"Ridiculous" - Maro Itoje's huge wage demands revealed amid interest
Rugby NewsWednesday, 15 September 2021 at 13:28
Japan's Top League is hoping to lure England star Maro Itoje as it pursues its soaring ambition of becoming the world's leading rugby competition, its chairman told AFP.
The well-heeled league has swelled its ranks of foreign players since the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, with New Zealand's two-time World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett chief among them.
Finn Russell has also been recently linked with a move to Japan, but it seems itoje has priced himself out of a move.
The England lock, who was linked with a move to the Top 14 when Saracens were relegated, would demand a huge salary plus bonuses, according to Racing 92 owner Jacky Lorenzetti.
Asked if Itoje wanted too much money, Lorezetti told rugbyrama.fr : "Yes, it was unpayable.
“You know, we weren’t the only ones at the time: Bordeaux, Lyon, Montpellier were all called upon. We were talking about a salary of over £1m plus bonuses.
“That represented 10 per cent of our payroll. We made the choice not to go any further. I think he doesn't want to move, so they come out with ridiculous demands.”
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The three highest-paid players at every Gallagher Premiership club 2021/22
Bath RFC:
- Taulupe Faletau - £475,000
- Anthony Watson - £350,000
- Danny Cipriani - £300,00
Bristol Bears:
- Charles Piutau - £1,000,000
- Steve Luatua - £620,000
- Semi Radradra - £521,000
Exeter Chiefs:
- Stuart Hogg - £550,000
- Henry Slade - £450,000
- Jonny Gray - £400,000
Gloucester:
- Adam Hastings - £400,000
- Jonny May - £275,000
- Joe Simpson - £210,000
Harlequins:
- Marcus Smith - £460,000
- Danny Care - £300,000
- André Esterhuizen - £250,000
Leicester Tigers:
- George Ford - £600,000
- Ben Youngs - £350,000
- Ellis Genge - £325,000
London Irish:
- Paddy Jackson - £500,000
- Sean O’Brien – £400,000
- Nick Phipps - £230,000
Newcastle Falcons:
- Mike Brown - £250,000
- Toby Flood - £230,000
- Mark Wilson - £210,000
Northampton Saints:
- Dan Biggar - £600,000
- Taqele Naiyaravoro - £400,000
- Courtney Lawes - £320,000
Saracens:
- Maro Itoje - £850,000
- Owen Farrell - £750,000
- Mako Vunipola - £550,000
Sale Sharks:
- Faf de Klerk - £500,000
- Manu Tuilagi - £350,000
- Tom Curry - £275,000
Wasps:
- Malakai Fekitoa - £450,000
- Joe Launchbury - £420,000
- Vaea Fifita - £400,000
Worcester Warriors:
- Duhan van de Merwe - £350,000
- Rory Sutherland - £250,000
- Matt Kvesic - £220,000
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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