In the modern game of athletic hybrids and tactical nuance, Northampton Saints possess something far more elemental: a 6ft 7in, 23-stone force of nature named JJ van der Mescht. As Saints prepare for a seismic Champions Cup quarter-final against Bath, the ground at the Rec may well tremble for a reason beyond mere anticipation; it is the impending impact of a player his director of rugby, Phil Dowson, describes with admiring simplicity as a “freak”.
The physics of a ‘freak’
Van der Mescht’s physicality is not just a statistic; it is a strategic weapon. Weighing approximately 145kg, he is the joint-heaviest player in the Premiership, a title he once contended for in France where his weight reportedly peaked at 165kg during his time with Stade Français. This immense frame, powered by a background as a champion schoolboy shot-putter and discus thrower, translates to a singular on-field virtue: unstoppable post-contact metres. In a game where gainline dominance is currency, van der Mescht is a vault.
“People talk about what JJ can’t do but you’ve got to look at what he can do,” Dowson says, echoing the view of scrum coach Jaco Pienaar, who previously worked with him at the Sharks. Pienaar famously labelled him “a fly-half trapped in a second-row’s body,” a nod to surprising agility that saw him clock 11 seconds for the 100m as a schoolboy. While his size limits his role as a conventional lineout target—a trait he shares with the similarly colossal Wallaby Will Skelton, the only player he believes needs bigger boots than his own size 16s—his value lies in brutal, close-quarter efficiency. “We can do things other people can’t,” van der Mescht states, a polite understatement for the havoc he wreaks.
Roots of a colossus
The origins of this rugby giant are both genetic and formative. The son of a “big guy” father and a 6ft 3in mother who was a police officer and a netball international, his stature was apparent early. By 13, he was 1.95m tall and weighed 100kg, standing out markedly at Pierneef Primary School in Pretoria. A brief stint as an exchange student at New Hall school in Essex left a lasting impression, not for his academic work, but for the sight of a 6ft 4in 14-year-old running at his peers. “It was enjoyable!” he recalls.
His professional apprenticeship was forged in Durban with the Sharks, where he made 23 appearances. It was there he learned the hard way, thrown into a pre-season ‘octagon’ with veterans like Tendai Mtawarira and Thomas du Toit to prove his mettle. “You had to throw each other out of the ring… I lost. I think the Beast won,” he says. That connection to Du Toit, now a Bath prop, adds a personal edge to Friday’s clash. “Oh, 100%, yeah. And he’ll do the same to me. It’s a respect thing,” van der Mescht says, eagerly anticipating the collision.
This determination was instilled by his family, particularly his mother, who he says taught him self-belief and to ignore external criticism. However, managing his formidable physique has been a career-long challenge. At the Sharks, he was at times deemed not in shape, leading to intense training regimens. His move to Stade Français brought a fresh start but also significant weight gain.
Refinement and renaissance at Saints
His transfer to Northampton Saints ahead of the 2025/26 season has sparked a renaissance, both physical and mental. To manage his weight, he adheres to a strict routine of intermittent fasting, consuming only one large meal a day—typically a steak or lamb braai prepared by the barbecue-loving Pienaar. This regimen has seen him drop seven kilograms since arriving, sharpening his immense power.
More importantly, it has rekindled his love for the game. “Since I’ve been here something has clicked… Previously I felt like I was in a constant loop … rugby felt like a chore,” he admits. “Since coming to Saints I’ve got that passion and enjoyment back.” This renewed focus is evident in his performances, which have put him back on the radar of the Springboks, who included him in an alignment squad ahead of their July Tests.
Van der Mescht, who won a bronze medal with South Africa’s Under-20s in 2019, is pragmatic about his international prospects, acknowledging the depth of talent at lock. “We’ve got amazing locks in South Africa and if I don’t fit into their gameplan I understand why.” Yet the belief is strong at Franklin’s Gardens. Dowson sees “huge Test potential,” and Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus has reportedly described the player as a “monster” and a real prospect.
For now, the priority is Bath, a club whose famously cosy away dressing room van der Mescht jokes he may have to bypass. “It’s OK, I’ll get dressed outside if necessary.” With Saints buoyed by the return of fly-half Fin Smith and a previous league win at the Rec this season, the colossal lock is in bullish mood. “We have a lot to prove and people have already written us off. We want to show we can compete in this competition.” In this heavy-duty mission, Northampton have the perfect, freakish, man for the job.
