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! The average professional rugby player is expected to be able to bench 1.5 times their body weight. He likened it the Irish MMA fight Conor McGregor: an example of explosive athlete generating KO forces on a lithe 70kg frame. The Captains Run is about an hour of light cardio training on the match pitch. The list is also not an exhaustive list of the top bench press records in the sport; rather its the bench press PBs of some notable professional rugby players. The powerlifting record for the bench is 508 kg, as of 2021. The Skinfold standard and bleep test levels . Beast Factor: 225lb Bench Press: 29 reps By far the biggest player on the list and he is all muscle. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed. Words get out quickly! Let's break down the nine benefits of the bench and how they apply to you. Apart from effectively using linear periodisation the other way rugby players can increase their bench press is through incorporating effective supplemental exercises into their programs. IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ian Cameron takes a look at the bench press PBs of some notable professional rugby players. kg 1).Before participating in the training intervention, they were screened using medical history . . Fumiaki Tanaka ( , born 3 January 1985 in Kyoto, Japan) is a Japanese rugby union footballer. 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. Before you add weight you should be able to perform 3 to 4 sets of 20 of body weight dips. Imran Ali. This sport is littered with guys, just like the 15 here. Gatland addresses the press to explain the cancellation and provide an update on the possible strikes. The list is also not an exhaustive list of the top bench press records in the sport; rather it's the bench press PBs of some notable professional rugby players. He grew up a gym-obsessed teenager who was fixated on bench, squat and deadlift. Austin Healey likes to tell a story about when he and Tuilagi were teammates at Leicester Tigers. Who is your favourite to win the driver's championship this year? A 120kg prop, therefore, would be expected to bench 180kg as a "minimum" requirement, while a 100kg centre would be expected to bench 130kg. Date of birth: 1 July 1979. Want to see a comparison of size in these two sports? 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. Andrew Porter is an Irish Rugby Union player who plays for his home team Leinster. Australian international Murdoch Alistair benched 227 kg (raw) in a world competition in 2014. There is a clear pattern of tapering off workload as match day approaches. Aled de Malmanche (Stade Francis, retired) - 220kg, Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks, retired) - 215kg, David Pocock (Panasonic Wild Knights) - 185kg, Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira (Old Glory) - 180kg, Paul O'Connell (Munster, retired) - 179kg, Pierre Spies (Montpellier, retired) - 165kg, Sam Whitelock (Panasonic Wildknights) - 160kg, Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) - 140kg. This post was made by the staff of TheAthleticBuild.com, home of the athletic body. Josua is a Fijian rugby union player who is known for his strong running and physical play. While its beyond the scope of this article to provide you with a detailed strength training program, we can offer some guidelines that will help make your workouts more productive. At 65 he is the tallest athlete on here. Bench press records: Gheorghe Gajion (Ospreys) 230kg Aled de Malmanche (Stade Francis, retired) 220kg Andrew Sheridan (Sale Shark, retired) 215kg Alfie To'oala Vaeluaga (Samoa) 210kg WillGriff. Monday and Tuesday often have double training sessions. making out a childish gesture to be threatening suicide.. stupid, The draw for the Southern Hemisphere leg of the RugbyPass FIFA Pros, with Employee of the Month Runner-Up Sam Smith, Watch: Crowd get in on the act as England challenge the haka, Pivac defends players in pitchside hot take as Wales reach lowest ebb, David Flatman: 'I fear the game is becoming too apologetic. entire team to create these 3 Free E-books that will help But how does it compare to other top power sports? None of the above. Weighted dips are one of the most effective exercises at building explosive, big and power dips. We're in for a surprise! Nationality: German-Iranian. Ruggers should focus on compound exercises as theyre generally the most effective and time-efficient. They actually avoid cardio training as its believed to be harmful to strength gains. There is no point in training to bench 200kg if you cant run the length of the field without wearing yourself out! http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/159922.html, https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/sonny-bill-williams-13168.php. 1. If we missed anyone, let us know in the comment section below. Chop tackles started becoming extremely popular in rugby in the 2010s. Gheorghe Gajion from Moldova who plays for Ospreys is the rugby player with the highest bench press at 230kg (506 pounds). It also shouldnt get in the way of skills sessions. The squat is one of the three exercises that they compete in. And wouldn't we love to know what Os du Randt, Bismarck du Plessis and Bakkies Botha in the prime of their careers could've lifted? In over 100 years of league, not one first grade player has ever reached the double ton. Enjoy! 8). There are several blokes who compete in the World's Strongest Man that were former rugby players in England. Some sports have such intense competition and require very specific skills that unless you started training for thousands of hours since you were a child you if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fluentrugby_com-box-1','ezslot_13',101,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fluentrugby_com-box-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'fluentrugby_com-box-1','ezslot_14',101,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fluentrugby_com-box-1-0_1');.box-1-multi-101{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Welcome to FluentRugby!We have been training in rugby for many years and want to share our experience with you. Rugby is not a weight-lifting competition; its a contact sport that requires speed, endurance, and explosive strength of its athletes. If you can lift something twice or more, youre actually measuring strength endurance, which is something quite different. Its important to note that there is no hard and fast rule. Generally speaking, S&C coaches have moved the sport towards core and explosive strength training in the last decade away from a bulk at all costs mindset. Kong Hall of Famer Oct 11, 2007 30,996 13,966 AFL Club Essendon Dec 6, 2011 #7 Re: Irritating people/things that annoy you in the gym Apparently, he can bench press over 400 lbs, which explains why fans look forward to him simply pushing other players out of the way. Inevitably, some question marks remain over one or two of the figures, especially in a discipline so given to hyperbole. This allows (and demands) that players prioritize strength in a way that would be counterproductive in rugby. Your email address will not be published. Aaron Donald. Ireland's Josh van der Flier in action against . This week on The Breakdown the team is joined by Peter FitzSimons to address the mountain of issues that face our friends across the ditch. 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. Height: 6'1. is a sporting clich, but the bench press continues to occupy a macho seat in the pantheon of weightlifting disciplines - and professional rugby players are by no means exempt. The raw record (no bench shirt) is 355 kg. Tim Horan joins the panel to shed light on THAT letter and Steven Luatua dials in all the way from the UK. For most rugby players, having a big number on the bench isnt worth the risk of a potentially season-ending injury. Baboumian is an Iranian-born, Armenian-German strongman and former bodybuilder. As youll see, these test rugby players are massive. It wasnt easy. diagnosis, or treatment. I bet most prop-forwards can squat 600, bench 350, and DL 500. . One of the points he made was a set containing 15+ reps builds/requires muscular endurance. Benefits of the Bench Press Increased Upper-Body Strength Predictor of Upper-Body Strength Bigger Pec Major Stronger. The relative bodyweight of players and what they're throwing up on the bar must be taken into account. SPOTLIGHT: England head coach Eddie Jones believes Rassie Erasmus sent the wrong message to youngsters with his 62-minute video rant in July. Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'t64xv64cRK1SgbjS06VXqA',sig:'FcovosN8bcy9eCfNi4-YM5sXJ9qs8tY2_G07LvOl9Tw=',w:'364px',h:'594px',items:'1401915063',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); Biyi is an English professional rugby union player who plays for Racing 92. The rugby player from South Africa is also called The Beast for being such a powerhouse on the front row of his club (The Sharks) and national team. 75. The other schedule has solely cardio work on the Thursday with some light upper body weights on the Friday. A post shared by Taniela Tupou (@taniela_2pou). Andrew Porter - Ireland. Rugby is not a weight-lifting competition; its a contact sport that requires speed, endurance, and explosive strength of its athletes. This thick-necked gentleman is known by rugby fans as The Beast. Joe Marler is probably Englands biggest Rugby Union player, or at least we weren't able to find any bigger rugby players in England. Recently, Chandler Parson also highlighted Pekovi as the strongest player he ever faced. There was a surprisingly large list of very big rugby players, but after months of research, we found the biggest ones: For some reason, Tonga seems to be the biggest contributing nation when it comes to player size, Just imagine one of those top three players coming towards you to take you down. Weighing in at just under 250 pounds, hes the biggest rugby player in Italy. There it is, in a sport that is full of beasts, we did our best to narrow it down to 15 of the biggest. According to the NRL study, the average NRL player can bench press 126kg. This article looks at how much weight that elite rugby players can lift in the gym. Many of the worlds best rugby players have modest PBs on the bench press. The following list comes with a health warning. Retirement coming soon. Rugby is not a weight-lifting competition; it's a contact sport that requires speed, endurance, and explosive strength of its athletes. Jonah Lomu In Pictures A Celebration Of New Zealand Rugby. Isaac is a personal fitness trainer and nutritionist living in sunny Indianapolis, IN. He did, however, manage this feat long after his retirement from rugby, and at the age of 46. Bench press twice a week and perform 3 sets of 8 each workout. Apparently, he can squat over 540 lbs, which makes him possibly the strongest rugby player in his country. The upper body strength requirements of NFL football are highly variable by position. In theory, you could do 1RM testing on any exercise, from biceps curls to calf raises to triceps pushdowns. If you do not follow a strength program you will fail to improve your lifting numbers and any initial progress you do make will quickly stall and plateau. Former Bulls flank to make Northampton his new home? For a man that plays on the wing, he has a surprising amount of speed despite his sheer size. In a rugby context, an enormous bench press is not necessarily indicative of anything other than a strong upper body. Please follow us on social media at the links below. But there are some general guidelines that emerge if you look at the training programs like I showed above. Our range of supplements can help professional and amateur rugby players alike to perform, recover and live better. Someone has timed him running 90 meters in 10 seconds, which isn't far off Olympic sprint speeds. While this is somewhat higher than what a front-row rugby player is doing, these also tend to be much heavier players. A post shared by Sean O'Brien (@seanobrien678). 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. 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. Jonah Lomu Pictures And Photos Getty Images. Gerry Thornley is Rugby Correspondent of The Irish Times Ruggers are undoubtedly stronger than the average human, and strength is a critical factor for successful rugby. And by 1998, dominating his offensive line position for the Dallas Cowboys, he could bench press more than 600 and squat 800. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. As you can see, they are fairly similar. While the squat doesnt get as much attention from the general public, it is a vital exercise for building leg power. He has helped hundreds of people lose weight, get in shape, and maintain their healthy lifestyles through proper training and eating habits. Heres a look at the strongest players from the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine based on bench press reps. . Were committed to serving as your most trustworthy athlete resource, on your sport and fitness journey. That said, ruggers also need to be strong overhead and cannot be considered bench press specialists, which may explain why the bench press scores are less impressive than the squat scores. These players need tremendous strength to hold scrums up and to lift players in lineouts. 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. And a lot of them will completely dwarf American football players. The 25-year-old Leinster tighthead, who has won 32 caps, is a huge carrier, massive in the scrum and is renowned for his freakish ability in the gym. One Pro14 head coach RugbyPass spoke to said that he was interested in creating powerful, fast athletes, regardless of their size. If one of these guys did that, what possible advantage would they have over women? Upper body strength remains a valuable asset in the game, once it doesnt come at the cost of compromising a players speed or endurance. Not surprisingly, he is nicknamed The Bus. The relative bodyweight of players and what theyre throwing up on the bar must be taken into account. supplements to help you reach your fitness goals. An NFL offensive lineman can be expected to squat anywhere between 315kg to 360 kg. Conditions, Complaints But as we've seen, some players can lift far more than this. Touch device users can explore by touch . The kind of training needed to be competitive in these lifts would impair performance on the rugby field. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images). The belts are easily recognizable. Born in Italy and playing for Toulon, Sergio is also the captain of the Italian team. 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. 1.65 seconds in the 10 metres, 5.10 seconds in the 40 metres, 130 kg bench press, 160 kg squat and a vertical jump of 68cm. Not all Olympic sports are created equal! All rights reserved. We used verifiable lifts (video or in powerlifting or strongman events) to sort through the athletes. For example, Wallaby backrow David Pocock benched 185kg at his peak, but admitted in a 2019 post on Instagram that "I'd be pushing it doing 155/160kg at the moment". He has also released a couple of hip-hop songs. We also look at typical weight training schedules for international players. RANKED | England's three STRONGEST players ever revealed 26 October 2020 Steven 1. As bench press is a common exercise performed by rugby athletes Im sure youre wondering just how much your favourite players are able to liftLets find out! 20) Andrew Sendejo Strong Safety College: Rice University Height: 6'1 Weight: 209 Beast Factor: 40-yard dash: 4.65, 225lb Bench Press: 19 reps, 34-inch vertical jump 19) Aaron Donald Defensive Tackle College: Pitt Height: 6'1 Weight: 285 NFL Combine Bench Press Compilation!!!!! Purchases made through links may earn a commission. Ruck Science is not liable or responsible for any advice, course of treatment, diagnosis or any other information or services you chose to follow without consulting a qualified medical professional. Generally speaking, S&C coaches have moved the sport towards core and explosive strength training in the last decade away from a bulk at all costs mindset. Never have. Do You Think Weve Missed Someone On This List? For most rugby players, having a big number on the bench isnt worth the risk of a potentially season-ending injury. Hafthor Bjornsson 'channelled his inner Game of Thrones strength' with an incredible display after lifting wife Kelsey Henson with only a single hand And you most certainly dont want to get on their wrong side. Strength is very important to the player, but they cant let training fatigue slow down or negatively affect their match performance. Explore. Consider that NFL requires maximum power generation for short periods, followed by a short rest. Not surprisingly, he is nicknamed 'The Bus'. The list is also not an exhaustive list of the top bench press records in the sport; rather its the bench press PBs of some notable professional rugby players. In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. He did, however, manage this feat long after his retirement from rugby, and at the age of 46. Opposing players should fear the beard or feel its wrath! The bench press records of 38 elite rugby players. 2023 (3.0.23061.8) 24.com. Because squats involve such a large number of muscle groups, the loads tend to be quite heavy. Some variation of the bench press remains a staple in rugby clubs across the globe. A lineman in the NFL would be expected to have a one-rep maximum on the bench of between 204 kg and 250 kg. Total Shape is a reader-supported site. Good exercises for rugby strength include: Thats not to say you cant include isolation exercises in your workouts, but the meat and potatoes of your training should be compound exercises. For details of our affiliate program please see our Terms & Conditions. He can put up an impressive 460 lbs (210 kg) on the bench press. 1RM absolute bench press was recorded in kilograms (kg), and the 1RM relative bench press was calculated as 1RM/ (bodyweight 0.57). Biggest Strongest Rugby Players Bench Press Football. whether NFL players are bigger than rugby players. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. His skill set is phenomenal and so at the international level, having a loose forward that is super skilled is a point of difference in that loose forward trio because they are often big bangers up here. Some of them look like they could be gladiators from Roman history. Invest in the future today. Who is the hardest player in rugby? Strength and Power Characteristics in National Amateur Rugby Players. One schedule has weights on a Thursday, followed by the Captains Run on a Friday. You would expect all the running involved and physical contact involved in rugby to hurt players performances in the weightroom but it appears it hasnt. The following list comes with a health warning. We have compiled a list of 15 of the biggest beasts in rugby that easily rival those of the NFL. How does this fit into an already bloated calendar. Should rugby players bench press? A list compiled a few years ago of top professional players shows a range from 137kg to 230 kg. 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. Many rugby players lack explosive power and speed and end up failing their bench press reps because they cant get the bar off their chest. F1 LIVE | 2023 Bahrain GP - Classy Verstappen glides into pole position as Alonso rolls back the years, Blitzboks thump Japan, fightback to draw with France in Vancouver, Casual Stormers nearly collapse but squeak past Sharks in URC cliff-hanger, Where's Ryan? 05. on instagram, Follow Stephen Paea is the more recognizable figure at the top of the bench press rankings. But what they do out on the pitch is more important! To be honest, though, I somehow think that Opeti Fonua and Taniela Tupou will maintain those top spots for some time to come. For example, long-distance runners only really need a high level of aerobic fitness. And the last rugby world cup proved that these men have never been bigger or stronger. A post shared by Manu Tuilagi (@tuilagimanu). 1.Wilt Chamberlain- Could bench press 500lbs in his prime. It made my life a bit easier." Gerry Thornley. Male backs: 100.5kg/251.25 lb. 2023. He's basically on his knees wanting a mammoth rugby nation like Wales to take him on. Total Shape is an independent website. I said before the game you have to have an impact as a starter and . We strive to educate and inform our visitors so that they can make the correct training, nutrition and supplement decisions.