Rugby Union is one of the world’s most compelling sports. However, the list of the highest-paid rugby players is quite surprising. These elite athletes put their bodies on the line every game, making brutal tackles and riding big hits. Yet, few receive the paychecks they deserve.
Top rugby union players have relatively low earning power, especially compared to other sports. Few players break the million-euro mark. The French and Japanese leagues offer bigger salaries on average but these lucrative contracts are hard to come by.
10. Tadhg Furlong
Furlong is currently the highest-paid rugby player in Ireland. The Leinster star is one of the best props on the planet and a serial winner. Reportedly, he boasts the most lucrative contract in Irish rugby since Jonathan Sexton’s retirement.
The IRFU operates a special central contracting system that keeps the best Irish rugby players in the country. This benefits the provinces and the national team. Furlong is one of their key assets. However, the IRFU recently changed the rules so that the provinces must contribute 30% of the player’s salary.
There’s no doubting that Furlong is worth the money. The 31-year-old Wexford native is one of the most decorated Irish players ever. He’s a three-time Six Nations winner with two Grand Slams.
Meanwhile, he’s enjoyed massive provincial success with Leinster. Furlong has four Pro 12 medals and a Heineken Cup. His physicality and consistency are phenomenal. The IRFU typically caps salaries at half a million euros per year. But they broke the bank with Furlong because he’s one of the best Irish players ever and it was crucial to keep him in the country. He edges out South Africa’s Handré Pollard to make the top 10.
- Team: Leinster
- Nation: Ireland
- Position: Prop
- International Caps: 77
- Estimated salary: €700,000
9. Steven Luatua
Luatua is one of rugby’s great opportunists. The New Zealand-born Samoan international is one of the world’s highest-paid rugby players. He had an immense career in Super Rugby with the Blues.
Coaches credit Luatua for his versatility because he plays in multiple rugby positions across the field. He likes being a No. 8 but he can also play as an effective flanker or as a lock. Meanwhile, his athleticism and physicality make him a force to reckon with. Currently, he is in Bristol where he has won several Player of the Season awards and is a firm fan favourite.
Loud and clear on the PlayerMic 🎙️😂 pic.twitter.com/dKeiTfSfpO
— Bristol Bears 🐻 (@BristolBears) January 28, 2024
Arguably, Luatua hasn’t enjoyed the international career his talents deserve. He came through the All-Blacks system, but injuries prevented him from making the impact he wanted.
In 2023, he changed his allegiance to Samoa and represented them at the Rugby World Cup. This also allows him to continue playing international rugby despite being in the UK. Samoa doesn’t have the same strict eligibility requirements as New Zealand. Nobody will question Luatua’s commitment to the nation of his ancestry.
- Team: Bristol Bears
- Nation: Samoa
- Position: Flanker
- International Caps: 3
- Estimated salary: €730,000
8. Antoine Dupont
Dupont is arguably the best player in the world right now. A generational talent, the French superstar is a phenomenal athlete. We expect him to rise on this list of the highest-paid rugby players. Dupont elevates his teammates at both international and club levels. He won the 2022 Six Nations with France as he helped his country to a Grand Slam.
Meanwhile, he was World Player of the Year in 2021. Many analysts already believe that he’s on course to be the greatest of all time. Dupont skipped the 2024 Six Nations to guide France’s Sevens team to Olympic glory in Paris. He added a gold medal to his endless accolades.
Antoine Dupont 🤩🙌
That's the post 🥇#Olympics #RugbySevens pic.twitter.com/tSpVM5hWTx
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) July 27, 2024
His club record is equally impressive. The Toulouse scrum-half is a two-time Champions Cup winner. He delivered a sensational performance against Leinster in the 2024 final. Dupont was remarkable in this match and there’s no overstating how good he is.
Toulouse has also won four Top-14 championships with Dupont leading the way. The best aspect about him is how relaxed he is. He hails from the countryside and still maintains a close connection to rural life despite his riches. Dupont is the sport’s humble superstar, making it even easier to love him.
- Team: Toulouse
- Nation: France
- Position: Scrum Half
- International Caps: 52
- Estimated Salary: €833,000
7. Dan Biggar
Dan Biggar is the highest-paid rugby player for Wales. The fly-half is one of the best kickers in the sport. A veteran campaigner, Biggar played for Wales through highs and lows. He’s also been in a couple of Lions’ squads.
Biggar has one of the most recognisable kicking routines in rugby. It spawned many imitations and online reactions. However, it works very well for him because he has almost 3,000 points at club level. Biggar was crucial in helping Wales reach the semifinals at the World Cup in Japan. Analysts praise his consistency despite his country’s problems over the past couple of years.
Biggar spent the bulk of his career with Ospreys before he moved to Northampton. He was already one of the big earners in the UK. But his salary reached a new level when he moved to the Top 14 with Toulon. Every rugby fan knows France is where the big money is in European rugby.
However, Toulon paid a hefty fine of half a million euros after the transfer, after failing to show proper transparency. Now 34, it’s likely that Biggar will see out the rest of his career with the French giants.
- Team: Toulon
- Nation: Wales
- Position: Fly-half
- International Caps: 112
- Estimated Salary: €940,000
6. Siya Kolisi
South Africa’s charismatic captain is another of the highest-paid rugby players. He’s the first Springboks captain in history to lead his nation to back-to-back World Cup titles. Kolisi inspires his teammates through example. His thunderous tackles and relentless mindset make him a born winner.
Kolisi is also a trailblazer in his native country. He’s the first Black South African captain in a milestone for the sport. He’s even one of Time Magazine’s most influential people. There’s a reason Rassie Erasmus wants him on the team despite his recent move to France.
Kolisi spent the bulk of his career in Super Rugby. He spent most of his time with Stormers in between spells with Western Province and Sharks. In 2023, he made the financially lucrative decision to join Racing 92. The Parisian giants instantly elevated his salary and made him one of the sport’s wealthiest athletes. Typically, South African coaches avoid selecting overseas players. However, Kolisi is a rare exception, and it’s easy to see why.
- Team: Racing 92
- Nation: South Africa
- Position: Flanker
- International Caps: 83
- Estimated Salary: €950,000
5. Maro Itoje
Now 29, it feels as if Itoje has been around forever. One of the world’s most dominant lock, he has spent his entire club career with Saracens. The Camden native is an icon in North London because of his accomplishments and longevity. He is a phenomenal athlete but also has a great understanding of the sport.
Itoje has five Premiership titles to his name. He also helped Saracens to unprecedented success in Europe with three Champions Cup victories. Meanwhile, he stayed loyal to the team after their relegation in 2020 for breaching salary cap rules.
Itoje is an England stalwart and one of the first names on the team sheet. He helped his country win the Grand Slam in 2016 and delivered outstanding displays. England also reached the World Cup in 2019 with Itoje a key starter.
It’s no surprise that Saracens made him their highest-paid rugby player. They don’t want him to disappear to France in pursuit of riches. Sometimes it’s worth breaking the bank for the top talents. However, there’s speculation that he may follow Owen Farrell to the continent for his next contract.
- Team: Saracens
- Nation: England
- Position: Lock
- International Caps: 78
- Estimated Salary: €1,100,000
4. Faf de Klerk
Japan is one of the most lucrative destinations on the planet for rugby players. Hordes of Australian, New Zealand, and South African talents have travelled to the Far East in pursuit of wealth. De Klerk is arguably the most high-profile of these. His profile was at its highest when he won the World Cup with the Springboks in 2019.
The Japanese liked what they saw with the Yokohama Canon Eagles snapping him up in 2022. They made him one of the world’s highest-paid rugby players with an offer he couldn’t refuse. It’s common for rugby stars to spend a couple of years there to inflate their bank accounts before moving home.
https://twitter.com/1992sFinest/status/1718957955905683581
With his long blonde locks and short stature, de Klerk cuts a distinctive figure on the field. He learnt his trade with the Eagles and the Lions before moving to the Premiership. One of the world’s top scrum-halves, he played with distinction for Sale.
A two-time World Champion, De Klerk is a born winner. He represents the best of South African flair. However, the 32-year-old is facing pressure on the international scene from Grant Williams and Morne van den Berg. This could be the last year we create rugby predictions on the superstar.
- Team: Yokohama Canon Eagles
- Nation: South Africa
- Position: Scrum-half
- International Caps: 54
- Estimated Salary: €1,100,000
3. Cheslin Kolbe
Cheslin Kolbe is an outrageous South African athlete plying his trade in Japan. He’s a beneficiary of Japan’s rugby boom and the lucrative opportunities there. Many wonder how their teams can afford to attract top athletes like this two-time Rugby World Cup winner. Massive corporations sponsor club sides, resulting in cash to burn. Plus, Japan has a shorter season with less physical intensity. It’s a no-brainer for many top rugby pros.
A moment that will go down in history. Cheslin Kolbe saved this whole game. #FRAvRSA #RugbyWorldCuppic.twitter.com/TeZLO7dGxm
— duke dilly dally (@comradesipho) October 15, 2023
Kolbe is the definition of a superstar. He had a very successful career in France with Toulouse and Toulon. The Western Cape native won the Champion’s Cup with the former. He has a pair of Top 14 medals in his overflowing trophy cabinet. He even received a World Rugby nomination for their Player of the Year Award in 2019.
Kolbe moved to Asia in 2023 and is now 30, meaning he could enjoy even more years as one of the highest-paid rugby players. As he approaches the end of a glittering career, he’s still making Springbok squads and isn’t showing signs of a decline.
- Team: Tokyo Sungoliath
- Nation: South Africa
- Position: Wing
- International Caps: 33
- Estimated Salary: €1,175,000
2. Finn Russell
The only Scotsman on this list, Russell, was once World Rugby’s top earner. Now he’s in second place, but he won’t be too worried. Russell plays for Premiership side Bath, where he’s making staggering money. Reportedly, they’re paying him even more than he made in France with Racing 92.
This is wild because the French typically break the bank for Europe’s best players. Russell counts himself amongst this number because he’s Scotland’s captain and one of the best out-halves in the world.
Some critics question his consistency and his mentality. However, Russell has been central to Scottish rugby’s revival over the past half-decade. He helped his nation secure a famous win over England and produced many magic moments.
Russell’s vision and skill have earned him plaudits. The 31-year-old is an outstanding leader and a key member of Gregor Townsend’s squad. Bath hopes he’ll inspire them to similar success in the domestic game. He’s under pressure because they showed their commitment to him.
- Team: Bath
- Nation: Scotland
- Position: Fly-half
- International Caps: 80
- Estimated Salary: €1,250,000
1. Owen Farrell
Farrell became rugby’s highest earner in 2024 after he joined Racing 92. They offered him a world-record contract worth millions of euros over two years. Many people would think it was an easy decision for the former England captain. But it was emotional to leave his beloved Saracens after 16 years of service.
He won everything available with the English club. They enjoyed the Champions Cup and Premiership domination. Farrell consistently performed at a high level as he proved himself to be one of the best fly-halves on the planet.
Tonight marks the end of Owen Farrell with Saracens & England.
– 256 Apps for Saracens
– 112 Apps for England
– 7 Apps for Lions6 Nations 🥇🥇🥇
World Cup 🥈
Champions Cup 🥇🥇🥇
Premiership 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇
Player of the Year 🥇🥇
Lions Tours (x3)Best I've seen since Carter. pic.twitter.com/8HPrzx3Huh
— Richie Allen (@Richie_Allen) May 31, 2024
A two-time European Player of the Year, Farrell also enjoyed massive success with England. He inspired the Red Roses to a Grand Slam in 2016. Meanwhile, they’ve won three Six Nations with Farrell as the conductor. He also helped them reach the World Cup Final in 2019.
Farrell accepted that his move to France would end his international career. He was previously one of the highest-paid rugby players in the world, but this move took him to the top of the list. Ultimately, the numbers in his bank account will make him feel better about missing out on the international stage. He’s already enjoying life in Paris.
- Team: Racing 92
- Nation: England
- Position: Fly-half
- International Caps: 112
- Estimated Salary: €1,450,000
