How Much Do Rugby Players Make.
Rugby is one of the hardest sports out there. You must be brave, strong, quick, and able to work with others. Rugby quickly went from being played in small places.
By a few clubs to being played in huge venues in Europe, Australia, and South Africa. “How much do rugby players really make?” is a big question for a lot of rugby fans and people who want to play.
Twenty-five years have passed since 2025. More groups pay more. There are more businesses that help players. People from all over the world are watching the game.
It still depends on where they play, how good they are, and how well-known they are how much money they make.
This guide has everything you need to know:
The year is 2025. How much do rugby players make? Which rugby players make the most money right now? • How much do beginning players and top players make?
How much money do deals and partnerships bring in? Pay trends for the future Let’s get to the point quickly and make it clear.
🏉 About how much does a rugby player make in 2025?
There are different levels of pay for rugby players. There are people who make a lot of money and people who just barely make enough to live on.
Your pay depends on the league you play in, the team you play for, whether you play for your country, your role, your skill level, and any agreements or contracts you have.
Here’s a guess for how much rugby stars will make in 2025: How much that level of player makes on average a year (USD) new player or school player $20,000 to $40,000
A player for a team $75,000.-$200,000. Team member for the country $300,000 to $700,000 The very best players $800,000 to $1,500,000 or more
It’s clear that the best players can get paid a lot. But not every player gets that high. It takes most people years of hard work and learning to get good at it.
🌍 How much do players in each country get paid?
Rugby is played all over the world, but different places pay differently. Because they have more fans and sponsors, some groups get paid more. Check out how much the big rugby teams pay their players:
France’s Top 14 League
France’s Top 14 is one of the best rugby league teams. There, you can get some of the best pay in the world.
Pay range: $250,000 to $400,000
Top stars can win up to $1.5 million Why is it so high? A lot of fans, big sites, and TV deals French footballers, even those who are getting close to the end of their careers, go there to play because the pay is better.
🇬🇧 Gallagher Premiership in the UK
However, it’s not as much as France’s best league in terms of pay. Pay range: $150,000 to $300,000.
You could win up to $1 million.
Remember that England has a pay cap, which means teams can’t spend more than a certain amount. Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje are two English players who make a lot of money.
🌿🇿 New Zealand has Super Rugby and the All Blacks.
New Zealand has some of the best players in the world, but the pay isn’t as good. Pay at the club: $80,000 to $150,000
Top All Blacks: up to $400,000 + extras
Why be happy with less? Not as many people, not as much money, but a lot of pride in our country A lot of the best players want to stay, even if they could make more money somewhere else.
South Africa is home to the United Rugby Championship (URC).
South African players can make more money if they play in other countries. The average salary in the area is $50,000 to $100,000 Deals with other countries: $400 000 or more
To make more money, they often play in Japan, France, or the UK. One rugby league game in Japan
Japan is quickly becoming the best place for rugby stars to visit.
Pay range: $200,000 to $600,000 The best players could win up to $1.2 million. Why? A better way of life, more money, and a shorter season
Some players, like Cheslin Kolbe and Beauden Barrett, have played in Japan to improve their balance.
💰 Who makes the most money as a rugby player in 2025?
Let us now look at the 2025 rugby players who made the most money. These players are not only great athletes, but they also know how to deal with sponsors, contracts, and the media.
It cost $1.4 million to buy Cheslin Kolbe. The shooter from South Africa is quick and liked all over the world. He now lives in Japan and gets $1.3 million a year,
Which is one of the best salaries in rugby. The French scrum-half is admired by many around the world. He makes a lot of money from ads and his team’s pay.
To buy Maro Itoje for $1.2 million This player is one of the best in England. He makes money through brand deals with clothing and bank companies, as well as through his club, Saracens.
These are some other rich people: People from South Africa were given $1 million, and people from New Zealand were given $900,000. The money goes to Owen Farrell from England.
$850,000 to Finn Russell (Scotland) 🎢 What about people who are new or young? At first, not everyone gets paid a lot. People who are new to the game make a lot less money.
English football-team player: £20,000 to £30,000 French bench player: €60,000 to €80,000 New Zealand’s up-and-coming player: $15,000 to $25,000
A lot of the time, these young players need help from family or have part-time jobs. A lot of them learn full-time and live in flats with other people.
But over time, their pay goes up because they work hard and do a good job.
Does a rugby player have a job outside of rugby?
Yes! A lot of the best players actually make extra cash by. Works with banks, health products, clothing, and other brands Two ways to make money on social media are through paid posts and relationships.
Speaking and going out in public, like paid talks and charity games Selling their own gear or things with their name on them
Someone like this is Antoine Dupont, who works for Adidas. She is in ads for high-end watches. A player can make tens of thousands of dollars more a year with these deals.
📉 Why don’t rugby players get paid as much as football stars?
A lot of people ask that. In the English Premier League, someone who plays bench football can make more money than a top rugby star. Why?
People all over the world watch football. There are more sponsors and media coverage, and ticket prices and TV rights are higher. Seasons last longer and have more games.
However, the noise level is rising quickly. The 2023 Rugby World Cup was watched by a huge crowd. In the long run, having more friends will help you make more money and get paid more.
📈 Pay for Rugby in the Future
As of 2025, rugby players are slowly but surely getting paid more. What is going to change: The US and Japan are both spending more on rugby.
Women’s rugby is getting more help and money. Private teams in Europe are giving out bigger deals. Streaming services are getting more users and more money from ads.
They could be making more than $2 million a year in a few years if things keep going this way.
😈 Last Thoughts
To put it another way, how much do rugby stars earn? It is based on. A young player might make $25,000 a year. At least $1.4 million could be given to the winner.
It’s clear that rugby isn’t just about making money. It’s important to love this sport, be proud of it, and work hard at it. Giving your all will earn you gifts that will grow with the sport.
A quick look back
How much each type of player is expected to make each year (in USD) $20,000 to $40,000 for new or young players
$75,000 to $200,000 for a club player
$300,000 to $700,000 for National Team Star The best player in the world $1M to $1.5M or more She made about $1.4 million in 2025, which was the most for Cheslin Kolbe.
🙋 You might want to play rugby.
Now that you know how much rugby players make, what do you think? Should you do the work? Do you want to play rugby?
Sports are more interesting to watch, play, or just be interested in because they have a business side to them.
