Rugby union has evolved significantly since it became professional in 1995, with some players now earning in excess of a million pounds per year.
Here’s a list of the highest paid rugby players, including the likes of Owen Farrell, Dan Carter and Maro Itoje.
Data retrieved from Rugby Pass and Ruck.co.uk and may be estimated. Correct at the time of writing, but full disclosure it’s unlikely to be totally accurate in 2023. It should, however, give you an idea of rugby player wages in the 2020s.
20. Faf de Klerk – £500,000 – Sale Sharks
Faf de Klerk, the giant slayer, is earning a hefty wage at Sale Sharks after reinvigorating his career at the Gallagher Premiership club.
Seems like the move to the northern hemisphere paid off, having recently won the Rugby World Cup with South Africa.
19. Paddy Jackson – £500,000 – London Irish
Fly-half Paddy Jackson earns even more than former Irish international Sean O’Brien (who isn’t on bad money himself.
Not bad for someone with just one cap to his name!
18. Sergio Parisse – £500,000 – Toulon
The Italian hero is still being paid a hefty wage for his services in France. Let’s hope he doesn’t try any last-minute drop goals at Toulon!
He has over 140 international caps, so the pay-grade is pretty justified.
17. Kieran Read – £519,000 – Toyota Verblitz
Everyone was pretty shocked to see All-Blacks captain and scary-eyes Kieran Read make the move to the Japanese Top League, but it doesn’t come to much surprise when you see the wage he’s got himself. Japanese rugby is great for older players looking to make some retirement money while also experiencing the wonderful culture.
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16. Finn Russell – £535,000 – Racing 92
The ultimate maverick, Finn Russell’s skills and nutmegs have landed him this impressive wage at Racing 92.
No wonder he wanted an extra couple of beers before the 2020 Six Nations (sorry Gregor)!
15. Johnny Sexton – £536,000 – Leinster
Ireland’s trusted number 10, Johnny Sexton, is earning more than any other player in the Pro14.
He may be away with Ireland for most of the season, but when he’s there, he certainly shows his worth.
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12=. Manu Tuilagi – £550,000 – Leicester Tigers
Gone are the days of jumping off ferries and punching Chris Ashton – Manu Tuilagi’s temperament and attitude seems to have calmed, but his bank account is as exciting as ever!
Manu Tuilagi, widely regarded as one of the best rugby players in the world, has since moved on to Sale Sharks as of 2022.
He’s one of the best centres on the planet, so we’re not complaining.
12=. Stuart Hogg – £550,000 – Exeter Chiefs
Stuart Hogg, or the Hoggmeister-general, as he’s known, recently made the move from Glasgow Warriors and hasn’t looked back since.
Hogg’s form and stock has only risen since moving down south.
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11. Morgan Parra – £570,000 – Clermont Auvergne
Morgan Parra is the stereotypical French scrum-half personified. The Clermont faithful love him, he’s a great rugby player, but is he still worth that amount of money? As far as Clermont are concerned, yes!
10. Michael Hooper – £572,000 – NSW Waratahs
Aussie back-rower, Michael Hooper, is undeniably one of the best, most versatile poachers in the game, so it’s no surprise that the Waratahs have done everything they can to keep him there.
9. Nicolas Sanchez – £581,000 – Stade Francais
The Argentine magician creeps into the top 10 thanks to his wage from Top14 side Stade Francais. He is his country’s highest points scorer ever, beating even Filipe Contepomi.
8. Dan Biggar – £600,000 – Northampton Saints
Dan Biggar is deserved of this high wage, even if it’s simply for his Biggarena.
In all seriousness, he’s a general on the pitch and a genius in the air. He is also interestingly the only Welsh player on this list.
Biggar has since made the move to Toulon in France as of 2022.
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7. Steven Luatua – £650,000 – Bristol Bears
The All Blacks weren’t happy when Steven Luatua left New Zealand and there’s a good reason for that, because he’s an incredibly talented player.
Luatua was an U20s RWC winner with New Zealand but it seems his international career is on hold for now, as he chases the Gallagher’s Premiership cash.
6. Owen Farrell – £750,000 – Saracens
Owen Farrell, the leader of leaders in English rugby. We initially thought he might get the number one spot, but perhaps that number doesn’t take those Saracens co-investments into account. His wage, coupled with sponsorships, make for a lucrative sum.
5. Maro Itoje – £800,000 – Saracens
Maro Itoje is another figure amidst the Saracens salary cap controversy, but a fantastic player and a leader that’s been billed as a future British and Irish Lions captain.
3=. Handrè Pollard – £1,000,000 – Montpellier
The this World Cup star certainly did himself no favour during the 2019 tournament, cementing himself as one of the great Springbok fly-halves. It’s fair to say his move to France was well-timed!
Handrè Pollard has since made the move to English Premiership side Leicester Tigers as of 2022.
3=. Charles Piutau – £1,000,000 – Bristol Bears
Many years ago, a million-pound rugby player was simply unbelievable.
Charles Piutau was tearing up in Ulster before making the move to Bristol Bears, and has one of the best and most exciting backs in the competition.
He may not be an international star, but he certainly has that X-Factor.
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1=. Dan Carter – £1,100,000 – Kobe Steelers
Dan Carter was still running the show in 2020. He was earning over a million pound a year while playing in the Japanese Top League and looked as good as ever, after returning from his neck operation.
He certainly built a decent retirement pot!
Well that kick in itself is worth a million pounds a year.
1=. Matt Giteau – £1,100,000 – Suntory Sungoliath
Matt Giteau was one of the most likeable players in world rugby, largely thanks to his funny Twitter videos and humour more than anything. Oh, and he’s also a quality player.
Like Carter, he was making over a million pounds as he approached his 40s out in Japan.
He’s since retired, but it looks like he enjoyed himself, too!
Great to be back out there playing some rugby again with @sungoliath .. So grateful to be able to do this for a living going on to my 19th season 😳👴🏼
#🦍💛🖤 #SungoliathFamily
Always good to play against & with some familiar faces @WJChambers4 #BerrickBarnes pic.twitter.com/OjuOwUsJWD
— Matt Giteau (@giteau_rugby) December 14, 2019
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