Former Manu Alfie among rugby's strongest

By Thomas Airey 30 April 2020, 1:00PM

Former Manu Samoa loosie, Alfie To’oala Vaeluaga, ranks among rugby’s bench press kings according to an unofficial list of personal bests compiled by RugbyPass’s Ian Cameron.

The 39-year-old’s 210 kg effort, which came during his time at London Welsh between 2012 and 2013, ranks him fourth on the list of 38 high-profile professional rugby players.

Fittingly enough, To'oala now works as a fitness coach in Newport, Wales.

Cameron said most of the figures come from comments made by teammates, coaches or the player themselves in the media, acknowledging plenty of room for inaccuracy as well as the list’s incomplete nature.

England centre Manu Tuilagi’s alleged best effort of 190 kg puts him in the top 10, while former Wallaby Digby Ioane managed to lift 180 kg.

Matt Vaai (162.5 kg), Pete Samu (160 kg), Caleb Timu (150 kg), Sonny Bill Williams (140 kg) and Richie Mounga (137kg) are the other Samoans featured on the list.

 Personal best bench-presses in rugby:

Gheorghe Gajion (Moldova/Ospreys): 230kg
Aled de Malmanche (New Zealand, retired): 220kg
Andrew Sheridan (England, retired): 215kg
Alfie To’oala Vaeluaga (Samoa): 210kg
WillGriff John (Wales/Sale): 210kg
Max Lahiff (England/Bristol): 210kg
Nicky Smith (Wales/Ospreys): 200kg
Rory Sutherland (Scotland/Edinburgh): 200kg
Jon Welsh (Scotland/Newcastle Falcons): 200kg
Tom Court (Ireland, retired): 200kg
Jack Whetton (New Zealand/Highlanders): 200kg
Ben Tameifuna (Tonga/Racing 92): 190kg
Manu Tuilagi (England/Leicester Tigers): 190kg
Siate Tokolahi (Tonga/Highlanders): 190kg
Cian Healy (Ireland/Leinster): 190kg
David Kilcoyne (Ireland/Munster): 187.5kg
Jackson Wray (England/Saracens): 187.5kg
Maro Itoje (England/Saracens): 187.5kg
David Pocock (Australia/Panasonic): 185kg
Ugo Monye (England, retired): 185kg
Joe Moody (New Zealand/Crusaders): 180kg
Pouri Rakete-Stones (New Zealand/Hurricanes): 180kg
Will Genia (Australia/Kintetsu Liners): 180kg
Digby Ioane (Australia/Glendale Raptors): 180kg
Mike McCarthy (England, retired): 180kg
Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa/Old Glory DC): 180kg
Gareth Denman (England/Coventry): 180kg
Tom James (Wales/Scarlets): 180kg
Paul O’Connell (Ireland, retired:) 179kg
Nemani Nadolo (Fiji/Montpellier): 175kg
Eben Etzebeth (South Africa/Toulon): 175kg
Jaycob Matiu (New ZealandNorthland): 170kg
Ben Funnell (New Zealand/Crusaders): 165kg
Pierre Spies (South Africa, retired): 165kg
Matt Vaai (New Zealand/Counties Manukau): 162.5kg
Pete Samu (Australia/Brumbies): 160kg
Sam Whitelock (New Zealand/Panasonic): 160kg
Matt Todd (New Zealand/Panasonic): 150kg
Caleb Timu (Australia/Montpellier): 150kg
Andy Goode (England, retired): 150kg
Dan Carter (New Zealand/Free agent): 145kg
Courtney Lawes (Northampton): 140kg
Jim Hamilton (Scotland, retired): 140kg
Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand/Toronto Wolfpack): 140kg
Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand/Crusaders): 137kg

Tags

Rugby union
Samoans abroad
By Thomas Airey 30 April 2020, 1:00PM

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