Are Rugby players being paid too much?

[@elijahtchilembe-mpovie2715]

Not paid enough in my opinion..

[@rugby_talk6806]

Correct I see so much player picking soccer of rugby because It has more money and they had great money

[@vinniechan]

Are rugby players being paid too much.. The salary of the highest paid rugby player is comparable to the minimum wage of the NBA

[@geoffo00]

What about the money premier footballers get paid ! Comparing the two sports for the toll on the body and for the actual entertainment value plus the values rugby is massively undersold and underrepresented. However this needs to be sustainable across the sport.

[@oc911]

@@geoffo00 You're delusional. The premier league makes over a hundred times the money that the Gallagher League makes. The reason why they are on so much is because of the money that the sports generate.

[@edwardcox2311]

Interesting. Is the game not so brutal these days that the player's careers are so short, that at the age of 35 they are unemployed?

[@sesetio338]

@JS C Wait Bricklaying is a profession? TFudge?

[@elroyjohnston6226]

Sese Talitau-Tio yeah its a meat heads trade, better off going to university if you want a career when your a beaten up retired rugby player

[@brgw8]

the way it's going 30 now... if you look at all the player's list that have been released at the end of last season lot of guys late 20s/just over 30.

[@psychchek1121]

This is definitely something that hasn't been talked about a lot and it's good to see this conversation providing a different perspective of players getting paid

[@henrykjohn78]

No. They are paid too little .

[@davidcaro2986]

Did you see none of the clip? It's that the premiership does not earn nearly enough money to sustain themselves with these players salaries

[@dominicboulton1221]

@irish rover I think you have got the wrong sport mate. Last time I checked these guys carry the ball into other men just to get tackled then they get straight back up to get tackled again instead of rolling on the floor when they get a tap on the shoulder

[@OuchPleaseNoooo]

@@dominicboulton1221 Nobody forces them to do it mate, they aren't gladiators. Rugby players just like Footballers started playing as kids because they enjoyed it and were good enough to eventually make a career of it, a very lucrative one too. Of course not as much as Football, il give you that but thats because Football is so popular worldwide and investment has gone crazy not because people think they deserve the money from a moral perspective. Thats not how the world works mate.

[@thesuperiorbench6307]

They put their body on the line week in week out and risk injuries that may alter the rest of their life in a negative way. 'Pay that man his money' Teddy KGB

[@Peds013]

Whilst I agree that rugby players deserve more than footballers, the problem is that football is truly international and each team makes more in a week than rugby clubs do in a year (maybe decade). Until they make the same as the football clubs, the boys will never earn the same.

[@matthofmann7517]

Rob but you'll never have to go into contact with a 250 kg Samoan in football And there's more opertunity in football to go pro to go a long with the greater number of players

[@fumie4996]

@@matthofmann7517 money don't care about that shit

[@alasdairduncan3]

This is very interesting watching this now.

[@Snookbone]

The number of people who didn't even listen to what was being said here damn...

[@Tom-eq7eh]

Players should be played more. But realistically, the clubs struggle to pay more.

[@jacobcamden-redding278]

Rugby players are payed to little footballers earn more money in a week than some players earn in a year rugby players have only just started being payed for playing for the last 10-20 years

[@joshyfowler1997]

world rugby announced open professionalism in 1995; the RFU turned pro in the 1996-97 season. the game has only been open for 22 seasons. however, imo, the way in which the RFU enabled rugby here to go pro was a fucking shitshow and has led to he current 12 teams in the Prem consistently losing money. the initial problem of wage inflation has not gone way consequently. these problems go way back. football has had longer to get the formula right with player wages (although i think what they get paid is astronomical and ludicrous).

[@usarugbyleagueunionfan]

NFL players way overpaid. Rugby players underpaid.

[@thedude3288]

not compared to how much money the sport makes.

[@billyb2079]

Did my dissertation on the effects of professional on rugby union 20 years ago. Still, the same issues then as there are now.

[@billyb2079]

@@22HMFC187 I can send you a copy email [e-mail]

[@leverdusoleiluk]

Billy B I’d love to read this too, can I email you for a copy please?

[@gregoryparkes-skelly8288]

A major element in this is the business side of the game and what has been done to help develop the professional games reach and therefore appeal and value. At present it certainly doesn't appear to be matching the growth in the overall demand from players and is heavily reliant on jamming as much Rugby into the schedule as possible. Something does need to give on the business side of the equation as that is the primary source of the current stability.

[@mustbebb9251]

Paid too much... mate you gotta be joking. Rugby players are paid less apart from other sports like football,NBA and more. We get more contact,more injuries and still get less but we do it for the love of the game.

[@rberridge69]

Not paid anywhere near enough for crap players put their bodies through. Early stage arthritis, neurological damage, being the equivalent of 3 serious car-crashes per game and a short career to top it off. After which most players will carry some sort of injury for the rest of their lives. Nope, not paid enough by a long shot!

[@rebeccaelliott9770]

It’s not fair to compare rugby player salaries to other more successful sports like football. Rugby just isn’t as popular and the revenue can’t justify the player salary outgoings. Hence why so many club are on the brink of going under during this pandemic

[@heniemess]

They pay too little. I’ve had 3 knee surgeries and I’m not professional. These professionals risk their life and health to get paid peanuts

[@heniemess]

N l2 I know that but one injury and their career could be over

[@heniemess]

N l2 I don’t think you understand fella. You don’t get a pay out if your career is cut short

[@heniemess]

N l2 you’ve never played any sport @ any high level stop going on like you know what your talking about

[@DesertEagleSam]

lol , players from football ,nba and american football get paid WAY more, i would say players right now are still not being paid enough for playing in a full contact sport like rugby , especially the journeymen players

[@patrickharrison1913]

He is talking about the unsustainable economics....you just listed the 3 most profitable sports on the planet so yeah they can put down 50M contracts

[@iangrubb6470]

I think people need to look at the wider picture. There's a massive difference between the top 3 divisions. The money would be better spent at grassroots level. Professionalism killed a lot of clubs. Look at the likes of Waterloo, Wakefield, Orrell, West Hartlepool and my team Rugby Lions. All top class teams in the early 90's. A player being worth £500k a year?? How much would Eddie Saunders be worth nowadays?? No one could catch him even when he was playing in division 3 at 40!!! I love the game. Was brought up in the town. But the RFU are more keen to protect 12 clubs rather than than the 100's of others in this country. It's becoming far too much like football. All about the money. That is not what the spirit of the game should be about. Many will disagree with me. But I, and many others of the older generation (I am actually only 36) would probably agree that the game was much better back before professionalism. I could go on and on and on. Just look at Neath, one of the finest clubs the game has ever had. And how not having enough money to compete and having to spend outside of their means just so they can has destroyed them.

[@stevenmcalister826]

So what do you suggest we pay them? Nothing? Then expect to be much less entertaining as people are too busy working 9-5 jobs instead of training to get better at the game.

[@darrenmcdermott6443]

love it..."isnt cvc the tv channel that sells stuff"

[@damianvanwyk5864]

Rugby players are way underpaid

[@samsondakuwaqa7967]

Right now itself a reasonable amount, however it basically depends on the market. Not many people watch rugby, so they aren't paid that much. NBA, NFL, Football all get paid ALOT because many people watch them, do there's no suprise there.

[@landonslater3326]

No they arent being paid too much

[@andrewkavanagh7692]

They're not getting paid too much some football players get they're earnings for a whole year in a week.

[@maxvigor7189]

Andrew Kavanagh football is infinitely more popular, and therefore is worth significantly more. You can’t compare the two sports

[@davidholgate123]

I'm a massive rugby union nut but come on that's like comparing NFL to tiddly winks!

[@rebeccaelliott9770]

Wasn't marler right - he predicted it. Players getting greedy. And now covid shows the game couldn't afford it.

[@OJW14]

The thing that concerns me is that sarries have too much money compared to other clubs, meaning they just buy all these expensive players and then no match against sarries is an equal one, anyone?

[@vinow6]

Players are very undervalued for the revenue they produce

[@fumie4996]

what revenue? if revenue exist prem clubs wont go bust one by one

[@lee345_2]

Y'all should talk about soccer players salary...

[@techypanther0267]

*Football

[@davidholgate123]

The English Prem will end up like the French league no doubt where the club teams end up more powerful than the international team which will affect the national side. Then in 20 years we'll be all saying "will we ever win a world cup again" .... Just like fans of the English football Premiere league ..... greed always overcomes the good of the national game in this country unfortunately.

[@jamesh8654]

This is ludicrous. Players devote their lives to rugby, and their bodies get nailed in the process. Their earning potential outside of rugby is shit as well. Pay them more. Otherwise you’re making the corporate giants way too rich

[@benthomas782]

If u say rugby needs to lower wages look at football, those guys go through far less and get paid 10x as much

[@mattlyon1672]

Do rugby clubs 'buy' players from other clubs? Such as they do in football?

[@Chaln123]

Yup

[@jackmclean55]

This aged well

[@jmarchant9155]

Why are we even asking this question? Look at the wages in football on every level, then ask yourself this very question about rugby players again.

[@jinzo7242]

Rugby players at well under paid what they should talk about is how over paid football players are

[@jinzo7242]

Okay fair point but rugby players put in a lot of work as well and at the end of the day they are getting smashed into whereas footballers are just running around

[@gow2ilove]

I'll be devil's advocate and say they get paid the right amount for the market. It seems no one understands how salary economics work; as long as these clubs aren't losing money then they have an obligation to pay their players. When a large corporation makes a large profit they ought to distribute amongst their staff. Sports is one of the few industries where that actually happens.

[@j.a4923]

You are saying this now but if they offer you that much you won’t turn it down,if the player is worth that much then so be it,the club don’t have to put up the money if they don’t want too 🤷🏽‍♂️ the sponsors and company will keep pumping the money up because they competing through business

[@daikayll1897]

Where ever you go to watch rugby in UK there will only be a certain amount of people who find the game appealing. Theres never enough people to pay the players wages via the turnstiles. So relying on some business benefactor or hedgefund company is like building your house on sand. Precarious stuff. Take the Scarlets region for one. The old Stradey Park held 12 to 15 thousand comfortably. Never saw that usually. 6 to 7 thousand was the norm and that was to watch a near International side. With 4 Lions in it. At the new gaff, you'll rarely see 3 thousand ! Its just not as popular a game as the marketing blokes make out. International days are just a big day out for all. Rugby players beware. They need to think sustainably but still take career ending hits ! Tough choices.

[@lukekeegan2374]

These players shouldn't be looking for money of their club if you want more money get sponsors or make companies. That money shud be goin into player development for academys and other thing

[@scottybot2003]

0:18 - 0:50

[@BarrackOba]

No they’re not compared to football and I mean European football not the nfl a lot of them get millions and these guys who are doing twice as much are getting less than half their wage

[@BarrackOba]

Rob rugby players have these tags in their shirts that can calculate how hard the tackles are and at the end of the match some of em have taken as much force as two car crashes if that’s not more then I don’t know what is

[@jackhilder]

Better yet just have a team salary. No greed there, just the privilege of playing for pride.

[@macrovigilance]

some football players earn more than an entire Premiership rugby squad.. "Goodey's" theme of sustainability is spot on!

[@aronmcevoy8450]

Honestly rugby players aren’t paid enough look at footballers get paid millions for kicking a ball around and rugby players put there bodies on the line in games and training and don’t get paid half as much (I’m Talking about soccer players when I say footballers not nfl players)

[@aronmcevoy8450]

@Edit Name kicking a ball into a net isn’t rocket science either

[@conormctap6938]

Maro to Quins do me a favour 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@newzebulon5313]

Definitely not paid enough for the injures that may occur

[@catherinelynnfraser2001]

They need a better player’s union. First year in a team should be a minimum.

[@libertymupakati3078]

Let's say NFL they wear pads and are overpaid but rugby nothin and are way underpaid risk injuries cmon pay them

[@jeremysmith5670]

American football is way harder on the body than rugby

[@stevenmcalister826]

@@jeremysmith5670 True, average age of retirement in the NFL is 25

[@fraz.ramsay]

Rugby players should be payed MORE than football/soccer players. END OF QUESTION.

[@Mac-lv7gp]

Tell that to the majority of the human race that watches football

[@bennydavies9805]

They should be paid more than footballers hahahaha that is impossible and the game will go downhill if that happened, it’s just not sustainable.

[@dirkcampling4642]

I agree joe spot on 👍👌😀

[@Jack-to9hv]

Where’s this rumour about Maro and Quins come from?

[@Redeemalives]

These Muppets say that rugby players are paid too much but they did the same thing when they played. Sounds abit ironic to me what a bunch of hypocrites. Compared to most sports rugby players are so under paid.

[@rebeccaelliott9770]

I think we know the answer to this now don't we.

[@kevinbaxter7390]

The game has moved on ten fold we hv girls (backs) 15/16stone smashing into collisions.. Retirement is inevitable to be earlier than years ago. Tbh i wud pay any women's Rugby player top dollar than those roll on the floor footballers.

[@tomcaton4673]

If a player gets paid 100k a year till they retire then they will go bankrupt after, in football you are set up for life, in rugby you have to continue working after retirement.

[@cpcampbell3]

Tom Caton why do you assume they would go bankrupt? Let’s ignore the fact that must rugby players (unlike footballers) have a higher education and will therefore likely get jobs after retirement. If you earn 100k a year for hypothetically speaking 10 years of your career then obviously that’s 1 mil and then let’s say you spend 20k a year then that would last an ex player for 50 years which given retirement age is mid 30s would essentially last most peoples lifetime. You must be a big spender/ reckless with money if you think you’d be bankrupt after making 100k a year as a rugby player the majority of said career.

[@timmythetank]

Tom Caton they are not receiving a 100k a yr once taxes are deducted...plus what are they living on over these ten yrs that you seem to think "hypothetically" they can bank it all and after retirement somehow live on just 20k a yr?

[@tomcaton4673]

cpcampbell3 maybe bankrupt is the wrong word, but some players don’t have an education or an opportunity outside of rugby, so players take any opportunity for more money.

[@rossthompson2503]

There not paid enough especially compared to footballers

[@laurameakin8725]

"Don't know anything." - explains everything about Andy Goode.

[@alasdairduncan3]

If recent developments tell us anything, Andy Goode knows exactly what he's talking about

[@tollyt7465]

Joe Marler and Hask should be a double act..

[@davidmm7781]

No.

[@Bokgat]

Yeah good one. Make English rugby union the benchmark. Epl a good example. Never imagined a rugby player to chew a blood pellet to force an infringement on the opposition. Cringe.

[@liams888]

not paid enough.

[@johnjohansson6277]

Not enough more like.....

[@harryhodge8534]

The real question is...... Is footballs being payed to much? to kick a ball alone the floor and pretend to be injured

[@OuchPleaseNoooo]

Football generates that amount of money, they aren't paid to "kick a ball along the floor and pretend to be injured". Its a business just like everything else in this world. Nobody is paid on what society perception on what they should be paid is. In an ideal world a brain surgeon should be paid more than a premier league footballer but nobodies paying to watch brain surgeries are they?

[@cocricklewood4441]

Should realise. One game and an injury? it could be career over. Exactly what happened to that young lad from Wasps, at one of Jones stupid training camps. So any extra £? Of course they shouod

[@iangrubb6470]

Clubs have insurance that covers them for that. It existed way back in the 80's.

[@Thependingllama65432]

Are football players being payed to much?

[@colstoun4762]

Instead of paying half a mill for a player Bristol needs to be focusing on getting Ashton Gate 2/3 full week in week out. They are in an incredible position of having great facilities and deep pockets and a PHENOMENAL social media team... now they just need to attract more people to go and watch the matches and then they can pay half a mill for a player that runs over the top of people and not a lot else

[@gingervirus2988]

Joe Marler should have played at 9 or 10. Smart, incisive and a bit opinionated. He’s right - it’s unsustainable unless there is a constant stream of “sugar daddies” and one-offs. BBC - it’s time to put Brian Moore and Eddie Butler out to grass and bring in the likes of Joe

[@innes6319]

Compared to football no

[@J67844]

Way to much. Getting out of hand.

[@buladude679]

I don't think they paid too much

[@liamroyce5958]

No they play to many games though

[@channelbree]

ehh. fuck no. daft question.

[@Mark-kb4ng]

Nathan Hughes isn't worth 150,000 let alone half a mill. They're all paid too much. Everyone has to put food on the table, most are able to do it on less than 30,000 a year. Greed is the driving force, nothing more, nothing less.

[@pcs54]

You're crazy first of all a rugby career is only like 10 years, and it can end any minute. Also they put their body on the line for it, to say they shouldnt earn more than the average guy is ridiculous.

[@simonbarringer5422]

@@pcs54 Whilst i partially agree with you, it can be a short career, it can all be over for them with one bad tackle, its all about choices , they chose to play a full contact sport, presumably knowing the risks involved. Ask anyone, do you want more money ? , yes will always be the answer, its about being worth the money you demand .

[@pcs54]

@@simonbarringer5422 I think they deserve it. Rugby except for the game and ur competitve nature, is not a fun sport to do. The amount of surgeries you go through and the damage you do to your body, making up in pain every week, these guys work hard. And if you compare their salaries to other people in entertainment (soccer, musik etc.) its nothing. If they were getting 10 mil a year then you ask urself wether or not they deserve it. But even in soccer, i'd rather have the money go to the players than the owners that do nothing take all the money. The players are the ones that deserve the money the sport generates.

[@Mark-kb4ng]

@@pcs54 and I think you're an ignoramus. I didn’t say they shouldn't earn more than the average guy, you clearly need to take more notice of what you're reading. I would also suggest using the word 'like' in the correct context and you might begin to be taken seriously.

[@pcs54]

@@Mark-kb4ng You're crying because i said only like 10 years long? And rugby players definitely arent paid too much. I really dont see how people can say they dont deserve the money they're getting and please dont bring up your shitty job and cry about how hard you work and dont get paid the same.

[@jayparra8574]

HOW ABOUT THE BLOKE IN THE RIGHT GIVE AWAY HIS MONEY! PROBLEM SOLVED.

[@SJ-vy6sg]

wrong.....