Premiership Rugby has released the 2023/24 annual Salary Cap report and once again there is a spotlight on the highest and lowest-paid positions.
The report has revealed that the mean average senior player salary in 2023/24 was £171,718 (ZAR4 million), which is down from £182,866 in 2022/23.
The average income also dropped from £156,095 (ZAR3.7 million) to £150,479.
As with previous reports, no players’ names are mentioned but they do reveal the highest-earning positions.
The highest paid position is again flyhalf, with an average income of £231,182 (ZAR5.5 million) increasing from £220,847 in 2022-23.
According to the report, 17 percent of the flyhalves earn £400,000+ (ZAR10 million +) in a season.
It’s also worth noting that players between the age range of 29-31 earn the most.
The average income of a player with over 50 international caps was £339,711 (ZAR8 million), down from £361,051 in 2022-23. Players in the 21-50 caps saw an increase in average income in 2023/24 (£225,203) compared to 2022/23 (£210,050).
Experience in terms of Premiership caps also plays a role when it comes to earnings.
There has been a lot of speculation around Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard’s earnings at Leicester over the years and one could draw some conclusions based on the figures above and below.
Some media reports suggest that he has earned around £650,000 (roughly ZAR15.6 million) a season at Leicester.
Pollard will be joining the Bulls next season.
The highest paid forward is the one that comes from the back row, with an average income of £160,908, up from £159,467.
One of the standout players in the Premiership over the last few years has been Northampton No.8 Juarno Augustus.
He will move to Belfast next season to play for Ulster.
Twin brothers Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez also had starring moments for Sale Sharks in the back row, while Jacques Vermeulen has been a star for Exeter over the years.
Meanwhile, the lowest paid forward is hooker, as was the case in 2022/23, with an average income of £133,232, but is up from £128,556.
The average income for a prop is around £138,000 with three percent earning between £350,000 to £400,000.
Springbok prop Thomas du Toit (30), who plays for Bath, will probably be close to the higher end of that bracket due to his age and international pedigree.
The lowest paid back is still scrumhalf with £119,614, slightly down from £121,104 in 2022-23.
