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With its extensive global fan base and widespread participation, rugby stands out as a popular sport in many countries. Due to its global appeal, the toughest sport has attracted sponsorship deals and television coverage, providing ample opportunities for players to make huge revenues. While their earnings may be modest in comparison to other athletes, these players have nonetheless managed to amass a considerable amount of wealth thanks to their strong game-playing skills and other lucrative businesses. Who tops the list of the world's wealthiest rugby players?

photo 1/20 © Tom Jenkins 

Finn Russell: £1 million

Finn Russell: £1 million

The Scottish professional rugby union player, Finn Russell, who primarily plays fly-half for Racing 92 in the Top 14 is also one of the top-paid rugby players. His recent deal with Premiership club Bath is believed to be even more lucrative in financial terms.

photo 2/20 © Etienne Oliveau - World Rugby

Maro Itoje: £1.2 million

Maro Itoje: £1.2 million

The English rugby player Maro Itoje plays for the English National Team and the English Championship club Saracens as a lock or blindside flanker. While playing for Saracens, the 28-year-old star won three European Rugby Champions Cup titles and five English Premiership titles.

photo 3/20 © Shane Anthony Sinclair - RFU

Dan Carter: £1.4 million

Dan Carter: £1.4 million

The New Zealander, Dan Carter, is regarded as the greatest ever first five-eighth in the history of rugby and holds the record as the highest point scorer in test match rugby. The retired New Zealand rugby union player, at the age of 41, left a remarkable legacy when he played for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks, as well as with the Crusaders Rugby Club.

photo 4/20 © John Berry

Owen Farrell: £2 million

Owen Farrell: £2 million

Owen Farrell, the captain of the England national team, has been representing England internationally since 2012, scoring over 1,000 points in more than 100 tests. Considered one of the highest point scorers in test history, the 31-year-old fly-half has become the English's highest-paid player after agreeing on a new contract with Saracens.

photo 5/20 © Karl Bridgeman - World Rugby 

Richie McCaw: £2.4 million

Richie McCaw: £2.4 million

The retired New Zealand professional rugby union player received many awards, including three-time World Rugby Player of the Year and World Rugby Player of the Decade in 2021. Richie McCaw, the former captain of the New Zealand national team, has a net worth of £2.4 million.

photo 6/20 © Isa Foltin 

Cheslin Kolbe: £2.4 million

Cheslin Kolbe: £2.4 million

The South African professional rugby union player ranks among the highest-paid rugby stars globally, particularly acclaimed for his finishing skills and side-stepping ability. At 29 years old, Cheslin Kolbe ranks as the world's richest rugby player with an estimated net worth of £2.4 million.

photo 8/20 © Jan Kruger - World Rugby 

Handré Pollard: £4 million

Handré Pollard: £4 million

The South African professional rugby union player, Handré Pollard, plays for both the South Africa national team and Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby. At the age of 29, Handré ranks among the highest-earning rugby players today with a total annual income of £1.52 million and a net worth of £4 million.

photo 9/20 © Malcolm Couzens 

Antoine Dupont: £4 million

Antoine Dupont: £4 million

Born on 15 November 1996, the captain of the France national team, Antoine Dupont, is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the world. Nicknamed ‘the Gifted’, the scrum-half for Top 14 club Toulouse is estimated to earn yearly around £0.5 million and has a net worth of £4 million.

photo 10/20 © Pat Elmont - World Rugby 

Charles Piutau: £4 million

Charles Piutau: £4 million

Charles Piutau was the top try scorer for the New Zealand Under-20s in their 2011 World Championship-winning campaign. At the age of 31, the New Zealander fullback represents Tonga at the international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.

photo 11/20 © Malcolm Couzens 

Michael Hooper: £4 million

Michael Hooper: £4 million

As the captain of the Australia national team, the Wallabies, Michael Hooper is a prominent Australian professional rugby union player. At 37 years old, he is one of Australia's most-capped players of all time and currently plays for the New South Wales Waratahs in Super Rugby.

photo 12/20 © Chris Hyde - World Rugby

Nicolas Sanchez: £4 million

Nicolas Sanchez: £4 million

Born on 26 October 1988, Federico Nicolás Sánchez is one of the best Argentine rugby union players who plays as a fly-half for Pro D2 club Brive and the Argentina national team. Since his debut on 21 May 2010, he has earned 74 caps for Argentina and has an estimated net worth of £4 million.

photo 14/20 © Pat Elmont - World Rugby

Morgan Parra: £4 million

Morgan Parra: £4 million

The former French rugby union player played most of his career with Clermont Auvergne as a Scrum-half and occasionally Fly-half. The 34-year-old player earned his first cap for France as a replacement against Scotland in the 2008 Six Nations Championship.

photo 15/20 © Malcolm Couzens 

Beau Ryan: £8 million

Beau Ryan: £8 million

The Australian former professional rugby athlete, Beau Ryan, played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Wests Tigers in the National Rugby League. The 38-year-old player is also widely recognised as a television presenter, actor, and singer, particularly acclaimed for his performances on The Footy Show.

photo 16/20 © Don Arnold 

Mike Tindall: £16 million

Mike Tindall: £16 million

Mike Tindall, an English former rugby union player, played an outside centre for Bath and Gloucester, earning 75 caps for England from 2000 to 2011. The 44-year-old athlete, who is also a member of the British royal family, was part of the England squad that won the 2003 World Cup.

photo 17/20 © Max Mumby/Indigo 

Jonny Wilkinson: £16 million

Jonny Wilkinson: £16 million

Among the wealthiest English rugby athletes, Jonny Wilkinson stands as a rugby legend. His name is synonymous with greatness because he is often cited as one of the greatest kickers. The 44-year-old former Newcastle Falcons’ fly-half is particularly remembered for his match-winning drop goal during the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final.

photo 18/20 © Tom Shaw - World Rugby

Sonny Williams: £20 million

Sonny Williams: £20 million

When it comes to All-Blacks legends, Sonny Williams is at the top. The New Zealand former professional rugby player achieved remarkable success, becoming one of just 21 players to win the World Cup twice. The greatest player, now 38 years old, transitioned to heavyweight boxing later.

photo 19/20 © Chris Hyde - World Rugby 

Tony O'Reilly: £143 million

Tony O'Reilly: £143 million

Sir Tony O'Reilly, 87, is renowned in rugby circles and holds a permanent place in the International Rugby Board's Hall of Fame. The former Irish player had a career that spanned from 1955 to 1970, after which he transitioned to the corporate world.

photo 20/20 © Getty Images

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