In the midst of a debate on the reform of the Salary Cap, supposed to better control the payroll of Top 14 clubs, the Olympic noon publishes the conclusions of a still confidential study on the remuneration of professional rugby players in France.
In its issue dated December 23, the Midol reports that “the average salary last year for the 520 professional players was €259,000 gross, or a little more than €21,000 monthly”. This is five times more than what a player playing in Pro D2 receives.
Midol recalls on this subject that at the end of Covid, a Pro D2 player received on average €2,600 gross per month and that today it is around €4,000 per month.
Considering that Premiership players are on average less well paid (read below) just like players playing in League One in Japan (excluding foreign super contracts), the Top 14 appears to be the most profitable competition on the planet.
Disparities between hopefuls and stars
In detail, it appears that the most represented group (27% of players) is that of hopefuls who earn on average less than €60,000 per year (less than €5,000 per month). Conversely, only 4% of players receive the maximum, or more than €480,000 per year (€40,000 per month); These are the stars of the Top 14, i.e. the majority of French internationals.
Over the years, salaries do not seem to have soared. In 2017, The Team revealed the salaries of Racing 92 at the time when Dan Carte earned €71,000 per month ahead of Dimitri Szarzewski (€40,000), Maxime Machenaud (€38,000) and Brice Dulin (€35,000).
Today, according to information from Midol, around ten players receive nearly €600,000 per year (€50,000 per month): Owen Farrell, Antoine Dupont, Grégory Alldritt, Will Skelton and Matthieu Jalibert.
The second lines are the best paid
In detail, it appears that all positions are better paid in 2023-2024 compared to the previous season, with the exception of the left pillar (which stagnates) while the right pillar and the fly half earn less than Before.
The lowest paid position is that of left prop, hooker or winger which are in the same range. Conversely, those best paid are second-line right and third-line center.
- Left pillar (n°1): between €190,000 and €200,000
- Hooker (n°2): between €190,000 and €200,000
- Right pillar (n°3): between €230,000 and €240,000
- Left second line (n°4): between €250,000 and €260,000
- Second straight line (n°5): between €270,000 and €280,000
- Third wing row (n°6 and 7): between €210,000 and €220,000
- Third center line (n°8): between €260,000 and €270,000
- Scrum half (n°9): between €220,000 and €230,000
- Flyhalf (n°10): between €250,000 and €260,000
- Winger (n°11 and 14): between €190,000 and €200,000
- Three-quarter center (n°12 and 13: between €250,000 and €260,000
- Rear: between €220,000 and €230,000
The example of the English Premiership
For comparison with our neighbors across the Channel, in the spring of 2024 the Premiership made public an audit around the same issue, revealing the nature of salaries in the United Kingdom (for the 2022-2023 financial year).
It then appeared that fly-half remained the best paid position with an average income of £217,761 (€262,300 per year, or €21,900 per month). Conversely, scrum-half was the lowest paid position, with an average income of £121,104 (€145,900 per year, or €12,158 monthly).
On the other hand, players with more than 50 international caps are, as in France, still those who generate the highest income, and the average income of players with more than 50 caps was on average £361,051 per year (434,900 €, or €36,000 per month).
- Pillar: £143,187 (€172,440)
- Hooker: £128,556 (€154,800)
- Second line: £174,785 (€210,500)
- Third line: £159,467 (€192,000)
- Scrum-half: £121,104 (€145,800)
- Opener: £217,761 (€262,300)
- Winger: £127,969 (€154,130)
- Centre : 178 755 £ (215 300 €)
- Rear: £169,918 (€204,700)
