A game for all sizes
It is a truism of rugby (women’s or men’s) that there is a place in a team for every size of player – and the women’s world cup, starting next week, provides plenty of examples.
Published by John Birch, July 30th, 2014
2 minute read
Size no object - Amy Day in action
There is a certain inevitability that, sometime in the next 2-3 weeks, Welsh scrum-half Amy Day will be photographed alongside either Irish lock Mary Louise Reilly, or New Zealand prop Aleisha Nelson. Or possibly both.
Why would snappers be signing up for this particular photo opportunity? Because while Amy is 4’11½ (1.52m) and 8st 2lb (52kg), Mary is nearly 16” (40cm) taller at a towering 6’3½ (1.92m), while Aleisha weighs more than two Amys (17st 2lb or 109kg).
There cannot be many other sports where such diversity can be found on the same field.
Furthermore, while Amy, Mary and Aleisha are at the individual extremes in the upcoming tournament there is significant diversity between entire teams.
Several readers suspected that thesmallest teamwould be Spain, who have a reputation for terrier-like aggression on the field. However this is not so. Spain are, on average, around an inch ahead of three teams - Samoa, Wales andSouth Africa, who are the smallest team, at barely 1.66m (5’5”).
At the other extreme – thetallest team- towering over them all are the two North American “giants” Canada and the United States who both almost identical at an average nearly 5’8”, but with theUSAjust sneaking the advantage by one millimetre (literally a hair) at 172.64cm compared to Canada’s 172.5.
However, when it comes to thelightest teamour readers were right withSpain, on average, tipping the scales at a svelte 10st 11lb (68.8kb). Only Kazakhstan (10st 12lb, 69kg) coming in at under 11st (70kg).
As for theheaviest team, Samoa and New Zealand come close with both averaging over 77kg (12st) per player, but the winner is – again – theUnited States, a full 1lb (500g) ahead per person at 12st 3lb (77.9 kg).
AustraliaCanadaEnglandFranceIrelandKazakhstanNew ZealandSamoaSouth AfricaSpainUnited StatesWales
Age(years)28.7027.3628.1326.4429.8027.0628.0728.4026.7028.9729.3926.13
Height(cm)170.44172.50169.73170.38171.19170.15170.58166.96166.29168.23172.64166.38
Weight(kg)74.0076.4274.0874.1275.6969.0077.4677.2371.8368.7777.9272.65