10 Most Valuable Players in World Rugby...

Here are the 10 highest paid Rugby Union players in the world for the 2023 season.
It will be interesting to see how they perform at the Rugby World Cup.
Previously, the highest earning player was Handre Pollard from the Springboks and Toulon Football Club however, he has slipped all the way back to ninth for 2023.
Surprisingly no-one from the two favourites to win the Rugby World Cup New Zealand and France made the Top 10.
If you find this video interesting! Be sure to share it with some friends & subscribe!

[@stockacademy6520]

When I was watching this, I genuinely didn’t expect it to have 7 views. This editing, voiceover, and research deserves a lot more attention and fame. Hats off to this legendary bloke

[@uggy]

Mate you have made my day! Thank you so much. Very motivating. Big year of rugby next year can’t wait 👌

[@xDontStandInTheFirex]

78 000 now :D

[@nathan._.h]

didnt even realize this wasnt a huge account til i finished the video and started scrolling through comments. hats off mate, great job

[@uggy]

Cheers brother! I really appreciate it. Trying my best, slowly getting better 😅 plenty more to come!

[@niall7376]

Cracking video! Surprised not to see Siya Kolisi on that list. His club fees wouldn’t be as high playing in South Africa, but I thought his endorsements would be through the roof.

[@uggy]

Very true.. surely he is earning more then Etzebeth now I think about it. SA is the one country I don’t have any player connections either - so really hard to get any inside scoop into endorsements! Thanks for the compliment too! A little off topic - I found a video of Kolisi signing a fans backside in budgie smugglers. Made my day - I might even upload it as a short!

[@sunbuntultd2546]

But SA is a poor country. Even a large deal in Rand is a small value in Euro/Pounds/USD

[@SweetMana24]

Dan Carter made a killing playing in France a while ago... inflation rates in 2023... Nice video and all these Warriors deserve everything they can get.

[@182Warren]

Great content mate you have my subscription , what is alarming is that Itjoe in New Zealand or South Africa would be a middle of the pack lock certainly not the highest paid player in the game . Perhaps he has a whining clause in his contract the more he screams and carries on like a plank the more he earns .

[@uggy]

So glad you subscribed! And hahaha that is so funny 😆 a plank! I love it.

[@quokka1929]

another great vid, #1 australian sports creator. if you need any future video ideas you could make a video on all of australian sports biggest scandals like the nrl one you did.

[@uggy]

Always look forward to your comments bro!! & that’s a great idea - I’ll get it in the works 👌👌 grinding for that 1k subs 😅

[@99wmac]

It's incredibly under stated/ appreciated how loyalty to the black Jersey has shaped the professional game. These lists and amounts would be unrecognisable if these big money clubs had access to Abs in their prime instead at the end of their careers.

[@IsanG08]

Watching all this rugby content just getting me hyped for the WC i legit can't wait it's gonna be amazing

[@uggy]

I’m with you there 🔥 plenty to come

[@TrystaneTheBlack]

Great video and great editing mate, good to have more rugby based youtubers from down these ways making great content like this. Liked, subbed and turned notifications on.

[@uggy]

Day made ❤️ thank you. & haha I could talk rugby forever! Going to be a big year 2023!

[@TrystaneTheBlack]

@@uggy yeah mate, can't wait for super rugby to start back up

[@uggy]

@@TrystaneTheBlack definitely in rugby withdrawal season 😂

[@TheTacticalRat]

You've got a subscriber out of me, mate! Just like the other comments here, I thought you'd have 50k+ subscribers, but I am sure that will happen in no time for you! A total professional

[@uggy]

Man honestly thanks so much, it is extremely motivating reading these kind comments! & I really hope this channel can grow (I absolutely love making videos and rugby!)

[@misterkunnyfunt]

The craziest part of this is that world class elite rugby players earn less than championship footballers with no international caps...

[@uggy]

Very good point!

[@jnic2165]

They barely earn more than NRL players.

[@bethh6032]

Good stuff mate keep it up! Love the thumbnail

[@uggy]

Legend!

[@Villafarrell]

Wow, interesting vid, well done! It's a side of the game I've never looked into, yes, very interesting no French or NZ in the top 10 at present

[@uggy]

Thanks heaps! Really appreciate it :)

[@taraishot100]

Not enough money in NZ that’s why a lot of all black players when they retire go overseas to earn a decent amount of money that’s why the leave the all blacks early

[@james-hardyrorimpandey1063]

Don't usually comment, but great video. Very interesting. Especially no all blacks or French in the top 10!

[@uggy]

Thanks brother!! Appreciate it. And yeah I was super weirded out by that fact. On the grind to 1k subs appreciate the comment & it’s help with the algorithm!

[@POPORAZZI]

Damn. This goes to show staying loyal to the ABz doesnt pay you what its worth. I guess we're seeing a trend of them leaving earlier now , good on them.

[@dalerapata4016]

Legacy and the black jersey means more TRUTH

[@keithmunyoro1408]

Great video, keep it up👍🏾

[@uggy]

Thank you 🙏 really appreciate it!!

[@arlovedesigns1342]

Do a video on least valueable too I’d like to see

[@finlayaustin4936]

Phenomenal video mate, really enjoyed this one and you deserve many more views and likes as this is a really well made video. I’m so surprised no all blacks in the top 10!

[@uggy]

Thanks so much!! Really means a lot 💪 trying to get better with every vid.

[@uggy]

Crazy too hey, makes sense why many take the money overseas

[@luchiboy]

Earned a Kiwi sub. Good research, look forward to future uploads

[@uggy]

Thanks heaps brother really appreciate it! ❤️

[@joelyons886]

quite a few omission’s there... some players get "funded" through private firms with personal interests in the respective teams. These monies although not directly linked to the player are most definitely part of the package. Some clubs have been caught giving the "3rd party contracts to companies that players own 100% of share/equity in" THIS is the way most of the top players get paid their market value. In Irelands case we had several players whom worked (and i use that term very VERY lightly) for a media company who paid the players company substantial sums of money in one case €1.2m and that was ONTOP of the player’s salary. In England one club bought property for companies owned by players then walked away from the company and transferred ownership of these to the players! Again just another way of "gettin paid". Then there is the tax incentives afforded to athletes in certain countries... THAT in some cases is worth more than the salary itself post retirement.

[@uggy]

Wow good insight! I’m going to look more into this 👍 that didn’t cross my mind at all

[@FootballWomanager]

Had to get a Farrell high tackle on there 😂

[@uggy]

😂😂 haha it’s hard to limit it to only one!

[@FootballWomanager]

@@uggy Quality content mate, I've just given you a shout-out on my community tab, let's get you to 1000 subs ASAP 👍

[@uggy]

You’re the man brother 🔥

[@dulls8475]

Still earns more than you bud....

[@wakatamihana7319]

Nice work mate, love your videos. Surely after this next world cup a Japanese team will pay Ardie Savea ¥2mil for a season or two

[@uggy]

For sure! & thanks brother appreciate it!! Trying to grow 😅 slow and steady . Merry Christmas!

[@Zander.and.lightning]

Keep in mind that 1AUD is currently almost 13 South African Rands and the cost of living is still relatively low in South Africa. An average house would set you back about 125'000 AUD.

[@gavsdelight1489]

As a kiwi, this video should be banned in NZ!! If our All Blacks see this, we can kiss them good bye 😬 haha. Great video and thanks for the insight. Merry Christmas

[@uggy]

Haha thank you! Really appreciate it, Merry Christmas!! After the World Cup a clear out for sure 🥲

[@hankgoldenshaft]

Don’t know how long the ABs are going to deny their stars from making the money they deserve…tick tock etc etc

[@mati-wh1dt]

Can you do a similar video on the nrl.

[@uggy]

For sure brother! Will start getting some research together. Chasing that 1k subs 😅

[@tomnutritionist]

Good video mate, interested to know where you got the information on international match fees for the players, also how you quantified endorsement value too? 👍

[@uggy]

Hey - cheers for that! I looked pretty much at every article on the internet I could find. Ruck.co.uk was probably the pick of the lot… Playing fee’s and endorsements besides Google I asked a few friends contracted with the Rugby Australia, Premiership rugby and Japan top league that were able to give me more detail. Originally I had all this information in the video but thought it would bore people talking about all the numbers - more then I already did. With the international playing fee’s too most of the international unions or former players have stated exact amounts - with England the highest. Hope that helps! I’ll try to find a way to share my entire breakdown if you’re interested?

[@tomnutritionist]

@@uggy thanks for the detailed reply Uggy. Really interesting stuff and great job with all the background research it would have taken a lot of time 💪

[@uggy]

@@tomnutritionist thanks really appreciate it mate! And it definitely did 😂😂

[@symeremeyers4148]

3:31 you’ve clearly never see Biggar’s defensive play

[@uggy]

Haha 😂

[@mattbradford2730]

I think you need to look into siya kolisi more. I've never seen a player with more sponsorship and endorsements in my life. It will br difficult but I can think of at least 10 brands he promotes

[@jaytok7]

unfortunately despite having the bulk of world rugby talent super rugby players get paid penny's compared to the competitions in the northern hemisphere. And if you leave in your prime to play up north, you can say goodbye to your international carer.

[@nguboyengwekaluvuyo6219]

Subscribed 🔥🇿🇦

[@uggy]

Thank you so much!!!

[@Mojo16011973]

nice work. Dupont needs a new manager.

[@uggy]

Haha sign me up 😅 thanks for watching!

[@RedLorryYellowLorry_]

Are those Rocnation contracts big and have they been considered into the earnings of the players like Kolisi and Kolbe?

[@uggy]

Will explore those a bit further!

[@jnic2165]

Next year the highest paid will be NRL player Suaalii on 2mil a year from the ARU

[@uggy]

Hahah as a wallabies fan - yes please!!!

[@dhirshg]

South Africans export as many top players as Brazil do in football. Insane conveyer-belt.

[@LomuHabana]

The difference between association football and Rugby Union is just insane. The best and highest earning players in rugby get less than bang average football players in Europe (assuming they play in a bigger competition). One reason why I want to get more into rugby (apart from the famous rugby spirit). “Soccer” is dead. It’s just business like the American sports.

[@LomuHabana]

@Edit name that is bogus, to be world class at Rugby, you do need a pretty large skill set. To kick a Rugby ball is way harder than to kick a football, the best kickers in Rugby could have easily been footballers. I seriously doubt that the best rugby players started rugby in their late teens or twenties, considering that in some countries (like SA, Fiji or NZ), you start playing at young age.

[@LomuHabana]

@Edit Name Are you triggert? You don’t have to tell me about soccer, I played and watched it all my life. I don’t need to educate myself on that sport. And yes, I started to call it soccer because it lost my respect. How is controlling a ball per definition harder than a sport mainly played with hands? What do you define as hard? You think a soccer team could scrum? You think a soccer team could set up a line out? Rugby isn’t just a sport where you throw a ball. It requires ball handling (hands), enormous strength (especially as a forward), strength endurance, stamina, kicking and speed (of course it also depends crucially on the position, a prop doesn’t need to be the fastest and best kicker, while a winger or a scrum have doesn’t need to be the strongest). Oh and you probably never watched rugby, you don’t just kick uncontested, kicking a ball is essential in a rugby game play, cause that is the only way (apart from carrying) to advance the ball forward. And you know what I meant, kicking/controlling a rugby ball with your feet is harder than a regular round ball. And you are wrong, 5-6 is very young to join a club. And you’re assertion that most players join young, therefore it is easier than rugby, where there are some who join later, is laughable. How many 6 year old weight lifters, shot putters or discus throwers are there? And how many sprinters/runners and swimmers start at a very young age? Strength and strength endurance are essential factors in rugby, especially for forwards, and they develop later. Most of those rugby players starting rugby at later age are Props. Name one fly half or fullback who is world class and started rugby after 15.

[@LomuHabana]

@Edit Name I didn’t prove any of your points, you used a false equivalence. Football is a contact sport too, just to a lesser extent. A sport involving strength doesn’t mean the sport doesn’t involve skill. That is a stupid dichotomy. The reason why you start playing physical sports later in your life is because physique develops later, and it is therefore dangerous to play full rugby with mauls, scrums and everything with 7 year olds. You got to be a large human to play rugby, seriously? Cheslin Kolbe, Fav de Klerk, Aaron Smith, Marcus smith, Kurt Lee Arendse, they are not taller than the average footballer, on the contrary. I never said the kicking is on the same level, I said kicking the rugby ball is harder than the football. And it requires therefore a lot of skill to kick a rugby ball with precision. No not laughable, only because I watched and played the sport doesn’t mean I have to belittle other sports, especially sports which I myself would look an absolute joke playing. You actually sound like an American who talks about football (soccer). And talking about Football, American football requires similar abilities like Rugby (I would even claim rugby is harder), why do American footballers make so much money?

[@LomuHabana]

@Edit Name haha man, you don’t know how ridiculous you sound, I played Football from the age of 8 till the age of 18 with my local club, I live in a country where football is somewhat the only team sport that most people like an play on a regular basis. I was the biggest football freak until a few year ago, watching the the German Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga, Dutch Eredivisie and eerste divisie (my favourite team is Ajax Amsterdam, they have a second team in the eerste divisie), Premier league, Portuguese Primeira Liga ( Porto supporter by times), Primera division, Serie A and Belgian Jupiler pro league ( mainly Anderlecht and Club Brugge). I played start in the so called d-juniors (or even f juniors) and continuously played as a fullback, defensive midfielder or winger, depending on the coach. I hated playing in the back line because I would merely defend and couldn’t take much risk. I was a good dribbler (partly because I was basically built like a mini Messi), good in ground duels/interceptions and sometimes provided a creative pass. I was very bad at long balls, crosses and distance shots (My first language is German so I just do literal translations), mainly because I was lacking power. Oh I was also relatively fast. I hated astroturf, really aids, you just rip your knees when you are trying to tackle. That shit should be illegal. Also apart from my amateur club, I played with friends, playing games like “red ass” (Roter Arsch) or “world champion” (weltmeistern). Those were played on one goal only So telling me I never played football is somewhat the most offensive think to me, because for most of my youth and childhood, that was my whole life and Identity, my only interest. Saying I never played that sport is denying my childhood. But back to your straw man, I never said that kicking into touch in Rugby is more difficult than playing a long ball in football. And again, you have never seen rugby, you wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference to American football. Because kicking on posts and into touch are not the only things rugby footballers have to do. What I said is kicking the ball in the SAME manner is way harder with a rugby ball. So passing a ball per foot over a distance of 30 meters is way harder to do with a rugby ball. Ergo it requires a lot of skill to kick the ball. Does the kicking in Rugby involve more skill than in football? No. Would the best rugby kickers have had a chance to become prof footballers had they had the opportunity and the will? I would think so yes. Oh and I never really played rugby, sadly, It is not really available were I live. I did try to kick a rugby ball a few times, on the posts. Failed miserably.

[@granthall2325]

You need to go ask the rugby agents who get the highest pay.... I was told tight head props!!!! but back then 2012 they where all undisclosed amounts from the biggest rugby agent in the world!!!!!

[@uggy]

Surely they deserve it 😅 I did ask a few mates of mine who play overseas seems like props and centres have good salaries across the board but not as much variance

[@borrisbunion939]

How interesting 🤔 👏

[@uggy]

Thanks :)

[@99thprecinct91]

Top bins page!

[@uggy]

Whatcha mean 😂

[@99thprecinct91]

@@uggy page is class! Top bins like a Messi free kuck

[@uggy]

@@99thprecinct91 hahaha love you brother thank you!!!

[@tsifooty6662]

First :D

[@Davemurray2880isaindian]

If any Springbok is worth more than $8.50 I'll be shocked

[@WalterWhite-sm2dr]

Ironically the no. 1 is also no.1 dough bag.

[@uggy]

Hahahaha mate I just spat my coffee out

[@user-og1nm6gq1l]

No1 would not be my no 20

[@uggy]

😅😅 wow that’s made me wonder how different a top 10 players would be to the top 10 paid..

[@user-og1nm6gq1l]

@@uggy Would be interesting

[@bradteariki7295]

Do for Rugby League

[@uggy]

Roger that!

[@henryjackson9834]

No All Black on this list. We just don’t have the money in NZ to pay our players these sort of remunerations.

[@uggy]

100% a massive reason why so many potential AB’s are running out for other countries

[@danieldesmond3422]

Itoje, The Most Overpaid Player In rugby 😂🤣😂

[@uggy]

😂😂😂😂

[@patrickchilds2987]

And yet his monetary value keeps increasing

[@RoelofGrobler]

Colby run circle around Farrel

[@tflking4916]

No Ntamak and Dupont? Those guys are probably atlest on 1.3mill

[@uggy]

I’ll look more into it 😅 couldn’t find anything that said they were on more then hooper / etzebeth tho’

[@RoelofGrobler]

Please tell me what is Farrel doing there. I will not even chose him for a local club....

[@patrickchilds2987]

He is going to earn even more at Racing 92 😂

[@considerthis7712]

Gee, Rory Arnold rarely plays for Australia.

[@uggy]

Yeah crazy hey… we have a really good stock of locks at the moment… will be interesting to see if giteau law gets even more relaxed

[@benneal9309]

Stunned du pont not on that list

[@SAnd-pd1ou]

Finn Russell x by 10. Allez les bleus

[@jnic2165]

So other than the top 5 these guys don't get anymore than NRL players ? .... but I thought if you play rugby you're a global superstar ?

[@uggy]

Interesting point… I might make a comparison video, the first thing that comes to mind is there’s a lot more union players then league but you’re right the margins not much different

[@Mencey-mp5um]

Ardie Savea ???

[@uggy]

If anyone should be getting paid it’s definitely Ardie! Hardest worker out there

[@jashafu3887]

Won't see any all blacks players here because nz super rugby teams doesn't really have money like the European and Japanese league. But if any all blacks players moves over seas they'll no longer be eligible to play for nz

[@uggy]

Yep completely agree, Richie’s signed and I think it’ll be a tonne of players after the World Cup

[@fido5067]

Itoje is just crap, Etzebeths rag doll.

[@uggy]

🤣🤣 hahaha

[@patrickchilds2987]

Facepalm

[@Desi365]

WHERE THE FUCK IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD ANTOINE DUPONT ??????????

[@uggy]

Not there! Crazy hey. Well that’s when I made this video :)

[@D_Handler]

No All blacks because the NZRU cannot compete with European money. And since going overseas makes them ineligible to be an AB, NZ players are willing to sacrifice money in order to have a shot at securing the black jersey. Thats how much it means to Kiwis.

[@paulthomson2288]

There are no All Blacks on this list because quite honestly there are none who are worth that much and it is likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future.

[@uggy]

Big call! I think Will Jordan will empty a few club bank accounts over the next few years after the World Cup 😅 I made a video breaking down nz rugby at the moment!

[@abloccd]

pffft what?

[@paulthomson2288]

@@abloccd sorry to disappoint you. But this is the present situation

[@matthiaswoelm]

The only "all black" on the list is Piutao and you tell me Ardie, Beauden, Aaron Smith, Rieko... Wouldn't earn even more if they were allowed to access Europe? 😂

[@paulthomson2288]

@@matthiaswoelm mate I'm not their employer...take it up with them if you feel so aggrieved.

[@taraishot100]

Just shows NZ aren’t in it for the money our country doesn’t give their players the money they deserve

[@vincep3222]

Sorry $$$$ doesnt mean Talent ...theres more impact players from the south pacific Islands ..just shows what and who influence the sport