Tongan prop Ben Tameifuna is considerably heavier than when he was running around with the Chiefs in Super Rugby.

Former Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna has opened up on his weight and now appears to be the heaviest man in test rugby.

Tameifuna tips the scales at 153kg as he prepares to play for Tonga against Wales in Cardiff this weekend.

The bubbly front rower plays for glamour Paris club Racing 92 these days and reckons three years of eating French delicacies haven't helped him.

STUFF Ben Tameifuna said he weighed 148kg when he left Waikato to join French club Racing 92.

"When I came to France I was 148kg so I've put on five kilos," Tameifuna admitted to the Daily Mail.

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Asked if the extra weight converted to muscle, he joked: "I bloody hope so. Mate, too many croissants and baguettes. Obviously I don't have a six-pack! I look at food and put on weight."

GETTY IMAGES France's giant Kiwi-born prop Uini Atonio has lost his title as the heaviest man in the international game.

The 27-year-old's weight puts him just ahead of giant French prop Uini Atonio who is listed at 151kg and has to have special jerseys made for his test duties with Les Blues.

The Timaru-born Atonio also has New Zealand connections, making his name with Counties Manukau before switching to the French club scene in 2011.

Tameifuna, who has good speed and ball skills for his size, was touted as a potential All Black and trained with the 2012 squad when Ireland toured New Zealand. He was 130kg then and the heaviest player amongst the All Blacks. He didn't get to play a test and has since been used by Tonga. He will earn his seventh test cap against Wales.

GETTY IMAGES Ben Tamiefuna, wearing his Racing 92 colours, gets ready to stop Saracens lock Maro Itoje during a European Rugby Champions Cup clash.

Tameifuna is significantly heavier than the current All Blacks props.

Newcomer Karl Tu'inukuafe is the heaviest All Blacks forward at 135kg and famously lost "30-40kg" on doctor's orders after being told he was heading to an early grave and then took up rugby seriously.

Of the other All Blacks props Angus Ta'avao is at 128kg, newcomer Tyrell Lomax 127kg, Owen Franks 119kg, Joe Moody 118kg, Nepo Laulala 116kg, Tim Perry 116kg, and Ofa Tu'ungafasi 115kg.

PHOTOSPORT Rookie prop Karl Tu'inukuafe is the heaviest of the All Blacks at 135kg.

The All Blacks locks have height to balance their bulk and Brodie Retallick weighs in at 123kg with Sam Whitelock 115kg and Scott Barrett 112kg.

Tameifuna was in the world champion 2011 New Zealand under 20s side that includes current All Blacks Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Waisake Naholo, Codie Taylor, Sam Cane, Retallick, and Luke Whitelock.

Tameifuna jokes he may be a back trapped in a big man's body.

"I have a thing for kicking the ball," he said.