The Gallagher PREM is back this weekend – and the league's biggest stars are earning more than ever.
The salary cap has risen to £6.4million, while England's enhanced contracts have added another significant payday for the country's leading internationals.
Finn Russell remains the benchmark. The Scotland fly-half's Bath deal has been reported at close to £1million per season, but several England stars aren't far behind.
Clubs don't publish individual salaries, so the figures below are based on reported contracts and estimates, with England payments included where applicable.
Here are five of the PREM's biggest earners.
5. Fin Smith – Northampton Saints
Estimated annual earnings: £750,000
Fin Smith's rise with Northampton and England has been rapid – and his new contract reflects it.
The 24-year-old is reportedly earning around £600,000 per season at Franklin's Gardens.
The Times' look at Northampton's salary-cap position also identifies Smith as the club's marquee player.
Then there's England.
Smith is on an enhanced EPS contract, worth around £150,000 per year, which could take his annual rugby earnings to roughly £750,000.
For context, Henry Pollock's bumper new Saints deal is reportedly worth around £400,000.
4. Marcus Smith – Harlequins
Estimated annual earnings: £750,000
Marcus Smith is believed to be on similar money.
The Harlequins number 10 has previously been reported to earn around £600,000 a year at The Stoop, before his England payments are added.
His enhanced contract is worth another £150,000, putting the potential total at around £750,000.
There is also a big decision coming.
Smith's future at Harlequins has been the subject of plenty of speculation, with the 27-year-old repeatedly linked with a move to France.
His current deal is heading towards its conclusion with the 2027 Rugby World Cup now little more than a year away.
3. George Ford – Sale Sharks
Estimated annual earnings: £800,000+
George Ford is slightly harder to work out.
The England fly-half signed fresh terms with Sale last year after plenty of speculation about his future.
His new three-year Sale contract runs until 2029, although the club never revealed how much it is worth.
Ford remains Sale's marquee player and has long been among the highest-paid English players in the PREM.
He is also on an enhanced England contract.
Previous estimates have put Ford's combined earnings north of £800,000, although the exact figure attached to his latest Sale deal remains under wraps.
2. Maro Itoje – Saracens
Estimated annual earnings: £950,000
Maro Itoje is reportedly not far away from the million-pound mark.
The England captain has previously been reported to earn around £800,000 per season at Saracens.
His enhanced England contract adds another £150,000, potentially taking the total to around £950,000.
Itoje remains Saracens' marquee player despite Owen Farrell returning to the club from Racing 92 last year.
Farrell is understood to be earning around £630,000 after returning to Saracens, having taken a sizeable cut from his contract in France.
1. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby
Reported salary: £900,000–£1million
Finn Russell remains the man to beat.
Bath signed the Scotland fly-half from Racing 92 in 2023, with his deal widely reported to be worth between £900,000 and £1million per season.
It was a huge investment. It's also worked.
Russell has since extended his Bath contract until 2028, although the club didn't reveal the value of his new terms.
He remains Bath's marquee player.
Unlike the four England internationals above him, Russell doesn't have an RFU enhanced contract topping up his earnings either.
His reported figure comes from Bath alone.
Not bad work if you can get it.
