Mean (and SEM where available) body mass in kilogram in military recruits and the general public, Five or Six Nations rugby union and Challenge Cup final rugby league players and the per cent difference between them
| Year | Source | UK men | Rugby union | Rugby league | % Difference between UK men | |
| Union | League | |||||
| 1955 | Military recruits (aged 20–24 years) | 65.6 | 84.8 (0.9) | 85.9 (2.0) | 29.3 | 30.9 |
| 1965 | 68.1 | 85.5 (1.3) | 87.7 (2.1) | 25.6 | 28.8 | |
| 1974/1975* | 69.6 | 87.8 (1.2) | 83.0 (2.0) | 26.1 | 19.3 | |
| 1995 | General public (aged 16–24 years) | 73.6 (0.4) | 96.2 (1.5) | 92.2 (2.2) | 30.7 | 25.3 |
| 2005 | 74.3 (0.7) | 99.9 (1.5) | 93.8 (2.1) | 34.5 | 26.3 | |
| 2015 | 79.0 (1.5) | 105.4 (1.4) | 97.7 (1.5) | 33.3 | 23.6 | |
*Only data from 1974 was available for military recruits.