Charles Piutau has a new club after exiting Bristol Bears

Piutau, who spent five years at Bristol, joined the team in 2018 from Ulster. He had three children born in Bristol, but the finances of English rugby dictated that he had to move on.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, he expressed his love for Bristol and would have liked to stay, but he and his family are excited for something different.

He said: ‘I’ve loved Bristol and would definitely have liked to have stayed on, but with where the competition is at and for us as a family we’re excited for something different.

‘It’s the cards we’ve been dealt. I’ll still be keeping an eye on the guys here and the competition and I hope it gets back with teams recovering – the likes of Wasps and Worcester.”

Piutau will keep an eye on his former teammates and the competition. He will move to Japan, and it is expected to be another highly lucrative move for one of the Premiership's top players who reportedly earned almost a million pounds per season at Bristol Bears.

Dan Biggar, the sole Welshman on this prestigious list, previously earned approximately £600,000 while playing for Northampton Saints in the Gallagher Premiership after his stint with the Ospreys. However, he recently made a move to French giants Toulon, where sources indicate he is now earning around £800,000.

Maro Itoje, the talented lock, was rumored to have expressed interest in joining Racing 92 two years ago. Club president Jacky Lorenzetti inadvertently revealed that Itoje requested a 1-million-euro deal. While the exact figures of Itoje's current salary at Saracens vary, it is widely reported that he is bringing home approximately £800,000.

Cheslin Kolbe, the celebrated Springbok star, had already established himself as one of rugby's hottest commodities during his time at Toulouse. When he made the switch from one French powerhouse to another by joining Toulon, reports emerged that he began earning around 1 million euros per year. Toulouse received a substantial £2.23 million transfer fee for his services.

Finn Russell, the mercurial fly-half for Scotland, had been earning £850,000 annually at Racing 92. However, his move to Premiership club Bath is believed to be even more lucrative. Some sources estimate his new deal to be around £950,000, while others suggest a staggering £1 million per year for the duration of his three-year contract at the Rec.

For quite some time, Charles Piutau, the Kiwi sensation, has been widely reported to earn £1 million at Bristol Bears, making him the first player in British rugby to achieve such a feat. However, his tenure at Ashton Gate is expected to come to an end soon, potentially clearing the path for Finn Russell to become the outright highest earner in the game.

Note: The salaries mentioned in this article are approximate figures and subject to change as contract negotiations and market dynamics evolve.