There’s a familiar face at No.1, but who else is on the 2022 rugby rich list?
RUCK.co.uk examines the top 10 highest-paid players in the world. We’ve based our figures on reports from Forbes, reputable news outlets and a variety of official sources to get us as close to the mark as possible.
All figures mentioned are before tax and do not include the array of bonuses and extra fees stashed away in the fine print of every contract. Players’ various sponsorship deals are also not included but, in some cases, add zeroes to the end of their pay cheques.
Highest-paid rugby players 2021/22
#9=. Owen Farrell (Saracens) - £750k
The England skipper is heading into the final year of his contract at Saracens and is reported to be earning a substantial amount of money on his current deal with a number of unknown bonuses thought to be included.
#9=. Michael Hooper (Toyota Verblitz) - £750k
Last season he took a sabbatical in Japan and is reported to have been earning £750,000 with Toyota Verblitz.
#8. Beauden Barrett (Suntory Sungoliath) - £780k
On his year out in Japan with Suntory Sungoliath last year, the Daily Mail reports Barrett earned £780,000.
#7. Virimi Vakatawa (Racing 92) - £780k
Last year, Les Bleus' centre signed a huge contract with Racing 92, according to reports in France.
#6. Maro Itoje (Saracens) - £800k
When Itoje was rumoured to be interested in joining Racing 92 last year, club president Jacky Lorenzetti let slip that the lock wanted €1million for the deal to go through.
Exact figures on Itoje's current salary at Saracens vary but it is widely reported that he is bringing home in excess of £800,000.
#4=. Cheslin Kolbe (Toulon) - £850k
The speedster hit the financial jackpot with his summer switch from Toulouse to Top 14 rivals Toulon. He now warns an annual salary of €1million after they buy out the remainder of his contract from the recent league/Champions Cup double winners.
#4=. Finn Russell (Racing 92) - £850k
The talented fly-half signed a new three-year deal with Racing 92 last year. The Rugby Paper report he is earning as much as £850,000 with the Paris-based club.
#3. Eben Etzebeth (Toulon) - £900k
The Springbok enforcer is in the midst of a three-year deal in the south of France and is widely reported to be earning just shy of £1m.
#1=. Charles Piutau (Bristol Bears) - £1m
For some time, the speedstee has been reported to be earning £1m at Bristol Bears and he became the first player in British rugby to do so when he joined the club from Ulster.
#1=. Handre Pollard (Montpellier) - £1m
He moved alongside Piutau as the joint-highest paid player on the planet when he signed for Montpellier after the Springboks won the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Will drop down the rankings when he joins Leicester Tigers in the summer.
