The biggest rugby players ever - literally

hile rugby doesn't have the following of football, for example – both sports that are called this, on both sides of the Atlantic, routinely steal the show – it would be a mistake to think rugby doesn't have its share of legends. On the contrary – the long history of the sport is filled with amazing players with amazing records. You can read more about them in this list with 5 of the greatest rugby players ever. But Wlet's set performance aside for a while, and focus on something else that gives the attributive “biggest” for a play- er: height. Who are the tallest rugby players in the world? Find out below.

3. (209CM) 2. DEVIN TONER (210CM) The team-mate rarely liked standing next to. Charteris' huge engine The tallest player currently playing and one who has seen his international career amass 74 Test Ireland coach Joe Schmidt relied on to ease the bur- caps and counting since his debut in South den of Paul O'Connell's retirement from international Africa back in 2004. rugby. 6'10” Toner has been a consistent performer Often a partner in the second row alongside for Ireland and for Leinster over the span of his , Charteris has had to contend career and will pursue a Six Nations title with his with competition from fellow veteran lock country knowing a Champions Cup quarter-final 5. RICHIE GRAY (207CM) , , and, in the present, awaits when he returns from duty. from Cory Hill's emergence. The 34-year-old was The only British & Irish Lion to feature on this list, part of the squad that landed Wales their most Gray has been one of the tallest locks in northern hem- recent Six Nations Grand Slam back in 2012. isphere rugby this decade after breaking through at Making close to 150 appearances for the Glasgow Warriors. After making his debut in 2008 for , Charteris' career has taken his to the Scotstoun outfit, Gray went on to become a key France with Perpignan and to his first-team regular during the 2010/11 season when he current stable block at Bath in the was named in the Celtic League (PRO12) Team of the Premiership. Year in an otherwise fruitless season for Glasgow. Moves to Sale Sharks, Castres and Toulouse have fol- lowed to see Gray feature on the international scene alongside his younger brother Jonny – who doesn't quite measure up to his brother being 9cm shorter than his older sibling.

4. RORY ARNOLD (208CM) 1. RICHIE METCALFE (213CM) John Eales, Nathan Sharpe, Rob Sim- mons. Australia tend to encourage The only player on this list to be height as much as mobility when it 7'0 or taller, Scotland's Richie Met- comes to their second row, but the three calfe really was a giant of rugby and players listed don't quite reach the will be familiar to supporters of New- heights of Arnold despite topping over castle Falcons and Northampton 200cm. Saints. Arnold was a recent addition to the The Leeds-born lock played 13 Wallabies fold when he featured against times for Scotland and is not only England in Eddie Jones' first overseas known for being rugby's tallest player summer tour back in 2016. The but also the player who was dropped Brumbies lock has since gone on to to the replacements bench for North- make a total of 15 appearances ampton's victorious Heineken Cup under Michael Cheika in the final win in 2000. – The Rugby Paper Green and Gold.