Who are the top 20 highest paid rugby players of 2025?
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Rugby might not bring in the same eye-watering wages as football, but the sport's top stars are still cashing in big time.
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Owen Farrell's blockbuster move to Racing 92 made him the highest-paid rugby player in the world last year, overtaking Scotland's Finn Russell, who previously held the title after his switch from the French club to Bath.
However, Farrell's reign at the top hasn't lasted long, as World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi has reportedly leapfrogged him after signing a lucrative deal with the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
The Springbok icon, who led South Africa to back-to-back World Cup triumphs, saw his earnings skyrocket after leaving Racing 92 for a return to the United Rugby Championship.
According to Mywage.co.za, Kolisi has jumped from fifth to first in the rankings, making him the best-paid rugby player on the planet.
The highest-paid rugby players in the world
- Siya Kolisi (Sharks) – £808k
- Owen Farrell (Racing 92) – £797k
- Finn Russell (Bath) – £795k
- Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath) – £740k
- Faf de Klerk (Yokohama Canon Eagles) – £716k
- Dan Biggar (Toulon) – £636k
- Maro Itoje (Saracens) – £636k
- Antoine Dupont (Toulouse) – £557k
- Kalyn Ponga (Newcastle Knights) – £506k
- Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers) – £502k
- Cameron Munster (Melbourne Storm) – £502k
- Mitchell Moses (Parramatta Eels) – £499k
- Daly Cherry-Evans (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles) – £497k
- Tino Fa'asuamaleaui (Gold Coast Titans) – £497k
- Payne Haas (Brisbane Broncos) – £497k
- Steve Luatua (Bristol Bears) – £493k
- Nicholas Hynes (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks) – £492k
- James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters) – £492k
- Tom Trbojevic (Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles) – £492k
- Handré Pollard (Leicester Tigers) – £485k
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What about Finn Russell?
It's worth noting that reports have suggested Russell is actually earning £1 million per season, rather than $1 million. If true, the Scotland playmaker would be the undisputed top earner in rugby union, but for now, we're going off the figures provided by Front Office Sports.
While rugby league stars like Kalyn Ponga and Nathan Cleary are also earning big bucks, union players continue to dominate the highest-paid list, with France's Dupont and England's Itoje sitting comfortably among the game's elite.
With salaries continuing to rise, it'll be interesting to see who takes the top spot next.
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