Highest Paid Rugby Players In 2025: Top 20 List Of Rugby's Biggest Stars
Highest Paid Rugby Players In 2025: Top 20 List Of Rugby's Biggest Stars
Owen Farrell Tops 2025 Rugby Rich List: The 10 Highest Paid Players Earning Up to £1.2 Million in France, Japan, and England’s Elite Clubs
Rugby union’s elite may not command the same global financial spotlight as football’s megastars or Formula 1’s elite drivers, but the top players in the sport are still earning seven-figure salaries in today’s professional era.
Driven by big-money moves to France’s Top 14, Japan’s League One, and the English Premiership, the global market for rugby talent is booming.
- Subscribe To FloRugby To Watch Champions Cup In 2024-25
- 100 Best Rugby Players In The World: Here's The Full List
- The 25 Best Rugby Clubs In The World On May 14 | FloRugby Rankings
While rugby may still trail global sports like football and basketball in total earnings, the modern professional era has seen significant financial growth.
As the French Top 14 and Japan Rugby League One continue to lure stars with hefty salaries, whilst the English and URC clubs look to retain talent amid budget constraints, rugby’s top earners now rival athletes in far more commercialised sports. Expect the numbers to keep climbing.
Here’s a look at the top 20 highest-paid rugby players in the world in 2025, based solely on reported club salaries, excluding endorsements, bonuses or image rights.
1. Owen Farrell – £1.2 million
Club: Racing 92 (France)
Country: England
Farrell’s high-profile transfer from Saracens to Racing 92 in 2024 made him the highest-paid player in rugby. The England captain’s salary reflects his world-class leadership and consistent playmaking ability.
2. Finn Russell – £1 million
Club: Bath Rugby (England)
Country: Scotland
Scotland’s creative fly-half briefly held the title of rugby’s top earner after joining Bath post the 2023 World Cup. Russell’s flair and control at No. 10 earn him a cool £1 million a year.
3. Cheslin Kolbe – £930,000
Club: Tokyo Sungoliath (Japan)
Country: South Africa
Kolbe’s dazzling footwork and game-breaking ability have translated into a lucrative contract in Japan, where he is the highest paid player in League One.
4. Faf de Klerk – £900,000
Club: Yokohama Canon Eagles (Japan)
Country: South Africa
Known for his fiery style and relentless work rate, de Klerk continues to cash in on his global appeal in Japan’s top division.
5. Dan Biggar – £800,000
Club: Toulon (France)
Country: Wales
The veteran Welsh fly-half remains his country’s highest-paid player, playing a central role for Toulon in the Top 14 before announcing his impending retirement at the end of the 2024/25 season.
6. Maro Itoje – £800,000
Club: Saracens (England)
Country: England
One of England’s most marketable and accomplished players, Itoje’s domestic salary reflects his stature in the game. A future overseas move could raise that number further.
7. Siya Kolisi – £775,000
Club: Hollywoodbets Sharks (South Africa)
Country: South Africa
South Africa’s inspirational skipper and two-time World Cup winner brings leadership and star power to Durban, where he commands £775,000 per year.
8. Antoine Dupont – £700,000
Club: Toulouse (France)
Country: France
France’s talismanic scrum-half is widely considered the best in his position globally. His £700,000 salary underscores Toulouse’s desire to keep their star man at home.
9. Steven Luatua – £620,000
Club: Bristol Bears (England)
Country: Samoa
Luatua has been a stalwart for Bristol, and his pay packet exceeds that of many international players, thanks to his consistency and versatility.
10. Handré Pollard – £610,000
Club: Leicester Tigers (England)
Country: South Africa
Pollard remains one of rugby’s premier fly-halves, with a salary to match. He took a pay cut to move to Leicester, but still ranks among the highest earners.
11. Gaël Fickou – £600,000
Club: Racing 92 (France)
Country: France
The dependable French centre is one of Racing’s key figures, both on the field and at the bank.
12. Michael Hooper – £580,000
Club: Toyota Verblitz (Japan)
Country: Australia
The Wallabies legend continues his career in Japan with a strong salary reflecting his international pedigree.
13. Kotaro Matsushima – £500,000
Club: Tokyo Sungoliath (Japan)
Country: Japan
A domestic superstar, Matsushima is one of the best-paid Japanese players in League One.
14. Charles Ollivon – £500,000
Club: Toulon (France)
Country: France
The France captain brings leadership and breakdown dominance to Toulon, and is compensated accordingly.
15. Matthieu Jalibert – £490,000
Club: Union Bordeaux Bègles (France)
Country: France
One of France’s brightest fly-half talents, Jalibert’s salary reflects his importance to Bordeaux’s ambitions.
16. Will Skelton – £475,000
Club: La Rochelle (France)
Country: Australia
The towering Australian lock has become a cornerstone of La Rochelle’s pack — and is paid like one.
17. Damian de Allende – £460,000
Club: Panasonic Wild Knights (Japan)
Country: South Africa
A consistent midfield presence, de Allende’s move to Japan came with a healthy financial boost.
18. Richie Mo’unga – £450,000
Club: Toshiba Brave Lupus (Japan)
Country: New Zealand
Mo’unga’s shift to Japan post-All Blacks has been financially rewarding, even by his high standards.
19. Ardie Savea – £440,000
Club: Moana Pasifika (New Zealand) & Kobelco Steelers (Japan)
Country: New Zealand
Savea’s short-term stint in Japan was among the highest-paid for a forward in the league.
20. Emmanuel Meafou – £425,000
Club: Toulouse (France)
Country: France
The powerful lock’s emergence as a key figure at Toulouse has been matched with a top-tier contract.
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.