"We get 7,500NZD (New Zealand dollars) a week, an assembly fee." South Africa's World Cup-winning Springboks playmaker Handre Pollard became the joint-richest rugby player in Europe when he agreed to leave the Bulls in Super Rugby to join Montpellier in the … The average take-home pay of Major League Baseball players in America is US$2.7 million ($3.4million) a year. Probably, though, to most followers of the game, the fact American sports stars and English based footballers get paid bucket loads more cash than New Zealand rugby players is little surprise. An estimated $32 million was pumped into the professional game last year and the best estimates are that the average salary of a Super 14 player in New Zealand is slightly more than $200,000 a year. Israel Folau NZ$2.196 million (€1.4m) The golden nugget of Australian rugby, although with just four … Given the number of players who left to play overseas last year, there appeared to be a widening gulf on what players could earn in Europe compared with the money available in New Zealand. However, he said whatever inequities existed in the past, did not exist anymore. Commercially, that will be important.”. The average salary for New Zealand Rugby Union employees in New Zealand is NZ$64,949 per year. The maximum retainer for a top Super Rugby player is $195,000, while the minimum is $75,000. “There’s an obligation to make sure they’re [lower earners] taken care of and they don’t hurt so much,” Nichol said. The more the sport grows in the U.S. to the point where more people will pay to watch the game, the question, "How much do rugby players make" will have a higher-dollar answer. Are the All Blacks going to do the impossible and play less but make more money? I know in talking to the coaching and management team that there isn't much that … “You can sense the enthusiasm they have around it, it’s really interesting times in that respect,” Nichol told The Breakdown. New Zealand Rugby head of community rugby Brent Anderson said rugby continued to hold a special place in the hearts of New Zealanders. "I couldn't actually answer the question on specific dollars, but I do know it'll be a significant sum. The average salary for a professional New Zealand rugby player is $200,000. The Chiefs and Crusaders have forged a fierce rivalry in the past decade with a new chapter set for Saturday. Wellington Rugby Union chief executive Matt Evans said he did not know how much funding the Wellington women's team received each year. Pollard also holds the record for the highest paid rugby player in South Africa 2019. Women's rugby is also a growth area, with 22,000 now playing the game. “We’re fortunate enough to have some good earners and those guys will step up and recognise they’re going to shoulder more of the responsibility. And the deal with modern sport is that TV broadcast rights pay for everything from the flagposts, to the jerseys and the German-engineered cars the big names drive from mock Tudor mansion to training ground. Those who fit under that category include sevens players, Black Ferns and draft Super Rugby players. The NZRU was formed in 1892 as the New Zealand Rugby Football Union with the original representation of seven unions though there was the original significant absence of Canterbury, Otago and Southland. Therefore, these guys can earn a median monthly salary … It follows, then, that if rugby in New Zealand generates only about one-tenth of the revenue sports such as football and baseball enjoy, then the players will be paid only about one-tenth. By comparison, this made news of the All Blacks wage a surprise. In England, Premier League footballers can expect an average salary of £656,000 ($1.51 million) but even that is dwarfed by the colossal $6.6 million which is the average salary paid to professional basketballers in America's NBA. Charles Piutau/Ulster - NZ$878,100 (€600,000) per season. Since October 2003, when World Rugby introduced a rankings system, the All Blacks have … Those numbers are about in line with the total packages senior All Blacks take home in New Zealand. New Zealand’s top rugby players could find out how much of their pay will be slashed as early as this week. "There are so many factors to be considered in comparing how much athletes are paid." He said: "Just as it is a hard thing to compare rugby today with rugby 30 years ago, it is hard to compare rugby in New Zealand with rugby played elsewhere and other professional sports played in other countries. Averages can be misleading, though. Recently a sports news published report which claimed that Carter second highest paid player in rugby with yearly salary of (£1.4 Million). The 15 huge omissions from the 2021 Lions squad, Premium feature exclusive to TheXV.Rugby - Free Trial. Much more than just a game for the Kiwis, rugby helps define the culture of New Zealand. It has lots of information about rugby's history here in New Zealand and in other countries around the world. Top rugby players of past 25 years: Four All Blacks dominate experts' list, SANZAAR boss Andy Marinos reveals cutoff date for revamped Super Rugby competition. Every year New Zealand Rugby "tops up" anywhere between 35 to 40 players on individually-negotiated retainers. https://rugbyleagueopinions.com/new-zealands-greatest-rugby-league-players 5. In the next few weeks, someone is going to have their bones rattled by Jerry Collins and find themselves prostrate on the turf wondering if they get paid enough to endure this professional rugby lark. He cut his All Black career short in 2015 … He is reportedly paid £1 million. “We’re getting down to the detail. In 2015 he played his last match for his national side. Super Rugby Aotearoa Final: Crusaders vs Chiefs LIVE for just £5! The biggest increase is in under-13 players, up 5 percent on 2015. In 2004, the average salary paid out in the English Premiership was £60,000 ($150,000), which is estimated to have increased to £70,000 ($175,000) in 2007. Apart from these titles, Pollard is also the South African highest paid rugby player. RugbyPass is the premier destination for rugby fans across the globe, with all the best rugby news, analysis, shows, highlights, podcasts, documentaries, live match statistics, fixtures & results, and much more! He played on two position (Fly-half or Inside Centre). They are backed by far bigger corporate markets with access to bigger television audiences. An estimated $32 million was pumped into … The NZRFU joined the IRFB in 1949. For lesser profile players, New Zealand offers a remuneration and lifestyle package that is highly competitive. Handre Pollard is the richest player in South Africa. It announced a record-breaking $33.4 million profit last week that was a direct result of the successful (financially at least) British and Irish Lions tour last year: a 10-match, three-test, rugby bonanza that netted the organisation an … The national policies are approved by the 26 Provincial Unions and the New Zealand Rugby … Steven Luatua (New Zealand/Bristol Bears) – £650,000 (NZ$1.3m) Former All Blacks loose forward Steven Luatua opted for financial riches ahead of an illustrious international career when he left New Zealand to join English side Bristol in the RFU Championship three years ago. So they drew on a much wider pool of person. Every province also has its own union. For the next three months, they will be physically pummelled every weekend, with a fair bit of damage also inflicted during training runs. Who is the richest rugby player in South Africa? Ko stays in top five in Thailand as familiar rival shines, Saving his spark: How Warriors are getting the best from RTS, Watch: YouTube star cops black eye as Mayweather erupts in wild melee, Black Caps' exit plans in disarray: Inside the 72 hours that rocked cricket, Jarryd Hayne's star teammate sacked after 'despicable' social media post, TB fears at University of Auckland after possible exposure, Behind the scenes in the battle for Queen St. By the season's end, the best players will have racked up as many as 13 test matches, the same number of Super 14 games and maybe a couple of provincial clashes. International Teams and Competitions. That might not seem like much until the scale of preparation for each game is understood as well as the physical and mental toll inflicted by hammering into other oversized men for 80 minutes. There are only about 250 professional rugby players in the country, and 150,000 players at grassroots level are registered with New Zealand Rugby. Now the muscular Samoan seeks to reach rugby players with the message of God's love, … Rugby is very much the poor relation when it comes to professional sport. This site comes from the official organisation for rugby in New Zealand, which was founded in 1892. From Test Matches to the New Zealand Sevens, NZR is responsible for organising all international-level rugby matches around the country. The players will be given a month off in December before starting the whole cycle again in January 2009. Their annual wage bill is a towering R78 million, meaning the average annual wage for a professional player at WP is R609 375. Not only is the actual cash on offer substantially less than that available to other codes but every cent is earned. In comparison with New Zealand's average salary of $40,000, top rugby players seem to have it pretty good. Athletes in Action staff member Timo Tagaloa knows the game and its influence well. But the average salary of $200,000 in New Zealand is in line with other major nations. After claiming two Rugby World Cup titles at home in 1987 and 2011, the All Blacks beat Australia in the 2015 final at Twickenham to win their first title outside of New Zealand. The Crusaders have surprised the rugby world by making perhaps their highest profile signing ever. Accountants Deloitte & Touche, which has a specialist arm with expertise in valuing sports brands, has warned that anything over 50 per cent runs the danger of pushing a club into serious financial trouble. For the past three months, every Super 14 player in New Zealand has been put through a conditioning programme that would break the spirit and body of many an NBA basketballer. David Havili is showcasing his wide-range of skills week after week and deserves an All Blacks call-up. In late 2005, New Zealand … The NHL pays its players onaverage $1.9 million to chase a puck around ice rinks, while American football's NFL reported its average salary in 2007 as $1.8 million. What shape that might come in remains to be seen, but the group of 15 players – which includes Mitre 10 Cup players – appear eager on the much-discussed New Zealand Super Rugby tournament, a beefed up provincial competition and a revival of North vs South matches. That compares with the US$323 million ($407 million) Sanzar sold Super 14 and Tri Nations broadcast rights for in 2004. Welsh rugby player Leigh Halfpenny bounced around from Neath to Cardiff RFC to the Cardiff Blues before signing in 2014… Analysis of the numbers provokes the conclusion that while the average salary paid to players in New Zealand is in line with those paid in France and England, the big names here can earn considerably more in Europe and they can earn it without being dependant on factors such as form and selection politics. Nichol said the emphasis was to protect players who earn less than $50,000 per annum. Professional and amateur rugby players across New Zealand take part in our domestic competitions, where provincial pride is on the line and future international stars are found. More significantly, 3,000 players and 260 teams competed at nearby venues in North America's largest rugby competition, which means the popularity is trickling down to younger players. For much of the last decade, several top clubs have been paying out more than 70 per cent of their total revenue on player wages. There are 26 member unions within New Zealand. window.scriptsToInit.push('BrightCoveEmbeddedScrollVideo.init("6149406705001");'); “It’s a pretty significant number rate, then we look at what payments are due between now and the end of the year, what can we set aside, what can we have to fall back on, and what do we have to effectively freeze?”. Alice Soper is thankful ahead of the landmark fixture between the Blues and Chiefs Women's teams. New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Players' Association chief Rob Nichol called it a "significant milestone" for the women's game. It’s about saying, ‘this is what we want to try and target by the end of the year’,” Nichol said on Sky Sport‘s The Breakdown. … Not only was that deal worth barely a tenth of the Major League Baseball, NFL and English Premier League deals, it has to be split between three nations. 4. Photos: Rugby Sevens 2017-18. In pound sterling, that works out at around £3,890. Team assembly fees for players look set to be the first payments to be scrapped, with other bonuses and retainers set to follow. In New Zealand everybody played rugby: from the laywer and banker, to the farmer and car mechanic. Photo / Reuters. Rob Nichol, head of the New Zealand Rugby Players' Association, believes comparisons across sports played in different countries shouldn't be used to determine whether players are getting fair value in their respective markets. Visit PayScale to research New Zealand Rugby Union salaries, bonuses, reviews, benefits, and more! The top English clubs are prepared to pay £180,000 ($450,000) to £250,000 ($625,000) for recognised All Blacks, with the French offering the equivalent in euros. According to the Australian Rugby Players' Association, the annual salary of a Super 14 player in Australia last year was A$202,000 ($230,000). To do this however, the first thing we must do is debunk a couple of myths that are often referred to by non-Kiwi’s when discussing New Zealand’s rugby superiority. Hopefully later this week we might be able to come out and explain what we’re doing.”. Nichol also confirmed leading All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock, who took this year’s Super Rugby campaign off to take up a sabbatical in Japan, is heading a “competition working group”, formed to assist the return of rugby in New Zealand. He made professional debut in 2003 with New Zealand. It is understood that the average guaranteed retainer of a Super 14 player in New Zealand is around $170,000, so if a current All Black begins to fear his international days might be over, he knows he will be paid substantially more for doing the same job in Europe. Springboks tripled his salary after he left his hometown team to join the top 14 side Montpellier in 2019. New Zealand Rugby is just such a beast. “It’s not about a straight percentage, no it’s not. And while it might be of little relief to those playing the game professionally, the New Zealand Rugby Union and the majority of French and English clubs run their business along more sustainable lines than most of the major football clubs in Europe. While pay talks between New Zealand Rugby, players and agents are ongoing, New Zealand Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol revealed on Tuesday that higher paid players will have to shoulder the burden to help NZR survive the economic downfall that COVID-19 has brought with it. The NZRU has kept its total expenditure on player costs at around 30 per cent of revenue. Major League Baseball sold six-year broadcast rights last year for US$3 billion ($3.8 billion), the NFL sold a seven-year package for US$3.7 billion ($4.7 billion) in 2006 and the English Premier League picked up £1.6 billion ($4 billion). Carter scored 1,598 points in all 44 matches. In France, the average wage of professional players is ¬12,000 per month, which is ¬144,000 a year or $266,000. How do you compare professional sports in America with those in Australia and New Zealand? In comparison with New Zealand's average salary of $40,000, top rugby players seem to have it pretty good. The number of registered rugby players has surpassed 156,000 people, up 3 percent on last year. Now, Sonny Bill Williams has become the best paid rugby player in the world after signing a two year contract with Super League club the Toronto Wolfpack, worth $10 million. In 20 years since the sport turned professional, that figure has risen to 84. https://wikisouthafrica.co.za/highest-paid-rugby-players-in-the-world “If there is an opportunity to play some international stuff, that will be important as well because that takes it to another level. The Breakdown | Episode 12 | Agustin Pichot, Sam Cane and more. There are usually 15 players in a rugby team, but there are some versions of the game that have 13 or 7 players. Timo competed for Manu Samoa in the Rugby World Cup and also played for the New Zealand XV team, ranked just below the All Blacks. The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) is responsible for rugby in the country. History of rugby. The match, consisting of 18 players on each side, took place at the Botanical Reserve in front of 200 spectators. Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa. But compare that $200,000 a year with major sporting codes around the world and the package doesn't look so tempting. Sign up to our mailing list for a weekly digest from the wide world of rugby. “The most important thing I’m hearing from players is they do want an opportunity to play a domestic focussed competition as soon as possible and use that to galvanise the country. The first payments to be the first payments to be the first payments to be in... 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