HARLEQUINS – JAMIE ROBERTS
The Welsh powerhouse reportedly pocketed £450,000 per season while at Twickenham Stoop. Though earning even more money at Racing 92, the Wales centre decided to up sticks to England in 2018 to combine playing with studying medicine at Cambridge.
LEICESTER TIGERS – MANU TUILAGI
The centre turned down a lucrative £2.5m offer from Racing 92 to sign a two-year extension with Leicester Tigers six months prior to the 2019 Rugby World Cup. However, despite becoming the clubs highest-ever paid player on £550,000 per season, he’d depart a year later for Sale Sharks after rejecting a pay-cut.
LONDON IRISH – PADDY JACKSON
RugbyPass sources indicate that the Irish fly-half is on a figure close to £500,000 a year after he joined the newly-promoted side in 2019. His international teammate Sean O’Brien is second on the pecking order, also joining in 2019 and earning around £450,000 per season.
NEWCASTLE FALCONS – CARL HAYMAN
The All Blacks prop reportedly became the best paid rugby union player in the world after joining Newcastle Falcons on a contract reportedly worth £500,000; a year from 2007 until 2010. This contract was partly funded by Northern Rock – the Falcons’ main sponsor at the time.
NORTHAMPTON SAINTS – LOUIS PICAMOLES
The number 8 earned approximately £650,000 per season when he moved to Franklin’s Gardens in 2016. It was announced in May 2017 that Picamoles would leave Northampton despite still having two seasons left on his contract to link back up with former club Montpellier Hérault RC who paid Saints a substantial transfer fee for the France international