2007–2009: Carl Hayman (Newcastle Falcons, approximately £500,000–£600,000 package)
Carl Hayman’s move from New Zealand to Newcastle changed rugby’s transfer market overnight.
Suddenly clubs realised world-class props were worth outrageous money too.
Reports at the time described Hayman as rugby’s highest-paid player, with a package that extended well beyond his publicly reported salary.
For a brief moment, tighthead props became rugby’s equivalent of Premier League strikers.
2009–2011: Sébastien Chabal (Racing Métro 92, approximately £850,000–£1 million)
This was the moment French rugby completely lost its mind financially — and everyone else secretly loved it.
Racing Métro handed Sébastien Chabal a monster deal as the Top 14 flexed its financial muscles.
With his caveman beard, massive popularity and marketing appeal in France, Chabal became rugby’s ultimate box-office attraction.
The Top 14 had officially entered its galactico era.
2011–2013: Jonny Wilkinson (RC Toulon, approximately £850,000)
Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal essentially started building rugby’s version of Real Madrid.
Wilkinson became the centrepiece of a squad stacked with global stars, luxury contracts and enough international caps to populate a small country.
And somehow, despite the sunshine, yachts and massive salary, Wilkinson still spent most of his spare time practising goal kicks.
2013–2015: Matt Giteau / Leigh Halfpenny (RC Toulon, approximately £1 million)
By this point Toulon were collecting superstar backs the way some people collect Panini stickers.
Matt Giteau and Leigh Halfpenny both landed enormous deals as French rugby salaries pushed towards football territory.
Halfpenny’s kicking alone was probably worth several thousand pounds per successful penalty.
2015–2017: Dan Carter (Racing 92, approximately £1.3 million)
Dan Carter arriving at Racing 92 after the 2015 Rugby World Cup felt like rugby union entering a completely new financial universe.
The All Blacks legend became the undisputed highest-paid player in the world, with his contract reportedly worth around £1.3 million per season.
Elegant on the pitch, ridiculously composed off it, and now earning superstar money.
Frankly, fair enough.