Racing 92 playmaker Finn Russell will become the highest paid player in the English Premiership when he makes his move to Bath, say reports.
It's been suggested that the Scotland stars three-year deal at the Rec will be worth £1million per year, and that the signing will be confirmed in the coming days.
That would be double what England star Marcus Smith, who has two and half years remaining on his current contract, earns with him taking home wages of £460,000 per season.
Russell willl be the black, blue and whites marquee signing and due to this status his pay can sit outside of the salary cap.
Racing are on the hunt for a new No.10 and Wales' Gareth Anscombe and Exeter Chiefs Joe Simmonds have been mentioned as a target.
They've also previously been linked with a move for All Blacks star Beauden Barrett.
Finn Russell facts:
- His father played a lot of racket sports, and worked in sports administration, including as Director of Domestic Rugby for the Scottish Rugby Union
- After secondary school, he pursued an apprenticeship for three years as a stonemason, in a business owned by a family friend, whilst his rugby developed
- Russell has been nicknamed ‘Russell the Muscle’ due to having a somewhat slender build for a modern-day rugby player
- Fly-half Russell was capped with the Barbarians against England during the mid-year rugby tests
- In 2013 Russell received the John Macphail Scholarship, linked with New Zealand’s Lincoln University
JOIN THE RUCK:
REVEALED: Every Premiership Rugby sides marquee players and their reported salary
We take a look at each Gallagher Premiership clubs marquee player and what they are reportedly earning.
As their clubs marquee player, their salary sits outside of their sides salary cap budget of £5million.
Every Premiership Team's Marquee Player:
Bath RFC: None (was previously Taulupe Faletau)
Bristol Bears: Charles Piutau - £1,000,000 per season
Exeter Chiefs: Stuart Hogg - £500,000
Gloucester: Adam Hastings - £450,000
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
Harlequins: André Esterhuizen - £420,000
Andre Esterhuizen of Harlequins during the Gallagher Premiership match between Harlequins and Leicester Tigers at Twickenham Stoop, London on 16 October 2022 (Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK)
Leicester Tigers: Handre Pollard - £600,000
London Irish: Paddy Jackson - £500,000
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)
Newcastle Falcons: Unknown
Northampton Saints: None (was previously Dan Biggar)
Sale Sharks: George Ford - £450,000
Saracens: Owens Farrell - £750,000
Owen Farrell (c) of the Saracens during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Saracens at the Recreation Ground on 17 Oct. Photo: Steve Haag/PPAUK
Owen Farrell Facts:
- The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
- His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
- He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
- It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
- He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.
