Ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup, we look at who should be each countries best player based on their pay packet.
POOL A:
Ireland: Johnny Sexton – £536,000
Happy back at Leinster and being “looked after” in terms of money and the number of matches in which he plays by the Irish Rugby Union.
Scotland: Finn Russell – £535,000
Has doubled his money by succeeding Carter at Racing 92 after switching from Glasgow Warriors with the Scottish Rugby Union unable to come anywhere near matching the money he was offered to cross the English Channel.
Japan: Ayumu Goromaru – £650,000
For a while, the highest-earning rugby player in the world during his stints with Toulon and Queensland Reds, the fullback is still making big money back in Japan where he plays for Yamaha Júbilo.
Russia: Andrei Ostrikov – £75,000
He’s leaving Sale, but has had a fantastic seven years at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Samoa: Tim Nanai-Williams – £150,000
The versatile back signed a bumper three-year contract with French champions Clermont Auvergne in December 2017.