Rugby Player Salaries: What Do Rugby Players Get Paid?

Rugby players look tough on the field—but their bank accounts don’t always match the bruises. You’d think all pro rugby players are rolling in cash, but the reality? Most aren’t even close to footballers’ or basketball stars’ paychecks. Salary depends a lot on where they play, how famous they are, and whether they're in the international spotlight or just grinding it out in local leagues.

Bigger leagues like England’s Premiership and France’s Top 14 pay the highest base salaries, sometimes reaching €800,000 a year for iconic players. But if you drop down a level or play outside Europe, salaries shrink fast—many regular pros make between €40,000 and €120,000 a year. That's before taxes, agents’ fees, and other cuts.

• Basic Salary Ranges in Rugby
• Who Makes the Most: League, Level, Country
• Beyond the Contract: Bonuses, Endorsements, Extras
• Tips for Players Looking to Maximize Their Pay

Basic Salary Ranges in Rugby

If you want to know what rugby players actually take home, you’ve got to look at the numbers. Paychecks in rugby are all over the place—top stars crush it, but lots of pros are earning not much more than you’d expect for a desk job.

Here’s a no-nonsense look at what you might see:

Why the giant gap? Not everyone gets to be a star. Most players land in the €40,000–€120,000 bracket, especially if they’re not international regulars. Only a handful pick up the massive numbers you hear about on sports talk shows. Young players or those at the start often sign for the league minimum, which can be barely enough to live comfortably in some cities.

If you’re outside the rugby player salary hotspots like France and England, the numbers drop even further. America’s league, for example, pays its top guys less than many teachers make in big cities. Still, some players manage to climb into the top tier, but they’re usually playing at international level or signing celebrity endorsement deals on the side.

Who Makes the Most: League, Level, Country

When it comes to rugby player salary, there’s no universal paycheck. Everything depends on where you play and how good you are. The biggest checks show up in a handful of leagues, and there’s a massive jump between top international stars and regular squad players.

Let’s break it down by the leagues that matter most for this wallet talk:

French and English clubs are throwing the biggest offers, with France right now topping the chart for the absolute mega-earners. A handful of names, like Antoine Dupont and Charles Ollivon, have deals rumored to be around or above €900,000 a season with club and international bonuses included.

Most pros in these top leagues are not living in mansions—they earn enough to live comfortably, but not with private jets. In places like New Zealand and South Africa, playing for your national team actually pays off more than some club contracts, especially when you add in match fees and sponsorships.

If you're in the lower leagues—or playing club rugby in places like Italy’s second division or the US Major League Rugby—salaries can dip to €30,000 or even less. Sometimes players even work other jobs to make ends meet.

The Rugby Players’ Association explained: “Over half of Premiership players are on less than the average UK wage, and only a handful sign deals much above the maximum salary cap.”

Country matters too: French tax rates are high, but so are gross salaries. Japanese clubs offer short contracts but sometimes pay big for retired international legends. Meanwhile, Australian and South African clubs can’t compete with European wages, but the chance to play for the national team and earn match fees balances it a bit.

Here’s the key takeaway: being a rugby player salary king is reserved for just a small group of superstars. The rest hustle hard, and only in the top handful of clubs do you see those jaw-dropping numbers everyone dreams about.

Beyond the Contract: Bonuses, Endorsements, Extras

The rugby player salary you see in headlines is just part of the story. Players often pick up extra money with bonuses, sponsorships, and side gigs. The bigger your name, the more doors open.

Let’s talk bonuses first. In top pro leagues, players can earn juicy extras for winning matches, qualifying for finals, or being named ‘Man of the Match.’ International players get appearance fees on top—like when England’s national side pays about £25,000 per player for a Six Nations game win. Some clubs even dangle goal-kicking or try-scoring bonuses to motivate players.

What about endorsements? Big names like Antoine Dupont or Maro Itoje sign deals with sports brands – boots, kit, and sometimes even energy drinks or cars. For most players, these deals aren’t anything like what top soccer stars snag, but they still help feed the bank account. A starter-level brand partnership might bring in €10,000 a year; a star deal goes into six figures. Social media matters too—post enough, build a following, and brands start to notice.

Extras aren’t just about fame. Some players run rugby schools, personal training, or media work in the off-season. Club ambassador roles pop up for retired fan favorites, bringing in steady income long after their playing days. For youngsters and lesser-known pros, small steps like running kids’ camps or sponsored socials can supplement those middle-range salaries.

• Negotiate win and performance bonuses when signing contracts.
• Grow your social media presence for better brand deals.
• Think beyond playing: coaching camps, online courses, or rugby podcasts are all ways to earn on the side.

Sometimes, all these ‘extras’ can add a third or even half again to a player’s basic pay, especially for those who hustle off the pitch. It’s not just what happens on the field—it’s how players package themselves and grab every opportunity.

Tips for Players Looking to Maximize Their Pay

If you’re a rugby player eyeing a bigger bank balance, just relying on your basic contract isn’t enough. The biggest paydays usually go to the ones who hustle both on and off the pitch. Let’s break down proven ways players can boost their rugby player salary in today’s game.

• Get Into Top Leagues: England’s Premiership, France’s Top 14, and Japan’s Rugby League One pay the biggest contracts. Just a league move can double your base salary. For example, a good Premiership starter might earn £140,000 a year, while a similar player in France could snag €180,000.
• Play International Matches: National team appearances can seriously pad your income. In 2024, England players got £25,000 per Six Nations match, while New Zealand’s All Blacks rake in NZ$7,500 per test—plus win bonuses.
• Sign Performance-Based Deals: Many clubs love contracts with bonuses. Points for tries, appearances, even defensive tackles—these extras can bump up annual pay by 10–30% for some positions.
• Boost Your Brand: Social media doesn’t just waste time. Players with a big Instagram or TikTok following catch endorsement deals—even for niche products. One Premiership winger almost doubled his outside income last season with clever local sponsorships.
• Off-Season Play: When the fixtures allow, some players make extra cash by joining clubs in Japan or the U.S. in the European off-season. It’s demanding, but a short stint in Japan can add up to €200,000 for senior internationals.
• Stay Healthy and Available: Clubs pay bonuses for full fitness—miss less, earn more. In France, some Top 14 contracts penalize for injuries that keep you out more than 8 weeks in a season.

Here’s how these extras can stack up, just so you get a sense of the full picture:

One underrated tip? Invest time in networking, not just training. Lots of higher paid players score extra gigs or media work just by building good relationships. And if you’ve got a plan for life after rugby—like media, coaching, or business—you won’t stress as much about every pay bump. Rugby’s big paydays go to the ones who think like pros, not just play like them.