Even though rugby isn’t the poshest sport worldwide, the top players still earn a fair living. In the case of creme de la creme, those numbers exceed a million bucks. To clarify the figures, we at GamblingSites analyzed the top athletes’ earnings below. Let’s talk about the Super Rugby salary values of the highest-paid stars in New Zealand and beyond. We’re starting from the richest and moving our way down the pecking order!
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Highest-Paid Rugby Stars in NZ and Beyond
International Wealthiest Rugby Superstars
If you’ve ever wondered “how much do super rugby players get paid”, this is your chance to find out. First off, we’ll get things up and running with the wealthiest ruby superstars across the globe. After that, we’ll spice things up even further with the highest-paid rugby stars in New Zealand.
Siya Kolisi
Siya Kolisi. Source: Planetrugby.com
Siya Kolisi is the epitome of a superstar in the French Top 14. He currently plays for Racing 92, but rumour has it he’ll bid his farewells in the coming weeks. Back to the topic, Siya Kolisi net worth is roughly $7.3 million NZD, making him one of the richest professional rugby players out there.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Racing 92/Returning to the Sharks in South Africa LIVE |
| Position | Flanker |
| Net Worth | $7.3 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | Kolisi was South Africa’s captain in their World-Cup-winning campaign back in 2019. |
| Nationality | South African |
Kalyn Ponga
Kalyn Ponga. Source: Seriousaboutrl.com
Based on our research, Kalyn Ponga salary is currently at around $1.4 million per year. Considering that sum, it’s no wonder he already has cca $5.8 million NZD to his name. His purse is only going to keep on growing as he just signed a contract extension until the end of 2027.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Newcastle Knights |
| Position | Fullback |
| Net Worth | $5.8 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | 2018 NRL Rookie of the Year, known for his lightning-fast runs and agility. |
| Nationality | Australian |
Cheslin Kolbe
Cheslin Kolbe. Source: Sarugbymag.co.za
Based on the current numbers, Cheslin Kolbe net worth is approximately $5.6 million NZD. That’s more than the aforementioned duo of Russell and Farrell. The 30-year-old South African currently plays for Suntory Sungoliath where he enjoys over a million NZD per year.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Suntory Sungoliath |
| Position | Wing/Fullback |
| Net Worth | Cca $5.6 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | Led South Africa to the 2019 World Cup title and he scored an important try in the grand final against England. |
| Nationality | South African |
Owen Farrell
Owen Farrell. Source: Skysports.com
Owen Farrell is a proper legend of professional rugby union. He’s been representing England since 2012 and has captained the team at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Based on our research, Owen Farrell net worth amounts to roughly $4.5 million NZD. That makes him one of the best-paid professional rugby players in the world.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Saracens |
| Position | Fly-Half |
| Net Worth | $4.5 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | Saracens’ all-time leading scorer, England’s captain at the 2019 Rugby World Cup. |
| Nationality | English |
Antoine Dupont
Antoine Dupont. Source: Olympics.com
Here’s a fun fact – Antoine Dupont started playing rugby when he was just five. He showed plenty of potential right away. It didn’t take long for him to join the well-known Auch youth programme. Nowadays, Antoine Dupont net worth is somewhere around $4.1 million NZD. Not too shabby for the Frenchman.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Toulouse |
| Position | Scrum-Half |
| Net Worth | $4.1 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | World Rugby Player of the Year 2021, one of the best French players right now. |
| Nationality | French |
Faf De Klerk
Faf De Klerk. Source: The Telegraph
Faf De Klerk is another veteran of the game. The current Faf de Klerk net worth is just shy of $4 million NZD. That’s nothing surprising considering he’s still one of the best scrum-halves in the world.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Yokohama Canon Eagles |
| Position | Scrum-Half |
| Net Worth | $3.9 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | One of the best scrum-halves in the world, a major factor in Sale Shark’s Premiership successes. |
| Nationality | South African |
Finn Russell
Finn Russell. Source: Le Monde
The Scottish fly-half Finn Russell made his debut against Team USA all the way back in 2014. He’s played more than 50 test matches since and is the active Scotland national team captain. His gameplay is all about unpredictability. He keeps the opponents guessing his next move with quality footwork and artisan creativity.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Bath Rugby |
| Position | Fly-Half |
| Net Worth | $3.4 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | Russell’s in-game highlights breathe old-school creativity and unpredictability of the ancient game of rugby. |
| Nationality | Scottish |
Dan Biggar
Dan Biggar. Source: Rugbyworld.com
The Welsh monster is the next rich rugby player on our list. More precisely, Dan Biggar salary increases have netted him over $3 million NZD. The 34-year-old fly-half is currently playing for RC Toulon (since 2022) and is still representing the Welsh national team.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Toulon |
| Position | Fly-Half |
| Net Worth | $3.1 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | Key Welsh fly-half with plenty of international experience. |
| Nationality | Welsh |
New Zealand Highest Paid Rugby Players
After taking a closer look at the international stage, we’ll now dive deep into the highest-paid NZ athletes right now. The likes of Sam Cane, Aaron Smith, and Beauden Barrett are the most notable names here. So, let’s have a closer look!
Beauden Barrett
Beauden Barrett. Source: RNZ.co.nz
Beauden Barrett is an undisputed icon among New Zealand rugby stars. According to our research, Beauden Barrett salary at the Toyota Verblitz amounts to roughly $1.1 million per year. Mind you, he’s already set for a return to NZ rugby next season. He’ll play for the Blues with a contract running through 2027.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Toyota Verblitz (Blues from 2025) |
| Position | Fly-Half |
| Net Worth | $5.2 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | Two World Rugby Player of the Year Awards (2016 and 2017). |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
Ardie Savea
Ardie Savea. Source: Planetrugby.com
In total, Ardie Savea has played 84 matches for the NZ national team. Plus, the 30-year-old captained the All Blacks at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. As for the finances, Ardie Savea net worth is roughly $4.8 million NZD. Despite some of his ups and downs, he is still widely considered as one of the best ball-carriers in the world.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Hurricanes |
| Position | Flanker |
| Net Worth | $4.8 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | One of the best ball-carriers in the world of rugby. |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
Brodie Retallick
Brodie Retallick. Source: 1news.co.nz
The 33-year-old lock has a fair bit of experience behind him. He was named the World Rugby Player of the Year all the way back in 2014, which tells you all you need to know about his longevity. Finally, Brodie Retallick’s salary is somewhere close to a million these days. Still, it’s not too shabby for a veteran!
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Chiefs |
| Position | Lock |
| Net Worth | $3.5 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | All Blacks’ veteran and World Rugby Player of the year 2014. |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
Aaron Smith
Aaron Smith. Source: nst.com.my
Let’s not forget about the most capped scrum-half in All Blacks’ history. The 35-year-old is a legend of the game, having enjoyed a magnificent career and plenty of successes. According to official figures, Aaron Smith net worth is somewhere around $3.2 million NZD. Not too shabby from the Highlanders’ superstar.
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Highlanders |
| Position | Scrum-Half |
| Net Worth | $3.2 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | Scrum-half with the most appearances for the All Blacks plus one of the driving forces behind NZ’s 2015 World Cup triumph. |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
Sam Cane
Sam Cane. Source: RNZ.co.nz
The All Blacks’ flanker is not to be taken for granted. He’s been the team’s captain since 2020 and always breathes confidence, no matter who he’s up against. That’s why, it’s not a surprise to see Sam Cane’s salary being as high as $1 million per year. If he keeps this up, we reckon he’ll earn even more!
| Overview | |
| Club/Team | Chiefs |
| Position | Flanker |
| Net Worth | $3 million NZD |
| Career Highlights | Sam Cane is the All Blacks’ captain since 2020. |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
The All Blacks: A Salary Benchmark
If you’ve ever wondered how much do All Blacks get paid for their international performances, you’re about to find out! Their salary comes from several sources. They get a salary each week they’re with the team, plus season tour salaries and bonuses from third-party contracts.
Popular Rugby Players Who Like Gambling
It’s no secret that casinos pay professional athletes to advertise their gambling brands. But, it also comes as no surprise to learn numerous professional rugby players love sports betting sites and love to gamble every now and then.
The best examples are the likes of David Campese, Wendell Sailor, and Chris Ashton. The latter, Chris Ashton, is not just known for his brilliant try-scoring ability, but also for his knack for Formula 1 betting and gambling at good old brick-and-mortar casinos. Shane Williams, on the other hand, is known for his tenure at Texas Hold’em poker tables.
FAQ
Who is the highest-paid All Blacks player?
If we’re going by sheer net worth, it has to be Beauden Barrett. According to our research, the 33-year-old Kiwi has roughly $5.2 million NZD to his name, which isn’t that surprising considering the fact he earns around $1.1 million per year at Toyota Verblitz.
What factors determine a rugby player's salary?
A lot of factors come into play. Most notable, it’s the overall quality, age, and team’s ability to pay the player a substantial amount. Other factors include the player’s brand image, his position, and third-party contracts.
What is the average salary for a Super Rugby player?
It’s difficult to gauge the exact salaries because everyone knows the league has third-party payments which aren’t officially reported. So, it’s all guesswork, we’re afraid. But, as far as guessing goes, we can put the average salary somewhere between $150,000 and $200,000.
Which countries have the highest-paid rugby players?
It’s no secret that the NRL features some of the world’s finest rugby players. So, to answer this question – Australia and New Zealand have the highest-paid rugby players playing in the league. Naturally, not all of these players are of AU or NZ origin.