Top paid rugby players. Here are the reported salaries of the game’s biggest earners:
#BACK-THREE:
Fullback: Beauden Barrett (Suntory Sungoliath) – £780k: On his year out in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath last year, the Daily Mail reports Barrett earned £780,000.
Winger: Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears) – £1m: For some time, the Kiwi has been reported to be earning £1million at Bristol Bears and he became the first player in British rugby to do so.
Winger: Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon) – £850k: The speedster hit the financial jackpot with his summer switch from Toulouse to Top 14 rivals Toulon. He now warns an annual salary of €1million after they buy out the remainder of his contract from the recent league/Champions Cup double winners.