In the midst of a debate on the Salary Cap reform aimed at better controlling the payroll of Top 14 clubs, Midi Olympique in its today's edition publishes the conclusions of a still confidential study on the remuneration of professional rugby players in France.
Midi Olympique reveals that the average salary last year for the 520 professional players was €259,000 gross, or a little more than €21,000 monthly.
This figure is five times higher than the average remuneration of players playing in Pro D2.
At the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pro D2 players received an average of €2,600 gross per month. Today, this average is around €4,000 per month.
In comparison, Premiership players in England and those in League One in Japan (excluding foreign super contracts) are paid less, thus positioning the Top 14 as the most profitable competition in world rugby.
This study reinforces the idea that the Top 14 is a financially attractive destination for professional players, despite current debates on the need to further control club spending to guarantee the financial balance of the league.
Find out the average salary per position:
1. Left pillar: between €190,000 and €200,000
2. Hooker: between €190,000 and €200,000
3. Right pillar: between €230,000 and €240,000
4. Second left line: between €250,000 and €260,000
5. Second straight line: between €270,000 and €280,000
6-7. Third-line wing: between €210,000 and €220,000
8. Third-line center: between €260,000 and €270,000
9. Scrum half: between €220,000 and €230,000
10. Flying half: between €250,000 and €260,000
11-14. Winger: between €190,000 and €200,000
12-13. Three-quarter center: between €250,000 and €260,000
15. Rear: between €220,000 and €230,000
