Highest-paid rugby players in the world 2023: Who earns the most?

They say money makes the world go round – and that's certainly true about the game of rugby.

Two teams of 15 players throwing and kicking a ball around a pitch is big business, although the most amount of cash can be found kicking about in Europe's top leagues.

The biggest earners in the game are well remunerated for their efforts, with ageing aces at the end of their careers and up-and-coming talents equally adept at bagging mega-money contracts.

RUCK.co.uk examines the top 10 highest-paid players in the world. We've based our figures on reports from trusted news sources and databases to boost our accuracy.

All figures mentioned are before tax – unless specified – and do not include bonuses, extra fees and players' various sponsorship deals which, in some cases, can instantly double their annual income.

During his tenure at Montpellier, the Springbok fly-half was known as one of the highest-earning players in the sport, purportedly receiving an annual salary exceeding one million.

However, his transfer to Leicester Tigers entailed a reduction in pay, although he is still believed to be earning a respectable sum at Welford Road.

The Les Bleus’ talisman is undoubtedly leading one of the most exciting teams on the international stage, all while helping to change the perception of the sport.

In 2020, the captain of the England rugby team inked an agreement to remain with Saracens until at least the 2023 World Cup.

However, earlier this year, there were unverified claims that he had secured a significant new contract, potentially elevating his earnings to approximately £820,000. These reports lacked solid evidence to support their validity.

Furthermore, it had been disclosed earlier that he had voluntarily deferred 90% of his salary to assist the club in navigating the financial challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The only Welshman on this list, Biggar was previously earning around £600,000 at Northampton Saints, having joined the Gallagher Premiership side from the Ospreys. However, he recently left the Saints to join French giants Toulon, where he is reportedly earning around £800,000.

When Itoje was rumoured to be interested in joining Racing 92 two years ago, club president Jacky Lorenzetti let slip that the lock wanted 1million euros for the deal to go through. Exact figures on Itoje's current salary at Saracens vary but it is reported that he is bringing home around £800,000.

The Scotland fly-half, known for his unpredictable nature, had previously earned an annual salary of £850,000 while playing for Racing 92.

However, his recent agreement with Premiership club Bath is believed to be even more financially rewarding.

Speculations put his new deal at approximately £950,000, though certain sources indicate that it could reach an impressive £1 million per year for the entire three-year duration of his contract at the Rec.

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