NPR

Per SA Mag

Highest paid XV

15 – Beauden Barrett (R15.6m, Suntory Sungoliath)
14 – Charles Piutau (R20m, Bristol Bears)
13 – Virimi Vakatawa (R15.6m, Racing 92)
12 – Owen Farrell (R15m, Saracens)
11 – Stuart Hogg (R11m, Exeter Chiefs)
10 – Handre Pollard (R20m, Montpellier)
9 – Faf de Klerk (R12m, Sale Sharks)
8 – Kieran Read (R16m, Toyota Verblitz)
7 – Steven Luatua (R13m, Bristol Bears)
6 – Michael Hooper (R15m, Toyota Verblitz)
5 – Maro Itoje (R16.5m, Saracens)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (R18m, Toulon)
3 – Tadhg Furlong (R9.6m, Leinster)
2 – Guilhem Guirado (R10m, Montpellier)
1 – Mako Vunipola (R9m, Saracens)

Looks weak.

Mostly looks like occupants of a retirement home. Slight exaggeration. But many well beyond their best years.

Ymx wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 5:29 am Mostly looks like occupants of a retirement home. Slight exaggeration. But many well beyond their best years.

I'd only put Kieran Read in the past his "use by" date? Who else were you thinking of?

Marylandolorian wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 12:32 pm Missing Semi Radradra at Bristol , 1.2 million Eu = 21 millions Rands.

I get that but are Piutau or Luatua worth what they’re being paid? I’ve never really bought into the CP hype. Great player, but...

Don’t think I’ve ever seen Hogg play wing. Not saying he couldn’t, just that I don’t think he has. He’s closed out a few games at 10, and started there v Italy of course, but otherwise he’s been at 15.

PSdT will probably make the list with his move to Japan.

I decided to sit through and pay attention to a couple of Bristol games the other week.

I think Piatau was injured so won’t comment on him.

But Semi as well as having a great highlights reel works really hard off the ball. Not just as a decoy off set play but working to make sure he’s in position to take the next pass, attract defenders, off-load etc

Similar for Luatua - very high work rate, loads of interventions and touches - just seems to be involved in everything good they do. Looks like a good captain as well in terms of hard work and the way he interacts with officials and team mates

High cost they might be but I recon they’re both pretty shrewd investments.

Grandpa wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 3:39 pm

Ymx wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 5:29 am Mostly looks like occupants of a retirement home. Slight exaggeration. But many well beyond their best years.

I'd only put Kieran Read in the past his "use by" date? Who else were you thinking of?

Most of the forward pack bar second row old and past their best.

Ymx wrote: Tue May 04, 2021 6:28 am

Grandpa wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 3:39 pm

Ymx wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 5:29 am Mostly looks like occupants of a retirement home. Slight exaggeration. But many well beyond their best years.

I'd only put Kieran Read in the past his "use by" date? Who else were you thinking of?

Most of the forward pack bar second row old and past their best.

Bit harsh on the props.

I wonder if the financial strain caused by Covid will see a cooling off of the arms race which the big money French clubs started. Does the Top14 have a salary cap?

Marylandolorian wrote: Tue May 04, 2021 2:32 pm

FalseBayFC wrote: Tue May 04, 2021 2:19 pm I wonder if the financial strain caused by Covid will see a cooling off of the arms race which the big money French clubs started. Does the Top14 have a salary cap?

No the French government is giving them billions, no salary cap either as long they have at least 5 French players.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/19517 ... -the-guard

Last week it was announced that from 2021 the salary cap, originally introduced in 2010 and currently set at 11.3 million euros ($12.74 million) per year, will gradually drop to 9.94 million euros in the following years due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.15 Jul 2020

Kawazaki wrote: Tue May 04, 2021 7:15 am

Ymx wrote: Tue May 04, 2021 6:28 am

Grandpa wrote: Sun May 02, 2021 3:39 pm

I'd only put Kieran Read in the past his "use by" date? Who else were you thinking of?

Most of the forward pack bar second row old and past their best.

Bit harsh on the props.

and Hooper and Luatua!

The two props will be on the Lions tour coming up....

Updated

World's highest paid players (according to Ruck.co.uk report):

1 Handre Pollard (R20 million, Montpellier)

1 Charles Piutau (R20 million, Bristol Bears)

3 Eben Etzebeth (R18 million, Toulon)

4 Cheslin Kolbe (R17 million, Toulon)

4 Finn Russell (R17 million, Racing 92)

6 Maro Itoje (R16 million, Saracens)

7 Beauden Barrett (R15.7 million, Suntory Sungoliath)

7 Virimi Vakatawa (R15.7-million, Racing 92)

8 Michael Hooper (R15 million, Toyota Verblitz)

8 Owen Farrell (R15 million, Saracens)

to seeing Finn Russell in the list (for torq)

Ymx wrote: Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:29 pm to seeing Finn Russell in the list (for torq)

And he's been utter flake, dross the last few games.

It is always interesting to see Piutau at the top of these lists. Is he genuinely as good a player as his negotiation skills are? I’ve not really seen him play but with a limited international career it’s surprising to see him top the “big stars” in the list.

You can argue whether anyone is actually worth X amount of money, but he's not been a bust for Bristol.

Overshadowed a touch by Semi lately, but he's still played superbly for them.

These lists are usually junk anyway given that players salaries, at least in England are total guesswork and often initial signing speculation of an amount becomes fact for these lists.

Buttons compared to soccer players though.

What's all that in real money?

Surprised there's no TH props on more than that.

Highest paid XV

15 – Beauden Barrett (R15.6m, Suntory Sungoliath)
14 – Charles Piutau (R20m, Bristol Bears)
13 – Virimi Vakatawa (R15.6m, Racing 92)
12 – Owen Farrell (R15m, Saracens)
11 – Cheslin Kolbe (R17.4m, Toulon)
10 – Handre Pollard (R20m, Montpellier)
9 – Faf de Klerk (R12m, Sale Sharks)
8 – Ardie Savea (R10m, Hurricanes)
7 – Steven Luatua (R13m, Bristol Bears)
6 – Michael Hooper (R15m, Toyota Verblitz)
5 – Maro Itoje (R16.5m, Saracens)
4 – Eben Etzebeth (R18m, Toulon)
3 – Tadhg Furlong (R9.6m, Leinster)
2 – Guilhem Guirado (R10m, Montpellier)
1 – Mako Vunipola (R9m, Saracens)

I don't want to be a killjoy but you know these numbers are basically made up, right?

Should do this with highest paid coaches.

Some clubs and countries are definitely not getting value for money.

WalesOnline’s Top 10 highest paid players at France 2023

1. Finn Russell (R23.2m, Racing)
2. Charles Piutau (R23.2m, Bristol Bears)
3. Cheslin Kolbe (R20.9m, Suntory Sungoliath)
4. Maro Itoje (R18.6m, Saracens)
5. Dan Bigger (R18.6m, Toulon)
6. Owen Farrell (R18.6m, Saracens)
7. Antoine Dupont (R16.3m, Toulouse)
8. Steven Luatua (R14.4m, Bristol Bears)
9. Handre Pollard (R14.2m, Leicester Tigers)
10. Tadhg Furlong (R14m, Leinster)

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:55 am WalesOnline’s Top 10 highest paid players at France 2023

1. Finn Russell (R23.2m, Racing)
2. Charles Piutau (R23.2m, Bristol Bears)
3. Cheslin Kolbe (R20.9m, Suntory Sungoliath)
4. Maro Itoje (R18.6m, Saracens)
5. Dan Bigger (R18.6m, Toulon)
6. Owen Farrell (R18.6m, Saracens)
7. Antoine Dupont (R16.3m, Toulouse)
8. Steven Luatua (R14.4m, Bristol Bears)
9. Handre Pollard (R14.2m, Leicester Tigers)
10. Tadhg Furlong (R14m, Leinster)

What's that in real money

Biffer wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 12:45 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:55 am WalesOnline’s Top 10 highest paid players at France 2023

1. Finn Russell (R23.2m, Racing)
2. Charles Piutau (R23.2m, Bristol Bears)
3. Cheslin Kolbe (R20.9m, Suntory Sungoliath)
4. Maro Itoje (R18.6m, Saracens)
5. Dan Bigger (R18.6m, Toulon)
6. Owen Farrell (R18.6m, Saracens)
7. Antoine Dupont (R16.3m, Toulouse)
8. Steven Luatua (R14.4m, Bristol Bears)
9. Handre Pollard (R14.2m, Leicester Tigers)
10. Tadhg Furlong (R14m, Leinster)

What's that in real money

Fin Russell = 976138,92 pound sterling

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 12:59 pm

Biffer wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 12:45 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 8:55 am WalesOnline’s Top 10 highest paid players at France 2023

1. Finn Russell (R23.2m, Racing)
2. Charles Piutau (R23.2m, Bristol Bears)
3. Cheslin Kolbe (R20.9m, Suntory Sungoliath)
4. Maro Itoje (R18.6m, Saracens)
5. Dan Bigger (R18.6m, Toulon)
6. Owen Farrell (R18.6m, Saracens)
7. Antoine Dupont (R16.3m, Toulouse)
8. Steven Luatua (R14.4m, Bristol Bears)
9. Handre Pollard (R14.2m, Leicester Tigers)
10. Tadhg Furlong (R14m, Leinster)

What's that in real money

Fin Russell = 976138,92 pound sterling

Sounds about right. His new contract at Bath is apparently about £1million/year as well.

Biffer wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 1:09 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 12:59 pm

Biffer wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 12:45 pm

What's that in real money

Fin Russell = 976138,92 pound sterling

Sounds about right. His new contract at Bath is apparently about £1million/year as well.

Sexton not making the list?

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 1:15 pm

Biffer wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 1:09 pm

OomStruisbaai wrote: Thu Oct 05, 2023 12:59 pm

Fin Russell = 976138,92 pound sterling

Sounds about right. His new contract at Bath is apparently about £1million/year as well.

Sexton not making the list?

The potato has taken a plunge in international markets recently.

He hardly plays, so he can't expect a huge contract. And he'll get a big tax break in Ireland as well.