The five lightest players in international rugby history (Ranked 5-1)

Unsurprisingly, almost every player on this list is a scrum-half, a position where speed, skill and intelligence often matter more than physicality.

Here, we take a look at the five lightest players ever to feature in international rugby and the remarkable careers they built despite their size.

Parra is the first of several scrum-halves on this list. The former France international also spent time playing at fly-half during his career.

Parra played a key role in France’s 2010 Six Nations Grand Slam campaign. He earned his opportunity after first-choice scrum-half Julien Dupuy received a suspension for eye gouging following the 2009 Autumn Internationals.

Partnering the similarly young François Trinh-Duc at half-back, Parra delivered a series of outstanding performances, including France’s dominant victory over reigning champions Ireland at the Stade de France.

In October 2021, Parra set a record by landing 48 consecutive penalty kicks during a match against Pau. Throughout his career, he was listed at 77kg.

Current Wales international winger Blair Murray comes in slightly lighter at 75kg. Born in New Zealand, he joined the Scarlets in 2024 and qualifies for Wales through his mother.

Murray enjoyed an impressive debut season with the Scarlets, earning the players’ player of the season award. He was also selected in the United Rugby Championship Elite XV and named Welsh Rugby Writers’ Young Player of the Year.

He received his first Wales call-up in October 2024 for the autumn internationals. Murray made his debut the following month on the wing against Fiji and marked the occasion with his first international try.

Former Ireland scrum-half Peter Stringer spent 13 seasons with Munster between 1998 and 2011 before playing another seven years in England with Saracens, Newcastle Falcons, Bath, Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors.

Stringer played an important role in one of Ireland’s most memorable moments during the 2009 Six Nations.

Coming off the bench against Wales, he delivered the pass from a ruck that allowed Ronan O'Gara to score the decisive drop goal and secure Ireland’s first Grand Slam since 1948.

He retired from professional rugby in June 2018. At only 72.5kg, Stringer showed that physical size is not always the deciding factor in rugby.

The first of two Japanese players on this list is Fumiaki Tanaka, who weighed just 72kg and stood at 5ft 5.

After impressing with Otago, he became the first ethnic Japanese player to sign a Super Rugby contract when he joined the Highlanders for the 2013 season.

Tanaka attracted significant international attention after the move, becoming the first Japanese player to compete in Super Rugby.

In June 2013, he inspired Japan to their first ever victory over Wales and was widely praised for his performance.

Tanaka also played a major role in Japan’s historic 34-32 win over South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, where he was named Man of the Match.

At 71kg, Yutaka Nagare is recognised as the lightest player to have featured in international rugby. The scrum-half plays for Tokyo Sungoliath alongside Cheslin Kolbe, who narrowly missed out on this list.

Nagare’s most recent appearance for Japan came at the 2023 Rugby World Cup against England, where he started in a 34-12 defeat. At 33 years old and standing 5ft 5, the Fukuoka-born player is only slightly smaller than Tanaka.