Two Springbok players feature in the top 10 earners in the game. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
Two South Africans are on a list of the 10 highest paid players at the Rugby World Cup in France.
Handre Pollard, recalled to the Springbok squad last week as an injury replacement for Malcolm Marx, and Cheslin Kolbe both feature in the top 10, according to a story by WalesOnline.
While it is virtually impossible to determine what top sports stars earn — because of sponsorships and endorsements — salaries earned by the players at their respective clubs are more readily available and known.
Pollard plays for Leicester Tigers in England, while Kolbe has recently swapped Toulon for Suntory Sungoliath in Japan.
The amounts listed are apparently calculated from their salaries for the 2022/23 season and the upcoming 2023/24 season.
Kolbe is said to be earning around R21.3 million a year, and is third on the list, while Pollard is apparently earning R14.4 million and is ninth on the list.
The top earner, according to the publication, is Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell who will allegedly earn between £950,000 and £1-million per year, up to R23.68 million. He most recently played for Racing 92 in France, but following the World Cup will turn out for Bath in England.
Some of the other players on the list include Samoa’s Steven Luatua, who previously played for the All Blacks before changing allegiance; he turns out for the Bristol Bears, France captain Antoine Dupont of Toulouse, England captain Owen Farrell of Saracens and Tonga’s Charles Piutau, who was paid £1-million a year at Bristol, but will next turn out for Shizuoka Blue Revs in Japan.
Tadgh Furlong (Ireland) £605,000 (R14.32-m)
Handre Pollard (South Africa) £610,000 (R14.4-m)
Steven Luatua (Samoa) £620,000 (R14.7-m)
Antoine Dupont (France) £700,000 (R16.6-m)
Owen Farrell (England) £800,000 (R19-m)
Dan Biggar (Wales) £800,00 (R19-m)
Maro Itoje (England) £800,000 (R19-m)
Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) £900,000 (R21.3-m)
Charles Piutau (Tonga) £1-million (R23.68-m)
Finn Russell (Scotland) £1-million (R23.68-m)
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