The Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup is the ultimate heavyweight tournament in the most literal sense of the word.
While the beauty of rugby is that it’s still a game for all shapes and sizes – and that will never be more evident than when the genetically smaller Japanese team take on any of the Pacific Island countries – the upcoming tournament has more than its fair share of veritable man mountains.
With all six squads now announced, we bring you the players ready to ‘give it large’ in the weeks ahead and make a big impact, a very big impact, in the weeks ahead.
1. Ben Tameifuna (Tonga) - 145kgs
Tonga’s captain was only one big meal away from eclipsing France’s Uini Atonio as the heaviest player at Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023. The gargantuan prop loves a rumble, as much as he does pie crumble, and takes some stopping when he gets going.
2. Kalolo Tuiloma (Samoa) – 141kgs
Another powerful scrummaging and ball carrying tight-head, Tuiloma returns to Test rugby after a two-year absence at the grand old age of 34. The North Harbour player hope to add to his four caps during the tournament.
3. Andrew Tuala (Samoa) – 136kgs
The former nightclub bouncer turned hooker/prop is relatively streamline nowadays compared to the time he tipped the scales at 143kgs. The 33-year-old played Super Rugby for the ‘Tahs in Australia and played MLR in the USA. Has won two caps for Samoa to date.
4. James Stockwood (Canada) – 135kgs
An enforcer on the pitch and off it, having studied Major Advanced Law Enforcement and Criminal Investigations whilst at Durham College in Canada. At two metres tall and 136 kgs, the number eight is some scrum anchor! Stockwood, who made his Test debut against Scotland last month, is the only non-front rower to make the cut.
5. Eroni Mawi (Fiji) – 131kgs
A relative lightweight at ‘just’ 131 kgs, the 32-times capped prop just about edges out team-mate, Luke Tagi, in the battle of the bulge. Worth more than his weight in gold to both Fiji and his English club side Saracens.
6. Pono Davis (USA) – 129kgs
A former 300-pounder (136kgs), the Houston Sabercats prop would have been further up the charts had he not slimmed down to increase his mobility. A native of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, Davis says he likes to have more weight on him so there’s still room for an extra X in the American Football converts already extra-large jersey.
All 11 matches in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 will be available to watch live either through RugbyPass TV or via broadcast partners in certain markets. You can sign up to RPTV for free by clicking here>>