Former Australian rugby star Matt Dunning loses 40kg in amazing transformation

MATT Dunning used to cop it for being the chubbiest bloke on the rugby field. Now he’s a new man — and barely recognisable.

MATT Dunning used to cop it for being the chubbiest bloke on the football field.

Now the former Wallabies star is a new man — and is barely recognisable.

Dunning has lost 40kg in nine months — dropping from 130kg to 90kg — with a diet of two shakes a day and one 600-calorie meal.

Matt Dunning trains with the Berowra Wallabies.

The prop said his motivation came after seeing a photo of himself when he filled in for a local rugby team.

“I didn’t like the look of the photo,” Dunning told The Morning Show.

“I must have had the ‘man mirror’ at home because I thought I looked fantastic.”

What makes his transformation more remarkable is that he was overweight as a professional athlete — but became fitter in retirement.

Before and after.

Dunning says he could never return to the rugby field, despite his transformation.

Dunning is most famous for kicking the most unlikely of field goals for the Waratahs in 2003 (watch below).

The Waratahs were chasing the last spot in the semi-finals of the 2003 season, which they would only qualify for if they secured the bonus points as a result of scoring four tries.

As the clocked ticked down, prop Matt Dunning took a snap at a drop goal so the referee would stop the advantage and return play to a penalty called earlier. However, this plan only worked in the case of a missed goal attempt — Dunning nailed the field goal, securing the Waratahs a win but not a finals berth.

The 35-year-old last played in Super Rugby with Western Force in 2011, but did not officially retire until 2013.

He said he struggled to come to terms with “mentally retiring” and not just the physical aspect of it.

Dunning cools off at Wanda Beach.

Asked whether he would consider a return to the field now, he said he was no chance.

“No way I could go back,” he said. “I’m probably too small.”

Despite not being averse to a selfie, Dunning was not getting carried away with his new-found look.

“I’ve been offered a couple balaclava modelling contracts,” he joked.

TITLE: Dunning's unlikely drop goal SIZE: 650x366px CAPTION: Dunning's unlikely drop goal