NPR

I shared this the other day in the things that don't need a thread thread (former Wallaby prop Ben Alexander looking like an aging IT nerd), but after reading an interview with Phil Vickery, it seems a trend among some lads!

You would think that but when you see them in the flesh, you realise how big they actually are.

I did. I’d regularly go and get a ready made sandwich crammed with mayo and buy a cake as well. Bacon butties as a mid-morning snack on Fridays and about six coffees a day with a spoonful or two of sugar. Stopped all that when I retired. I think the kids worried about my loss of weight for a while although it wasn’t that drastic.

What happened his lovely hair?

Vickery looks totally different. Almost weird like he's not just slimmed down but swapped skeletons with a very small bloke as well.

Dunning is a noteworthy example…

Kawazaki wrote: Sun May 29, 2022 6:19 pm Vickery looks totally different. Almost weird like he's not just slimmed down but swapped skeletons with a very small bloke as well.

Interesting interview with him in the Sunday Times today, sounds like he’s had a hard time since retirement. Oh and a good article by Barnes telling the South Africans to sod off.

GogLais wrote: Sun May 29, 2022 7:40 pm

Kawazaki wrote: Sun May 29, 2022 6:19 pm Vickery looks totally different. Almost weird like he's not just slimmed down but swapped skeletons with a very small bloke as well.

Interesting interview with him in the Sunday Times today, sounds like he’s had a hard time since retirement.

The one that questions rugby’s current values? I was left wanting more of that discussion.

Always thought Vickery looked like Lee Majors.

I also think Xavier Rush looks like Chris Pine.

Niegs wrote: Mon May 30, 2022 5:58 am

GogLais wrote: Sun May 29, 2022 7:40 pm

Kawazaki wrote: Sun May 29, 2022 6:19 pm Vickery looks totally different. Almost weird like he's not just slimmed down but swapped skeletons with a very small bloke as well.

Interesting interview with him in the Sunday Times today, sounds like he’s had a hard time since retirement.

The one that questions rugby’s current values? I was left wanting more of that discussion.

That’s the one. The eye muscle thing sounded horrendous.

Played golf with a guy who had been a pro rugby player for Ulster - scrum half but never quite made it, a couple of subs appearances for 1st team. Had to stop playing due to injury. He showed me a picture of himself when with Ulster and it was like a different person, even though a relatively small guy he was about 2-3 stone heavier in playing days. Now a triathlete!

Never been the most bulky Springbok, but Joe van Niekerk has shed a lot of weight since becoming a a wellness guru / organic farmer at his retreat in Costa Rica after retirement:





Victor Matfield has also slimmed down and dropped a couple of kg's since picking up cycling to stay fit after retirement.
Bakkies on the other hand is doing his best Kobus Wiese impression, apparently eating all the profits from his butcher shop

GogLais wrote: Mon May 30, 2022 8:56 am

Niegs wrote: Mon May 30, 2022 5:58 am

GogLais wrote: Sun May 29, 2022 7:40 pm

Interesting interview with him in the Sunday Times today, sounds like he’s had a hard time since retirement.

The one that questions rugby’s current values? I was left wanting more of that discussion.

That’s the one. The eye muscle thing sounded horrendous.

Yeah, and that Steve Thompson doesn't answer his calls. Blames his own emotional state. I wasn't sure what that meant, like he'd be a major bring-down to hang out with rather than someone who'd not focus on his troubles/just have a drink and keep it positive?

Blake wrote: Mon May 30, 2022 1:41 pm Never been the most bulky Springbok, but Joe van Niekerk has shed a lot of weight since becoming a a wellness guru / organic farmer at his retreat in Costa Rica after retirement:

Wow, wouldn't have guessed that's him! Certainly has the Costa Rica retreat look!

I used to know a rugby playing woman who got into the yoga scene there, not sure if she owns her own or is manager/partner, but seemed to win the life lotto with it and became mates with Gisele Bundchen through it!

Ritchie’s slimmed down. Took me a second to see who it was.

Got them all in order from right to left along the front row and again from right to left standing.

Used to play golf with a guy who played scrum half pro rugby with Ulster. Dont think he made more than a few subs appearances before injury stopped his career progressing. Small guy, said he lost almost 3 stones once he retired and stopped doing pro rugby training. He showed me a picture of him in playing days and it was like looking at a completely different guy!

Niegs wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 4:31 am Ritchie’s slimmed down. Took me a second to see who it was.

That's a great shot, it took me ages to recall Nick Farr-Jones' name for some reason.

I love that on one of the comments there Eales is still referred to as "Nobody"

Terrific players, all.

Matt Damon has let himself go a bit.

John Eales looks the same!

Richie needs to be cloned for the pic... maybe his bigger version is on the ground scrabbling for the ball...

I bumped into former Harlequins #8 Tom Guest a few years back in Richmond. He was never a huge bloke but he genuinely looked like a skinny hipster. It's less of a surprise when it's guys who clearly struggled to pack on the weight in the first place. Rugby is full of guys who'd be naturally skinny or naturally fat.

I fully expect Alex Dombrandt to be a bloater in retirement, for example.

I'm impressed by what good shape they are all in.

It's very 2020s Johnson to be hunched over like that, minimising his height; it's as if he's made a conscious decision to try and move away from the intimidating frowning giant look of his playing days. He's all smiles & wouldn't hurt a fly now-a-days.

Danie Rossouw has gained a few pounds as well. Seems he shoots Bakkies meat nowadays.

Juan Smith the same, saw an Interview with him last year.

Arme kransduifies

boere wors wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 12:48 pm

Danie Rossouw has gained a few pounds as well. Seems he shoots Bakkies meat nowadays.

Juan Smith the same, saw an Interview with him last year.

This one, where even Schalk makes a joke about giving him an XXL shirt. (Not that far gone, though, tbf.)

Niegs wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 6:53 pm

boere wors wrote: Tue Oct 25, 2022 12:48 pm

Danie Rossouw has gained a few pounds as well. Seems he shoots Bakkies meat nowadays.

Juan Smith the same, saw an Interview with him last year.

This one, where even Schalk makes a joke about giving him an XXL shirt. (Not that far gone, though, tbf.)

Ja exactly, that's the one i meant. What a player he was, imho the best blindside the boks have had.

Not Marika Vunibaka!!!

I'd say you'd be doing well to find a Fijian player slimmer in retirement than in his playing days.

Schalwk looks pretty trim.

As an aside, I know a Schalwk who informed me of the correct pronunciation. My flabber was gasted!