Who Are the Most Expensive Rugby Players in the World?

In some areas of the world, the top sporting leagues proudly display the overwhelming salaries of the players within each league. In America, finding salary information for NBA and NFL players is simple. In fact, some fans might even be able to guess the salary based on the player’s position and team. The same cannot be said for equally as popular sports in other areas of the world. 

Rugby, for example, is one of the largest sports played in different places around the world. Rugby has risen in popularity in the United Kingdom and other countries ever since the first reported rugby match in Scotland in the late 1800s. Now, the sport has its own professional league with very well-known and well-payed players in each area of the country. 

Although rugby has become one of the most widely adored sports around the world, finding information about the top paid Rugby players in 2020 is not as simple as it is for other sports. For this reason, we have compiled this list about the top paid rugby players in the world. 

8 - Stuart Hogg
Stuart Hogg is a Rugby player from Scotland. He reportedly makes R11 496 535 each year. As a captain for the Exeter Chiefs, he definitely earns his keep for this quite impressive salary. He has been the highest paid Rugby player for quite some time, since he played with Glasgow Warriors. His playing time is impressive and we know he will do great things in the future. 

7 - Michael Hooper
Michael Hooper plays for the Wallabies and is quite the impressive captain for the team. Although he could very likely earn more money if he chose to play for another team in another area, Michael Hooper chose to sign a huge 5-year contract to stay with his Australian team. He makes R11 956 396 a year. 

6 - Morgan Parra & Nicolas Sanchez
Morgan Parra, halfback for the French team in Clermont, earns an impressive yearly salary. He makes R12 123 618 a year for his work on the team. Although Parra was once an impressive young and international player, he seems to have come to a halt in the international playing field. His career is not over yet, despite his age of 31. Morgan Parra recently signed an extension of his contract with Clermont. 

Nicolas Sanchez is an Argentina player who left his hometown to play for France. He is currently on the team for Stade Francais. He makes R12 123 618, which you may have noticed actually makes him a tie with Morgan Parra. 

5 - Dan Biggar
Dan Biggar is a flyhalf who plays for the Northamptom Saints in Wales. He is one of the most famous players on this team. Appropriately, he is paid R12 541 674 each year. He is a star as a pivot for this interesting team in Wales.

4 - Steven Luatua
Steven Luatua knows how to play the game, and we mean that both figuratively and literally. Originally playing for New Zealand, Luatua used his talent to gain the attention of the English team the Bristol Bears. Agreeing to join their team for a grand sum of R13 586 814, he took his talents where the money was. 

3 - Owen Farrell
Owen Farrell is one of the most highly well-paid Rugby players of all time. His yearly salary is R15 677 092. He plays in England for the Saracens and plans to stay with the same team. Although his salary is capped, he is still one of the highest earning players, although not the only high earner on the England Saracens. 

2 - Maro Itoje
Another highly paid athlete coming from the England Saracens at R18 185 427. Reportedly, he will be taking a paycut to play for the Saracens next year as well. 

1 - Charles Piutau & Handre Pollard
Tied for first place are Charles Piuta and Handre Pollard, who bring in about R20 902 790 per year each.

Handre Pollard is thus one of the most richest athletes in South Africa. He plays for the Montipellier team. 

Charles Piutau plays for the Bristol bears, but is originally from  New Zealand. He was actually British rugby’s first player to earn a million pounds. 

Final Thoughts
Rugby is not quite as popular as either the worldly or the American version of football. However, it is a widely loved and embraced sport. Since rugby is one of the reasons that American football exists to begin with, the world should embrace this entertaining sport as one of the many reasons we love sports in general. Rugby players are tough and work hard.