Former 121kg Wales star looks massive as he prepares for Alun Wyn Jones rematch
Most people would think that standing at 1.99 metres and weighing 121kg is pretty big, but former Wales lock Jake Ball has found a way to get even bigger while in Japan.
The 50-cap international has taken his fitness and physique to a whole new level since moving to the NEC Green Rockets Tokatsu in 2021, and now is in the best shape he has ever been in.
The 32-year-old is not only throwing around some ridiculous weights, but is looking the healthiest he has been in his career. Only last week Ball was sharing a video of himself on social media deadlifting 285kg on a trap bar for three reps, which is massive for a rugby player, while also Romanian deadlifting 180kg. There are also plenty of photos to show the shape he is in, where he boasts arms the size of most scrum-halves’ legs.
One of the standout moments of Ball’s Wales career came on the training ground, where he infamously gave Alun Wyn Jones a black eye after a bust-up. It is safe to say Jones won’t be messing with Ball anymore.
Take a look at ball in the gym:
Double day today running session into gym below is last set of my main lift trap bar deadlift 3x285kg #trapbar #trapbardeadlift #rugbyfitness #offseason #weightlifting #weighttraining #gym #fasted pic.twitter.com/4oTS2Kaomq
— Jake Ball (@Jake_Ball4) July 17, 2023
Last set of 6 RDL 180KG todays lower body pic.twitter.com/aYlrpssiDE
— Jake Ball (@Jake_Ball4) July 27, 2023
Ball said the main reason behind leaving Wales was to be with his family in Perth, but it looks like he has put his time in Japan to good use as well.
He said after announcing his decision: “It has been a difficult decision to make but one I have made for the family.
“My wife was expecting our fourth child and, with Covid around and players having to be in bubbles and everything, we made the decision that she and the kids should go home to have some family help and support around her.
“Max was born last month. There have been Zoom calls and things, but I haven’t seen him yet and it has been difficult. As the season goes on, it would be pretty tough of me to ask Christie to come back here away from her family again.
“It has been a fantastic nine seasons I have been here. I love the Scarlets and playing with Wales has been unbelievable and something I will never forget.
“It has been a massive honour to represent my country, but at the end of the day, I made a huge sacrifice in staying behind for a year without my family. I have four kids now and I won’t have seen them for close on a year.”
