14. Matthieu Jalibert – Bordeaux-Bègles
Estimated salary: £550,000–£600,000 per year
One of the Top 14’s premier fly-halves, Jalibert is among the small group of players in France earning around or above €600,000 annually. His attacking ability and importance to Bordeaux justify his position among the game’s leading earners.
13. Grégory Alldritt – La Rochelle
Estimated salary: £550,000–£600,000 per year
The France back-rower has been one of La Rochelle’s defining players during their rise into a European powerhouse. French salary research has consistently placed Alldritt among the Top 14’s biggest earners.
12. Will Skelton – La Rochelle
Estimated salary: £550,000–£600,000 per year
Skelton’s enormous influence at club level has made him one of the most valuable forwards in Europe. The giant Wallabies lock is another La Rochelle star believed to earn at least €600,000 per season.
11. Jesse Kriel – Yokohama Canon Eagles
Estimated salary: £600,000–£650,000 per year
Kriel has established himself as one of Japan’s leading overseas centres. A double World Cup winner and senior Springbok, his reliability, defensive quality and leadership give him considerable market value.
10. Malcolm Marx – Kubota Spears
Estimated salary: £600,000–£675,000 per year
Widely regarded as one of the finest hookers in world rugby, Marx remains a marquee name in Japan. Available estimates place his Kubota package at around $750,000 to $850,000 annually.
9. Pieter-Steph du Toit – Toyota Verblitz
Estimated salary: £625,000–£675,000 per year
The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year commands one of the largest forward contracts in Japan. Du Toit’s reported package is close to $800,000 per season.
8. Handré Pollard – Vodacom Bulls
Estimated salary: £650,000 per year
Pollard returned to Pretoria on one of the biggest contracts in South African rugby history. His package reportedly combines his Bulls salary with SA Rugby support and additional commercial agreements, keeping his earnings close to what he received at Leicester.