Rugger buggers and being fat.

[Dave200]

Symbolica said:

The thiing is though, generally speaking being fat doesn't hold many advantages in rugby. With the exception of the front row, you're much better off being slimmer but stronger and faster.

Interestingly though, props are one of the only rugby positions that have avoided the general trend for players to shed a bit of weight and pack on the muscle - even most international level props are still slow lumbering heaps compared to the second and third rows, Gethin Jenkins is one of the few I can think of who's genuinely quite quick on his feet.

So in answer to the OP, I'd guess that most were carrying a bit of extra weight to start with, and became props because it's one of the few sports where they could be comparatively effective.

Lest you forget. Gethin Jenkins didn't grow up propping - he was a flanker who became too heavy to cover the ground at a junior level. So, he converted to prop, upped his game, restored his fitness, and now does a passable impression of an 18st openside...

[pugwash4x4]

Symbolica said:

Interestingly though, props are one of the only rugby positions that have avoided the general trend for players to shed a bit of weight and pack on the muscle - even most international level props are still slow lumbering heaps compared to the second and third rows, Gethin Jenkins is one of the few I can think of who's genuinely quite quick on his feet.

Most professional front rows nowadays carry very little fat, but a shed load of muscle- and its raw untoned muscle- just as much bulk as possible. Also a lot of them are quite quick when young but slow down as they get older (but make up for it with technique and experience).

Props really only have 1 role- to produce as much torque as possible0 lift big weights, shove large loads etc etc. they have little need to run quickly- and even if they can they get very little oppotunity. I always want to get the ball in hand, but rarely get the oppotunity

[klimakool]

pugwash4x4 said:

I always want to get the ball in hand, but rarely get the oppotunity

i love my team, they use me as a power runner, use the weight and strength to power through a couple lines and tie up as many opposite players as possible to give our backs less work.

[r1ch]

Rugby players are big because of the drinking culture that goes with the game. Obviously there are exceptions. (not talking about pro's, i mean people who do it for a hobby)

Edited by r1ch on Tuesday 13th October 14:51

[bazking69]

_DeeJay_ said:

Papa Hotel said:

or that a Caterham is out of the question because they're "larger built, not fat, I play rugby, you see?"

Caterhams are just made for short asses, much like TVR's are built for us longer legged people

I can fit in a Caterham, but only if I remove the seat and sit on the floor do I have a chance of actually steering!

I nearly bought a Westfield a couple of years back, but the reality was that even with a snap off steering wheel I struggled like buggery to get out of the thing! Even an Elise is a struggle unless the hood is down!

Yes I used to play rugby, front row as it happens, but the genuine fact is that I am a fat/big boned bd!

[Ayahuasca]

pugwash4x4 said:

run a mile in under 10 mins

For how many miles?

[Dupont666]

They have moved it...

Boooo.... can someone start a petition for PH mods being fattist??

[WorAl]

Ayahuasca said:

pugwash4x4 said:

run a mile in under 10 mins

For how many miles?

Just incase you missed it there.

[Halb]

pugwash4x4 said:

Useful in Sumo aggreed- but those guys are seriously and incredibly strong underneath the fat- they carry a huge amount of muscle and most of them aren't as fat as the really fat ones we automatically think of

as to strongmen- it really doesn't help to have a lot of fat to be honest- they tend not to have the stamina to win- look at Mario- he's got no fat at all, plays rugby and karate and wins just about all the time. if more of the strongmen were thinner then they would be more competitive.

I did think aboot it, and even though fat is not as good as muscle, it is good for when any extra weight is preferable regardless of muscle. So fat is good for strongman events where weight is needed such as truck pulls. I could not think of other athletes to whom fat would be useful....just thought of tug-o-war

Marius is very cut, but one of the reasons that Glen Ross left the WSM and went to the main competitor, is they focus on the less aerobic events. Fat is a useful tool when extra weight is useful.

Edited by Halb on Tuesday 13th October 15:17

[Engineer1]

The changes in the rules that came in in the late 90's and the professional game has moved rugby from being a fat blokes game into a powerful muscular mans game, the late 80's early 90's Western Samoan, Fijian and New Zealand teams had a good proportion of 20st+ players.

[Papoo]

Depends on the level of sport and the individuals discipline, I'd suggest. My brother played tight-head for England Schools for years, so was a big lad, for sure. Since having to stop due to injury he does dilligently go to the gym and hammer out plenty of cardio to 'scale down' his body in a healthy way. He'll never be small, as he has a hulk of a skeleton, but he's not carrying excessive lard.

Some of his old team-mates haven't been as dilligent, and as such, have descended into puddles of fat, dragging themselves accross the floor. Their excuse will always be rugby, and they're absolutely right. Without rugby (at least at that kind of level), there's no way they would have been the size they were. Their previous size, coupled with their complete giving up on excercise is why they have tits like a bassett hound's mouth.

[silverthorn2151]

Engineer1 said:

The changes in the rules that came in in the late 90's and the professional game has moved rugby from being a fat blokes game into a powerful muscular mans game, the late 80's early 90's Western Samoan, Fijian and New Zealand teams had a good proportion of 20st+ players.

And that muscular bulk combined with the very high speed (compared to the old days) resulted in huge collision forces which in turn (to my perception) has increased the injury rate. Not that I have ever seen stats to abck that up you understand.

It's also one of the reasons that props are routinely subbed as a tactical move. Poor buggers get worn out trying to keep up.

Still the beautiful game though.

[C996]

I have used the rugby excuse a few times as well I play loose/tight head prop but did start out at lock,

Now I’m fairly well built broad shoulders, big chest and back and my legs are massive but I’ve always had big legs even when I was fairly slim until I went in to high school and for some reason ballooned out, now looking back this was the time to start working on toning it up but I didn’t and didn’t start playing rugby till about 5years ago so I’m still carrying the weight now but my fitness has improved although I’m not were I want to be I am getting there.

I do keep telling people that I need to be big for a prop so I don't get bullied in the scrums but I know in my self that’s a lie as I’ve pushed people off the scrums twice the size of me and for the size of me I can't half shift for a fat lad and I can side step like a back

The image of the rugby union prop has changed now I mean if you look at some of the top props there isn’t that many that are tubbers, like Andrew Sheridan I thought he was a tubber until I saw a photo of him there doesn’t seem to be an ounce of fat on him.

[juice]

redtwin said:

They don't all play rugby, but I wouldn't want to be the one trying to stop him if he wanted to.

No - He's a fat bd because he lives above a Curry House...He is a national "hero" here though because of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlQk1y00fvc

And fair play to him.

[pugwash4x4]

what a modern prop forward looks like

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/articl...

210kg bench press isn't exactly embarrassing!

[C996]

pugwash4x4 said:

what a modern prop forward looks like

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/articl...

210kg bench press isn't exactly embarrassing!

That the image I’ve seen of him, I think I’ll stick to tackling/scrummaging the Yorkshire 3 props ha-ha

[Ayahuasca]

Imagine the calorie intake needed to sustain THAT.

Fast forward a few years and he is now retired, but still eating / drinking the same.

Result, rugby player turns fat.

[King Herald]

pugwash4x4 said:

...At 32 i'm about 4 stone overweight (and look fat if i'm honest), but weigh 22.5 stone. If i weighed 16 stone and carried this much fat then i'd be a total fat bd, but at 22.5 stone i'm stronger than anyone else i know....

So, you're a big strong chubby dude then. End of story.

[Fittster]

Engineer1 said:

The changes in the rules that came in in the late 90's and the professional game has moved rugby from being a fat blokes game into a powerful muscular mans game, the late 80's early 90's Western Samoan, Fijian and New Zealand teams had a good proportion of 20st+ players.

Yep, they are now pumped full of drugs to get muscle bulk required.

[pugwash4x4]

King Herald said:

pugwash4x4 said:

...At 32 i'm about 4 stone overweight (and look fat if i'm honest), but weigh 22.5 stone. If i weighed 16 stone and carried this much fat then i'd be a total fat bd, but at 22.5 stone i'm stronger than anyone else i know....

So, you're a big strong chubby dude then. End of story.

ummm.......nail and head spring to mind.

sort of worst of all worlds