On the record, for the first time, Pat Lam has confirmed that Charles Piutau, the former All Black superstar, will be departing Bristol Bears at the end of the season.
This development has been anticipated for some time within the Bear community, as earlier in the season, Lam had revealed that the club had signed England speedster Max Malins.
“I mean he is class,” Lam told Bristol Live.
“The day when we announced that Charles was signing and that Semi was signing, I made it very clear that this wasn’t just for the Bears, it was for the Premiership.
“It's a privilege for us that he's playing for the Bears, but it's a huge privilege that we have these two rock stars of world rugby playing in the Premiership.
“Unfortunately with the salary cap being reduced and the way that everything is, they'll move on, but it's been a privilege to have them because it elevates our team, but it also elevates the Premiership.”
Ranked: The Highest-Paid Player At Each Gallagher Premiership Club
Starting from the lowest wage, here is the ranking of the highest-paid players at each Gallagher Premiership club for the 2022-23 season.
#11. Matias Moroni (Newcastle Falcons) - £320,000
Matias joined the Falcons in the summer of 2022, having helped Leicester Tigers to win the 2021-22 Gallagher Premiership title.
Starting in the Twickenham final for the Tigers, the Buenos Aires native brings a huge amount of big-game experience to the North East and boasts 'intensity' as his chief attribute.
Capped more than 50 times by Argentina, he has also represented his homeland at Sevens during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, having began his career with Club Universitario de Buenos Aires (CUBA) in his home city.
#10. Adam Hastings (Gloucester) - £450,000
One of Gloucester Rugby’s biggest signings this season, Hastings will be looking to bring his attacking flare and experience to Kingsholm.
A Scotland international, the fly-half joins the Cherry & Whites from Glasgow Warriors where he has excelled since arriving in 2017.
With Premiership experience having previously played at Bath, Hastings’ arrival at Gloucester Rugby is hugely exciting and the club is set to have good competition for places at fly-half.
Adam Hastings of Gloucester Rugby kicks the conversion during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Gloucester Rugby and Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm on 28 October. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#9. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby) - £450,000
Underhill has developed into a world-class back rower at Bath Rugby.
He came on to the scene at 17 featuring a couple of times for Gloucester before switching to Ospreys where he firmly introduced himself with Wales and England vying for his international commitment.
Born in USA, Underhill did captain England at Under-18 level and moved to Bath Rugby in 2017, making his full international debut in Argentina following on from a non-cap appearance against the Barbarians.
Sam Underhill of Bath Rugby on the break during the Gallagher Premiership match between Exeter Chiefs and Bath at Sandy Park, Exeter on 24th December 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#8. Marcus Smith (Harlequins) - £460,000
Smith's rapid rise shows no signs of slowing down – it took barely a year for him to go from captaining Brighton College in an unbeaten season to involvement in the senior England squad.
Marcus became the second-youngest Premiership debutant in history, behind George Ford, when making his Harlequins bow against London Irish aged 18 years and 200 days in September 2017.
The fly-half made 28 appearances for Harlequins in all competitions during the 2017/18 season, scoring three tries on his way to 208 points. He was named as an apprentice in the England party for the Old Mutual Wealth series that autumn and continued in that role during the 2018 NatWest Six Nations. He made his Test debut in 2021 against the USA and contributed 13 points, including a try, to their 43-19 victory.
In 2021 he was called up to the British & Irish Lions squad and kicked all seven conversions in their game against the Stormers. Steve Borthwick named Smith in his squad for the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship.
Try Celebrations for Marcus Smith of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#7. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) - £480,000
Having risen through the Saints Academy ranks, Lawes continued to impress as Saints were promoted back to the Premiership – helping the side lift both the European Challenge Cup in 2009 and the LV= Cup in 2010.
A Heineken Champions Cup final followed for the lock in 2011 before Lawes' instrumental performances helped Saints a double-winning season in 2014, with the side claiming their first ever Premiership title and a second Challenge Cup trophy within eight days of each other.
A player who provides a massive impact in either the back or second row, Lawes was named Player of the Season in 2019/20 by the Club's supporters and has since reached 250 appearances in the Black, Green and Gold jersey, his milestone coming against Ulster in the Heineken Champions Cup in January 2022.
#6. Paddy Jackson (London Irish) - £500,000
Jackson joined London Irish from Top 14 side Perpignan ahead of the 2019/20 season.
Jackson scored over 600 points in 88 appearances in the Pro 12 for Irish province Ulster before signing for the French side.
Before the 2020/21 season, Paddy was named one of the Club captains and went on to pass 300 points scored for London Irish in the same campaign.
Paddy Jackson of London Irish kicks for goal during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Newcastle Falcons at The Brentford Community Stadium, London on December 04 2021 (Photo: Danny Loo/PPAUK)
#5. George Ford (Sale Sharks) - £550,000
Ford joined Sale Sharks on a long-term contract ahead of the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership just weeks after helping Leicester Tigers to the Premiership title.
#4. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) - £580,000
Exeter's marquee signing ahead of the 2019/20 season, big things were certainly expected of the two-time British & Irish Lions tourist and back-to-back RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship winner (2016 and 2017).
Arriving in Devon after nine years with Glasgow Warriors, Hogg quickly settled into his new surroundings, proving an instant hit - both on and off the field - with his new club.
Try Celebrations for Stuart Hogg of Exeter Chiefs during the European Rugby Champions Cup Match between Exeter Chiefs and Montpellier at Sandy Park on 11 December 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#3. Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers) - £600,000
World Cup-winning fly-half Pollard joined Leicester Tigers ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Capped on more than 60 occasions by South Africa, Pollard made the move to the East Midlands from Montpellier after helping the French club to the Top14 title in the 2021/22 season.
Oliver Hoskins of London Irish is tackled by Handré Pollard of Leicester Tigers during the Gallagher Premiership match between London Irish and Leicester Tigers at The Gtech Community Stadium, London on 25 February 2023 (Photo: Danny Loo/PPAUK)
#2. Maro Itoje (Saracens) - £800,000
Two years ago, there were rumours of Itoje's interest in joining Racing 92. During this time, club president Jacky Lorenzetti accidentally revealed that the lock demanded 1 million euros to seal the deal. While the exact details of Itoje's current salary at Saracens are uncertain, it is believed that he earns approximately £800,000.
Maro Itoje of Saracens during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final Match between Leicester Tigers and Saracens at Twickenham Stadium on 18 June 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#1. Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears) - £1,000,000
There have been reports that the Kiwi player earns £1 million while playing for Bristol Bears, making him the first British rugby player to earn such a sum. However, it appears that he may be leaving Ashton Gate soon, potentially paving the way for Finn Russell to become the highest-paid player in the game when he joins Bath.
Charles Piutau of Bristol Bears on the break during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Gloucester Rugby and Bristol Bears at Kingsholm Stadium on December 3 2021 in Gloucester, England. (Photo by Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
