The world's highest-paid rugby players
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The highest-paid rugby players in the world has been revealed.
According to a report by WalesOnline, South Africa’s Handre Pollard tops the list along with All Black wing Charles Piutau, who plays for Bristol in England’s Premiership.
The report states that legendary playmaking duo Dan Carter and Matt Giteau are on contracts worth around £1.1m (NZ$2.2m/AU$2.1m) at Kobelco Steelers and Suntory Sungoliath, respectively, but both players are set to move on following the cancellation of this year’s Top League.
Other big earners in Japan, including former All Blacks skipper Kieran Read and Wallabies great David Pocock, face uncertain futures, while it is difficult to accurately estimate the earnings of someone like star All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick.
The 28-year-old has signed a four-year deal with New Zealand Rugby which will see him through to the 2023 World Cup in France, but a two-year sabbatical with Kobelco clouds those estimations.
His long-time second row partner Sam Whitelock was in a similar position this year when he was allowed a six-month break from his new four-year deal with NZR to join the Panasonic Wild Knights, but has since returned to New Zealand due to the pandemic.
Add to that the mass pay cuts players have been taking around the globe, and it’s no easy task trying to unravel the yearly incomes of the planet’s best players.
Nevertheless, that is exactly what WalesOnline have done, with their list of the 15 best-paid rugby players around the world featured below.
World’s highest-paid players:
1 = Handre Pollard (South Africa/Montpellier) – £1m (€1.1m/ZAR23.5m)
South Africa’s World Cup-winning Springboks playmaker Handre Pollard became the joint-richest rugby player in Europe alongside Piutau when he agreed to leave the Bulls in Super Rugby to join Montpellier in the Top 14 last year.
1 = Charles Piutau (New Zealand/Bristol Bears) – £1m (NZ$2m)
All Blacks speedster Charles Piutau deserted his international ambitions at the premature age of 23 when he signed a lucrative deal with Pro14 side Ulster in 2015, and then became British rugby’s first million-pound player when he joined Bristol three years later.
3. Maro Itoje (England/Saracens) – £875,000
Farrell’s club and international teammate Maro Itoje signed a new deal reportedly worth between £750,000 and £1m, with the lock remaining at Allianz Park next year as Saracens prepare to compete in England’s second division.
4. Owen Farrell (England/Saracens) – £750,000
Experienced England flyhalf Owen Farrell is one of many high-earners at embattled Premiership champions Saracens, but will remain at the club next year despite their relegation into the RFU Championship due to salary cap breaches.
5. Steven Luatua (New Zealand/Bristol Bears) – £650,000 (NZ$1.3m)
The All Blacks loose forward Steven Luatua opted for financial riches ahead of an illustrious international career when he left New Zealand to join English side Bristol in the RFU Championship three years ago.
6. Dan Biggar (Wales/Northampton Saints) – £600,000
The fifth flyhalf on this list, Wales pivot Dan Biggar has made the most of his big-money move from Ospreys to Northampton, where he has shone for the Saints since joining in 2018.
7 = Nicolas Sanchez (Argentina/Stade Francais) – £580,000 (€662,692/AR$47.5m)
Argentina’s star playmaker Nicolas Sanchez left the Jaguares in Super Rugby two years ago to take a significant pay rise by joining Paris-based Top 14 club Stade Francais.
7 = Morgan Parra (France/Clermont) – £580,000 (€662,692)
Veteran France halfback Morgan Parra’s international career may have hit a speed bump, but a recent contract extension with Clermont has kept the 31-year-old among one of the game’s top earners.
9. Michael Hooper (Australia/Waratahs) – £572,000 (AU$1.1m)
Despite being able to command bigger paycheques abroad, Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper signed a mammoth five-year contract with Rugby Australia in 2018 in a deal that has made him the highest-earning player in the country following Israel Folau’s departure.
10 = Stuart Hogg (Scotland/Exeter Chiefs) – £550,000
WalesOnline reports that Scotland captain Stuart Hogg was the highest-paid player in Scotland during his time with the Glasgow Warriors, but added an extra £200,000 to his salary when he joined English club Exeter Chiefs last year.
10 = Manu Tuilagi (England/Leicester Tigers) – £550,000
One of England’s standouts during last year’s World Cup in Japan, barnstorming midfielder Manu Tuilagi turned down a lucrative £2.5m offer from Racing 92 to sign a two-year extension with the Leicester Tigers six months ahead of the tournament.
12. Johnny Sexton (Ireland/Leinster) – £536,000 (€612,419)
2018 World Rugby player of the year Johnny Sexton returned to his native Leinster five years ago following a brief stint with Racing 92 and has gone on to become Ireland’s highest-paid player.
13. Finn Russell (Scotland/Racing 92) – £535,000 (€611,276)
Out-of-favour Scotland star Finn Russell reportedly doubled his money when he joined Racing 92 from the Glasgow Warriors in 2018 and has since excelled in France’s Top 14.
14. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand/Blues) – £520,000 (NZ$1m)
Two-time World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett quashed rumours of a big-money offshore move last year when he signed a four-year deal with NZR that included a high-profile Super Rugby transfer from the Hurricanes to the Blues.
15. Faf de Klerk (South Africa/Sale Sharks) – £500,000 (R11.m)
A key member of South Africa’s World Cup-winning Springboks squad last year, scrumhalf Faf de Klerk signed a contract extension with Premiership club Sale Sharks in 2018 that sees him earn half-a-million pounds per year.
Source: WalesOnline
Additional source: @RugbyPass
