FRONT-ROW:
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens/England) – £420,000
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets/Wales) – £330,000
3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Ireland) – £530,000: The powerhouse has recently signed a one-year contract extension with the IRFU on the same money as his previous deal. Widely regarded as one of the world’s best tight-heads, Furlong, 28, has made 49 Ireland appearances and was named on his second Lions tour last week.
SECOND-ROW:
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens/England) – £825,000: Signed a new deal last year that was reportedly between £750,000 and £1 million. He is widely regarded as the best lock in the world, with the salary to match.
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys/Wales) – £450,000: The lock has made a world record 157 Test match appearances for Wales and the Lions. He first played for Wales in 2006 and has been part of five Six Nations title-winning campaigns and three Grand Slams, in addition to helping his country reach two World Cup semi-finals.