Okay, let me walk you through how I figured out who the top-earning rugby players are for 2024. It started pretty simply, really. I was just curious, chatting with some mates about who’s pulling in the big bucks these days in the rugby world.
Starting the Search
So, the first thing I did was grab my phone and just start searching. I popped open my browser and typed in things like “highest paid rugby players 2024” and “top rugby salaries this year”. You know, the usual stuff you’d try.
I got a whole load of results back, mostly from sports news sites, some rugby-focused blogs, and even a few forum discussions. It wasn’t like one single perfect list just appeared, you know? It was a bit messy.
Sorting Through the Information
I started clicking through some of the more legit-looking sites – the big sports news outlets I recognized. I tried to cross-reference what they were saying. One site would claim one player was top, another site might have a slightly different order or different figures. That’s pretty common with salary stuff, it’s rarely announced officially, right?
I noticed a few names kept coming up again and again in the top spots. That gave me a good starting point. I paid less attention to random blogs I’d never heard of and focused on the reports that seemed a bit more researched, even if they admitted the figures were estimates.
Key Players Popping Up
Based on looking through maybe half a dozen different articles and reports, here are the guys who consistently seemed to be right at the top of the money list:
- Finn Russell: This name was everywhere. Playing over in France for Racing 92, then moving to Bath. Lots of talk about him hitting that £1 million mark, or even a bit over.
- Siya Kolisi: Another huge name, especially after the World Cup wins. His move to Racing 92 also came with reports of a massive salary. Definitely up there.
- Faf de Klerk: Playing out in Japan for Yokohama Canon Eagles. The Japanese league seems to be paying big money, and he was frequently mentioned near the very top earners.
- Cheslin Kolbe: Another Springbok, also playing in Japan for Suntory Sungoliath. Like Faf, consistently listed with a huge salary figure.
There were others mentioned too, like Maro Itoje at Saracens and maybe Dan Biggar before he headed back to France, but those first few seemed to be the most frequently cited as the absolute highest earners right now.
Understanding the Numbers
It’s important to remember, like I said, these numbers are mostly reported figures, not official statements from the clubs or players. They often include bonuses and image rights too, not just the basic salary. But generally, the talk was hovering around that £800,000 to over £1 million per year mark for the very, very top players. French and Japanese clubs seem to be splashing the cash the most right now.
Putting it Together
So, after looking through everything, I didn’t create a super formal spreadsheet or anything, but I got a clear picture. I mentally listed Russell, Kolisi, Faf, and Kolbe as probably the top 4, give or take the exact order depending on which report you trust most. The common theme was star players, often playing in France or Japan, commanding the biggest wages.
It was an interesting little dive into the finances of modern rugby. Shows how global the game is now, with players moving across the world for these contracts. Definitely gives you something to think about when you see these guys playing!