if you look up some videos of him playing for the English team Leicester Tigers or Tonga during the world cup tournament, youll get an idea of how he can make other rugby players just bounce off him. Get the Sport Report every Thursday to stay up to speed with everything you need to know in the world of sport. The players underwent a comprehensive physical fitness testing (height, body mass and sum of seven skinfolds, sit-and-reach, vertical jump, 10m and 40m speed, 1 RM bench press, pull-ups, one . Words get out quickly! Here is the second of the Tuilagi brothers from Samoa, and hes arguably the strongest one in the family. Ireland's Josh van der Flier in action against . Chris Yarran can lay claim to being the Blues' strongest player on a pound-for-pound basis. He plays as a scrum-half for Japan on international level and for the NEC Green Rockets and the Sunwolves at domestic level. Stephen Paea - DT. Can You Roll In Rugby? Consider that NFL requires maximum power generation for short periods, followed by a short rest. Which Are The Sexiest Female Athletes In The World? Biggest Strongest Rugby Players Bench Press Football. Not all Olympic sports are created equal! For a man that plays on the wing, he has a surprising amount of speed despite his sheer size. Opinion: The All Blacks players have come into Super Rugby on a mission this year. IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ian Cameron takes a look at the bench press PBs of some notable professional rugby players. I live in Ireland, and I started hearing a few years ago about the impressive gym stats of a prop playing at the under-20 level. Not surprisingly, he is nicknamed The Bus. One PRO14 head coach RugbyPass spoke to said that he was interested in creating powerful, fast athletes, regardless of their size. Wayne Shelford is the hardest player in rugby. His sheer size is intimidating as hell and the fact that he can bench press 385lbs and do incline dumbbell presses with 175lbs in each hand is flat out scary. He is a powerhouse and is also known as a bit of a dirty player. In over 100 years of league, not one first grade player has ever reached the double ton. You may be surprised at the distances they cover during a match. How much do you bench bro? Its a sports clich, but the bench press continues to occupy a uniquely macho seat in the pantheon of weight training disciplines, and professional rugby players are by no means immune. The Chicago Bears drafted him in 2011. An honorable mention must also go to former Wallaby wing Murdoch Alistair, who benched 227.5kg (raw) at the World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation (WDFPF) in 2014 in the under 110kg bodyweight category. . Their sport consists entirely of doing only three lifts, one of which is the bench press. A post shared by Sean O'Brien (@seanobrien678). Take a look at the top bench-press performances from the NFL Scouting Combine. The vast majority of figures come from comments made by teammates, coaches or the player themselves in the media. He also benches over 450 lbs, according to rugbybypass.com. Guys like Pete [O'Mahony] coming off the bench. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Heres a Rugby Union player who literally looks like a gladiator. For us with our Quins lens on, he is unique I think. We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred. Not only does he have imposing size, hes also known for his strength and can bench press 440 lbs. For example, Wallaby backrow David Pocock benched 185kg at his peak, but admitted in a 2019 post on Instagram that Id be pushing it doing 155/160kg at the moment. link to What Is The Easiest Olympic Sport To Qualify For And Play? BEN WALLACE 6'9, 240, power-forward/center, NBA: 1996-2012 Ben Wallace claims his biggest bench press was 460 pounds, which is nearly twice his playing weight! 4 in-demand tech skills that can help you thrive in the 4IR tomorrow, WATCH | Climate resilience: Preparing your business for a sustainable future, The importance of spending wisely and knowing your credit score. you lose fat and re-build your body from the ground up. Respect your bodys need for rest and recovery, Match your training to the competitive season, i.e., train harder/longer in the off-season, and cut back on gym time during the playing season, Deload after intense phases of training to avoid overtraining. Increase your weights gradually you are only as strong as your last workout, and if you want to get stronger, you need to incrementally lift more weight. A defensive tackle from Oregon State, Paea logged 49 bench reps at the 2011 NFL Combine. One rep max bench presses are also a potentially dangerous exercise for contact sports athletes to attempt. A 120kg prop, therefore, would be expected to bench 180kg as a minimum requirement, while a 100kg centre would be expected to bench 130kg. Age: 43 years old (as of 2023) Place of birth: Abadan, Iran. Ruggers are undoubtedly stronger than the average human, and strength is a critical factor for successful rugby. That said, in a sports lab environment, strength is sometimes assessed using devices called dynamometers. Then, he went on to play seven seasons in the NFL for four different teams. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images). They also have a type of shirt with an elastic front that makes it almost impossible to move your arms back. The gainline-busting Cardiff Rugby loosehead has been one of the form players in the URC and he wants his opportunity with Wales. To be honest, though, I somehow think that Opeti Fonua and Taniela Tupou will maintain those top spots for some time to come. In theory, you could do 1RM testing on any exercise, from biceps curls to calf raises to triceps pushdowns. This article is about strength, but what about height? Your body adapts to the type of workout you do; if you want to get stronger so you can lift heavier weights, you need to lift heavy weights in training. But as the game wore on, the errors crept in, in game management and at times execution and was replaced with the game in the balance. But, as you get stronger, increases will be harder to come by and will likely be smaller, too. Many avoid PBs on the bench as they pose a significant risk of pectoral tears or upper limber injury. Much like the NFL, rugby is a sport that is chock full of beasts. While his calves are massive, his upper body is also quite burly. Purchases made through links may earn a commission. Nevertheless, be it a spotty teenager aiming to make the school's first XV or a veteran tighthead who wants the club bragging rights, the bench press remains an entrenched part of rugby's cultural psyche. average heights of rugby players at different positions. The belts are easily recognizable. Andrew Sheridan (former England prop) was famed for his strength, and was known to bench-press over 200kg, and squat close to 300kg. MORE STORIES; John Ross holds the NFL Combine's 40-yard dash record at 4.22 seconds, Stephen Paea set a still-unbeaten bench press mark in 2011 and the best vertical jump has stood for 18 YEARS . Ross is a really steady presence at outhalf. Disclaimer, Follow Isaac is a personal fitness trainer and nutritionist living in sunny Indianapolis, IN. And liberals want trans men to compete against women? And ever since his early days in professional rugby as a youngster, he has had a great scoring record throughout his career. He likened it the Irish MMA fight Conor McGregor: an example of explosive athlete generating KO forces on a lithe 70kg frame. All rights reserved. Australian international Murdoch Alistair benched 227 kg (raw) in a world competition in 2014. This includes power cleans, snatches, and high pulls. However, a current rugby player wouldn't get very far in an elite powerlifting competition. The same Spanish study compared the average 1RM bench press strength of National Amateur rugby players by position and gender: According to this study, at least, the participants were far better squatters than they were benchers, and again, the backs outperformed the forwards. 75. Team: LA Rams. Apr 7, 2018 - Explore clency's board "football" on Pinterest. barbell press, weighted dips, incline press and clap push ups.BORDEAUX, FRANCE OCTOBER 01: Stephen Moore of the Wallabies spots team mate Wycliff Palu as he bench presses during an Australian Wallabies strength training session at the Colombier Gymnasium October 1, 2007 in Bordeaux, France. How much do you bench bro? Its a sports clich, but the bench press continues to occupy a uniquely macho seat in the pantheon of weight training disciplines, and professional rugby players are by no means immune. You dont have to be idle or passive between sets. Strength and Power Characteristics in National Amateur Rugby Players. He grew up a gym-obsessed teenager who was fixated on bench, squat and deadlift. To put this in perspective, 140kg/308 lb. Nick Walshaw and Fatima Kdouh 6 min read I am sure most football fans (American football) think there is no way any sport can match their players combination of strength and athleticism, but these rugby players can more than hold their own. Nationality: German-Iranian. A post shared by Eben Etzebeth (@ebenetzebeth4). An honorable mention must also go to former Wallaby wing Murdoch Alistair, who benched 227.5kg (raw) at the World Drug Free Powerlifting Federation (WDFPF) in 2014 in the under 110kg bodyweight category. Many of the world's best rugby players have modest PBs on the bench press. Proteas advise Rickelton to keep at it as non-selection saga rumbles on, Sport trumps politics: Stormers fans vote with their feet, shun 'protest' for superb turnout, David Mabuza: The man from Mpumalanga who quit as deputy president before, some argue, ever starting, ANC says De Ruyter tarnished its 'good name', Eskom owes it an explanation, INSIDE LABOUR | SA's children are being short-changed worse than ever, SATURDAY PROFILE | Proteas mindset changed: It's how to win a World Cup, not how to get to a final, Slain City of Cape Town official was mistaken for woman who won construction contract, says family. I would say he has certainly earned his nickname. Source: FOX SPORTS To be successful, a rugger needs to have an abundance of: In contrast, other sports often only need a couple of these components. I honestly would sack Pivac now and get Robertson in. One day will focus on lower body and the other day on upper body strength. Its also not surprising that NFL players may press a bit more. Sergio is an Italian rugby player who plays for the French club Toulon and is captain of the Italian team. However, a current rugby player wouldnt get very far in an elite powerlifting competition. As you can see from this list of pro New Zealand players, many can exceed this standard. (2021). NRL strongest players: King of the Gym, each club, biggest lifters, Josh Mansour, Maika Sivo, Marty Taupau HOME NRL NRL-PREMIERSHIP Kings of the gym: NRL players reveal the strongest men at every club Adam Elliott, Marty Taupau, and Josh Mansour are some of the NRL's strongest men. It wasnt easy. The Captains Run is about an hour of light cardio training on the match pitch. The file: Josh Uche, Hudson's teammate at . While most of the numbers represent personal bests for many of these players, inevitably some will have either bested these records or, inversely, are no longer capable of lifting that amount. Please follow us on social media at the links below. NFL Combine Bench Press Rules. Nikola Pekovi's career was cut short by ankle injuries, but his legendary strength endures. He is getting up there in age though. Before you add weight you should be able to perform 3 to 4 sets of 20 of body weight dips. Among full-time starting guards, Allen has the highest bench repetition figure of any listed on. In a rugby context, an enormous bench press is not necessarily indicative of anything other than a strong upper body. Our goal is to provide factual information and unbiased product recommendations for our readers based on relevant expertise, extensive research and feedback. It also shouldnt get in the way of skills sessions. 1 guy). 8). We have compiled a list of 15 of the biggest beasts in rugby that easily rival those of the NFL. J Strength Cond Res 35(2S): S44-S50, 2021-Power development is critical for enhancing rugby performance because there is a close relationship between power and sport-specific skills. The Australian centre-back has recovered from a broken toe and is now "100 per cent fit". For example, Josh Mansour, a former NRL player who now plays rugby union, is known . The powerlifting record for the bench is 508 kg, as of 2021. A lineman in the NFL would be expected to have a one-rep maximum on the bench of between 204 kg and 250 kg. A post shared by Beast (@tendaimtawarira). A post shared by sergioparisse (@sergioparisse). Weighing in at just under 250 pounds, hes the biggest rugby player in Italy. Wales Rugby Team Today's rugby news as prominent Welsh player feels 'dumped on' and All Blacks coach forced into overnight announcement The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond With that being said, if you want to perform better than your favorite NFL player, the 225lb bench press for max reps is going to be a test of muscular endurance, not maximal strength. Many of the world's best rugby players have modest PBs on the bench press. Beast Factor: 225lb Bench Press: 29 reps By far the biggest player on the list and he is all muscle. the bench press continues to occupy a uniquely macho seat in the pantheon of weight training disciplines, Rugby Australia set for massive pay player cuts as deal nears fruition, Super Rugby: New Zealand Rugby announces review into Super Rugby model, Rugby: Sanzaar boss Andy Marinos reveals cutoff date for revamped Super Rugby competition, Rugby: Why All Blacks fans should hope the Wallabies become a powerful force again. Lets get to the list. Benefits of the Bench Press Increased Upper-Body Strength Predictor of Upper-Body Strength Bigger Pec Major Stronger. Andrew Porter is an Irish Rugby Union player who plays for his home team Leinster.