Top 10 highest paid rugby union players as Richie Mo’unga TRIPLES salary in Japan but misses out on number one spot

Owen Farrell has come out atop of a list of the highest paid rugby union players, with the Racing 92 fly-half bringing home a massive £1.2m per season in France.

The England international, who is currently ineligible for his country due to playing club rugby overseas, left Saracens last season and has enjoyed a £400k jump in his salary.

This is according to a study from DashTickets.nz, which has released a comprehensive ranking of the 30 highest-paid rugby players in the world for the 2024/25 campaign.

Owen Farrell top

“Their latest report is more than just a list; it’s a deep dive into the evolving economics of the sport. They’ve uncovered the definitive earning figures, year-over-year changes, and the strategic moves that are reshaping player value and the global balance of power,” read a statement explaining the fascinating list of player incomes in rugby.

Farrell tops a chart that includes rugby league players but it is the union stars who dominate the leading spots with league players filling up a lot of places from 10 to 30.

Sitting in second position is another player who is not able to represent his country at the moment, All Blacks fly-half Richie Mo’unga, a star who currently plies his trade in Japan. Mo’unga plays for Toshiba Brave Lupus and commands an approximate salary of £1.04m, which is a big increase on his £300k while he was playing in New Zealand.

Bath and Scotland’s Finn Russell is next in the chart and also makes seven figures with an approximate £1m salary at the Premiership outfit, up £300k from his Racing deal.

Then comes South African trio Cheslin Kolbe, Faf de Klerk and Siya Kolisi, who sit in fourth, fifth and sixth respectively on £930k, £900k, £808k. Of the top 10 rugby union players, only Springboks captain Kolisi is taking home a smaller amount than the previous 2023/24 campaign, this after he moved from Racing 92 to the Sharks.

Loose Pass: Club World Cup concerns, Henry Pollock advice and a ‘mystifying’ decision in New Zealand

Soon-to-be retiring Wales great Dan Biggar is seventh after making the profitable move to Toulon in the Top 14. His £800k deal is up £200k from his Northampton Saints days.

Then comes Saracens, England and British and Irish Lions captain and lock Maro Itoje, who enjoyed a £100k increase on last season with an approximate salary of £800k.

It may be surprising to some to see arguably the world’s best player Antoine Dupont of Toulouse in 10th. He enjoyed a £50k increase ahead of this season for a £700k salary.

It’s noticeable that Japan’s Rugby League One is home to five of the top 10 earners as several leading internationals are becoming more and more tempted to move there.

Mo’unga, of course, is one of those and it is easy to see why as the All Blacks star has more than tripled his pay since leaving his Crusaders and New Zealand Rugby contract.

Top 10 highest-paid rugby union players

1 Owen Farrell – £1.2m
2 Richie Mo’unga – £1.04m
3 Finn Russell – £1m
4 Cheslin Kolbe – £930k
5 Faf de Klerk – £900k
6 Siya Kolisi – £808k
7 Dan Biggar – £800k
8 Maro Itoje – £800k
9 Beauden Barrett – £780k
10 Antoine Dupont – £700k

READ MORE: YouTuber secures free-to-watch broadcasting rights to French league in astonishing landmark deal