Who are the 5 highest paid rugby players?
It is less than a year until the 2019 Rugby World Cup kicks off in Japan. The best players in rugby union will descend on the Land of the Rising Sun for the tournament and elite national teams will fight it out for the top prize in the sport. The Rugby World Cup will be a meeting point for most of the highest paid players in the sport. Using bonus code bets, fans can track the Rugby World Cup when it kicks off. The tournament will give many of those players, and others, the chance to attract new clubs willing to pay for their services. Although rugby players don’t see the same types of wages as the English Premier League, NFL, NBA, or IPL cricket players, they still earn handsomely to play the game they love.
So, who are the 5 highest paid rugby players?
Israel Folau – $1.46 million
Australian international Israel Folau may court controversy off the pitch due to his religious and homosexual views, but the talented full-back remains the world’s best on it. Folau is a gem of a player due to his power and speed. He previously played rugby league and Australian Rules Football before starring in rugby union. In 2018, he led the New South Wales Waratahs to the Super Rugby semifinals.
Dan Carter – $1.41 million
New Zealand’s 36-year-old Dan Carter joined Kobelco Steelers in 2018. Despite his large yearly salary, Carter reportedly took a pay cut of around $384,000 to play in Japan. Carter is getting up in age and injuries have begun to take their toll on the fly-half. He has won a glute of trophies in his career including the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups with the All Blacks.
Matt Giteau – $1.41 million
Australian utility back Matt Giteau currently plays for Japan Top League club Suntory Sungoliath. Thanks to many of the clubs being owned by major Japanese companies, there is money to go around to top players from abroad. Giteau helped Suntory to a Top League title after arriving, cementing his place in the team. His 2017 transfer to Japan came after years of playing for teams in Australian along with top French club Toulon. It was in France that Giteau not only made an international name for himself, but a large salary to live on following the end of his career.
Charles Piutau – $1.3 million
Charles Piutau joined England’s Bristol Bears ahead of the 2018 season. The fullback may be the world’s fourth highest paid rugby star, but he is top of the salary list in the Premiership. Piutau’s contract with Bristol made him the first million pound a season rugby player in England. New Zealand domestic rugby experts lament Piutau’s decision to leave the country before fulfilling his potential. Their loss has been Bristol’s gain.
Aaron Cruden – $870,000
Aaron Cruden could be making Piutau’s salary, but the former New Zealand international decided to sign for France’s Montpellier instead of Bristol. Cruden has played well since joining Montpellier in 2017 having left New Zealand’s Chiefs to play in Europe. He had been considered as the next No. 10 for the All Blacks, but Cruden decided to pursue a career abroad instead.
