Faf de Klerk (South Africa/Sale Sharks) – $1.02m. Experienced England five-eighth Owen Farrell is one of many high-earners at embattled Premiership champions Saracens, but will remain at the club next year despite their relegation into the RFU Championship due to salary cap breaches. Ex-All Blacks speedster Charles Piutau deserted his international ambitions at the premature age of 23 when he signed a lucrative deal with PRO14 side Ulster in 2015, and then became British rugby's first million-pound player when he joined Bristol three years later. Owen Farrell (England/Saracens) – $1.54m. South Africa's World Cup-winning Springboks playmaker Handre Pollard became the joint-richest rugby player in Europe when he agreed to leave the Bulls in Super Rugby to join Montpellier in the Top 14 last year. And, with the Covid-19 outbreak, some of the game's biggest names, such as Dan Carter, are set to see their big-money contracts expire without taking to the field again. At the moment there is no salary cap in place for Championship teams. In moving back to his former club in National One, the scrum-half has called time on his professional career at 28 – citing the need to get on the career ladder as a primary factor. News, views and all the moves in the world of Rugby Union. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand/Blues) – $1.07m. While the sport is catching on, however, the U.S. rugby player's salary has a long way to go. In the lower divisions, many players are part-time or university students, and salaries are generally between £1,000 and £7,000 per year. Today, USA Rugby has over 115,000 active members, oversees four national teams, multiple collegiate and high school All-American sides and an emerging Olympic development pathway. 9. We are the leading rugby union news and content network delivering you the latest news, views and all the moves in Rugby Union. Nevertheless, that is exactly what Wales Online have attempted to do, and having taken all of the above into account, they've produced a list of the 15 best-paid rugby players - before current and impending pay cuts are taken into account - with all figures convered into $NZD. The average salaries of rugby players in the PRO14 and Aviva Premiership have been revealed. Wales Online reports that Scotland captain Stuart Hogg was the highest-paid player in Scotland during his time with the Glasgow Warriors, but added an extra $400,000 to his salary when he joined English club Exeter Chiefs last year. “It’s mainly the money,” said Jones, who has started a new job in financial recruitment. Farrell's club and international teammate Maro Itoje signed a new deal reportedly worth between £750,000 and £1m, with the lock remaining at Allianz Park next year as Saracens prepare to compete in England's second division. 2018 World Rugby player of the year Johnny Sexton returned to his native Leinster five years ago following a brief stint with Racing 92, and has gone on to become Ireland's highest-paid player. 14. 15. While Jones maintains the quality of rugby in the Championship is on an upward curve, he believes ex-Premiership players and overseas arrivals are squeezing the talent pool of up and coming players. “I’m not saying every Championship player should be on 50-60 grand, clubs have to stick to their budgets. Subscribe to receive the latest rugby news direct to your inbox. 6. 6. Two-time World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett quashed rumours of a big-money offshore move last year when he signed a four-year deal with NZR that included a high-profile Super Rugby transfer from the Hurricanes to the Blues, though he has yet to take the field for his new franchise due to the coronavirus outbreak.