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Rugby Player Weights in Stone
Rugby is one of the few sports where Britain still talks weight in stone. From 13-stone scrum-halves to 20-stone props, here is what players weigh by position, and why the numbers matter.
Why Rugby Talks in Stone
Rugby clubs record player weights in kilograms. The official team sheets, the medical staff, the strength and conditioning coaches, all work in metric. But the moment that information reaches British fans, it gets translated into stone.
Rugby media is steeped in the tradition. When Ireland fielded their heaviest ever centre pairing, the headlines read "35 stone", not "221 kg". When analysts described the average international pack, they wrote "22 stone 5 pounds". Stone is simply how Britain pictures a big man, and rugby has the biggest men in British sport.
It also helps that stone makes the numbers digestible. Saying a prop weighs "19 stone 7" lands instantly with a UK audience. Saying "124 kg" means reaching for a mental conversion most fans cannot do on the fly.
Typical Rugby Weights by Position
Weight in rugby is not random. It follows the job description. Forwards scrummage, maul, and tackle all game, so they carry the mass. Backs need pace and agility, so they stay lighter. These are typical ranges for professional men's rugby:
| Position | Typical weight (stone) | Typical weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| Prop | 18 st - 20 st | 115 - 127 kg |
| Hooker | 16 st - 18 st | 102 - 115 kg |
| Lock (second row) | 17 st - 19 st | 108 - 121 kg |
| Flanker | 16 st - 18 st | 102 - 114 kg |
| Number 8 | 16 st - 18 st | 102 - 115 kg |
| Scrum-half | 12 st 7 - 13 st 7 | 80 - 87 kg |
| Fly-half | 13 st - 14 st 7 | 83 - 93 kg |
| Centre | 14 st 7 - 17 st 7 | 92 - 111 kg |
| Wing | 13 st 7 - 15 st 7 | 86 - 99 kg |
| Fullback | 13 st 7 - 15 st | 86 - 95 kg |
These are professional ranges. Club and amateur players vary far more, and even at the top end there are outliers in every direction. A rapid winger might play at 13 stone; a destructive ball-carrying centre might push past 17.
Famous Player Examples
Player weights are widely reported by clubs and the rugby press, though they fluctuate through a season and across a career. These are the playing weights these players have been listed at:
- Jonah Lomu (wing): around 18 st 13 (120 kg). The All Blacks legend redefined what a winger could weigh, combining sevens-style pace with prop-like power.
- Adam Jones (prop): peaked at around 24 st 8 (156 kg) after retiring, and played much of his Wales career well above 19 stone. One of the heaviest British Lions of the professional era.
- Maro Itoje (lock): listed at around 18 st 6 (117 kg). Big for a lock but notably athletic, which is why he covers so much ground.
- Stuart McCloskey and Chris Farrell (centres): 111 kg and 110 kg respectively, roughly 17 st 7 and 17 st 5, making them Ireland's heaviest ever midfield pairing at a combined 35 stone.
- Faf de Klerk (scrum-half): around 13 st 12 (88 kg), stocky for a nine but still nearly six stone lighter than the props packing down in front of him.
A note on accuracy: players gain and lose several kilos across a season, and listed weights are often rounded or slightly out of date. Treat every published figure as approximate, including the ones above.
Forwards vs Backs: The Great Divide
Sports science research on elite professional players puts the split in hard numbers: forwards average 18 st 5 (116.5 kg) while backs average 15 st 1 (95.7 kg). That is a gap of more than three stone between the two units of the same team.
The gap exists because the jobs are almost different sports. Forwards absorb and deliver contact dozens of times a match: scrums, lineouts, mauls, rucks, and tackles. Mass is protective armour and a weapon. Backs, meanwhile, are paid to find space, beat defenders, and kick accurately, all of which reward leanness and speed.
It is also why rugby is unusual among team sports. In football, the heaviest and lightest outfield players might differ by three stone. In rugby, the difference between a 20-stone tighthead and a 13-stone scrum-half can be seven stone, and they stand side by side at every scrum.
Converting Player Weights Yourself
Club websites list weights in kilograms, so a quick conversion is a useful skill for any rugby fan. Divide the kilograms by 6.35 to get stone, then multiply the decimal remainder by 14 for the leftover pounds.
For example, a 124 kg prop: 124 / 6.35 = 19.53 stone. The 0.53 of a stone is 0.53 x 14 = 7.4 lb, so call it 19 st 7. Our kg to stone converter does this instantly if you would rather skip the maths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average rugby player weigh in stone?
Elite professional players average around 17 stone (108 kg). Forwards average about 18 stone 5 (116.5 kg) and backs about 15 stone 1 (95.7 kg), according to published sports science research.
What position is the heaviest in rugby?
Props are the heaviest, typically between 18 and 20 stone (115 to 127 kg). Tighthead props in particular need maximum mass for scrummaging, and some international props have been listed above 20 stone.
What is the lightest position in rugby?
Scrum-halves are usually the lightest, typically 12 stone 7 to 13 stone 7 (80 to 87 kg). Their role demands speed, agility, and quick distribution rather than bulk.
Why is rugby player weight given in stone in the UK?
Stone is the traditional British unit for body weight, and UK rugby media and fans have always used it. Club and international squads record weights in kilograms officially, but commentators and newspapers convert to stone for British audiences.
How do I convert a rugby player's weight from kg to stone?
Divide the kilograms by 6.35 to get stone. For example, a 115 kg prop is 115 / 6.35 = 18.1 stone, or 18 stone 1 lb. Use our kg to stone converter for instant results.