Antoine Dupont, the captain of both France and Stade Toulousain, is under contract with Toulouse until 2027. Currently, he is among the highest-paid rugby players globally, earning approximately \u00a3700,000 annually.<\/p>\n
Join the RUCK\u2019s WhatsApp community here<\/a>\u00a0and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.<\/p>\n In a recent interview, Dupont criticized the Top 14 salary cap regulations, calling them \u201ctoo invasive\u201d and saying they punish players for the league\u2019s own commercial success. He stated:<\/p>\n \u201cThe salary cap rules prevent us from using our individual image through traditional advertising contracts.\u201d<\/p>\n He also accused the National Rugby League (LNR) of overreach in policing player earnings:<\/p>\n \u201cEven within their right of oversight, they are trying to be increasingly invasive by asking us to name all of our partners, even those who are not partners with the club.<\/p>\n \u201cThey want to know everything about our assets, so it\u2019s turning into a bit of a witch hunt where they want to expose the cheaters but it\u2019s becoming ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n Looking ahead, Dupont\u2019s contract with Toulouse expires in 2027, around the time of the Rugby World Cup in Australia. <\/p>\n While he has not indicated quitting Toulous, his frustration with French salary caps suggests he could explore opportunities abroad after that point. <\/p>\n Japan\u2019s Rugby League One, for example, continues to offer very lucrative deals for top-tier players, sometimes close to \u20ac1 million per year. <\/p>\n By then, the R360 could be up and running, giving Dupont the chance to perhaps double his earnings and be the poster-boy for the new competition.<\/p>\n EDITORS PICKS:<\/p>\n Best Rugby Players in the world right now (Ranked 10-1)<\/p>\n Rugby is full of stars, but there is always a group of players who stand above the rest \u2014 not just for their skill, but for how they shape the game around them. <\/p>\n These ten are doing exactly that. Whether through raw speed, relentless work ethic, or quiet leadership, each has left a mark on 2025 and the years before that.<\/p>\n There were plenty of contenders and a lot of top talent has had to miss out on this list.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just about stats \u2014 it\u2019s about impact. Here\u2019s a look at the top 10 male players lighting up world rugby right now<\/p>\n 10 Will Jordan (New Zealand)<\/p>\n With a strike rate that would make any winger jealous \u2014 43 tries in just 50 Tests \u2014 it\u2019s no surprise Will Jordan is being spoken of as one of the world\u2019s best fullbacks. Since his All Blacks debut in 2020, he\u2019s been a constant try-scoring threat and recently celebrated his 50th cap against Australia. <\/p>\n Jordan\u2019s positional sense, timing and speed make him a nightmare for opposition defences. At 27, he\u2019s now entering his prime and still has time to add to his already incredible record.<\/p>\n 9 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France)<\/p>\n Not many 22-year-olds can say they\u2019ve redefined expectations \u2014 but Louis Bielle-Biarrey has. Whether it\u2019s becoming Bordeaux\u2019s all-time leading try scorer or breaking Six Nations records with eight tries in a single campaign, he\u2019s doing things most wings only dream of. <\/p>\n His Champions Cup breakout came at 18, scoring a hat-trick on debut. Last season, he helped Bordeaux reach and win their first European final and was crowned Six Nations Player of the Tournament. Blistering pace and fearless play define him, but he also brings tactical awareness well beyond his years. France \u2014 and rugby \u2014 have a superstar on their hands.<\/p>\n 8 Finn Russell (Scotland)<\/p>\n Despite a demanding club season and the toll of minor injuries, Finn Russell shone during the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour, reaffirming his status among rugby\u2019s finest playmakers. <\/p>\n Scotland\u2019s talisman was at the heart of the Lions\u2019 attacking spark \u2014 his vision, creativity, and game management setting the tone in the biggest moments. A World Rugby Player of the Year nominee in 2024, Russell has evolved from maverick to master craftsman, blending flair with control to devastating effect. <\/p>\n Whether dazzling for Bath or dictating for Scotland, few can match his ability to shape a game. At his best, he\u2019s not just a fly-half \u2014 he\u2019s an artist with a rugby ball.<\/p>\n 7 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)<\/p>\n Few players divide opinion like Cheslin Kolbe \u2014 but there\u2019s no doubting his ability to turn a game on its head. Critics point to his modest domestic form in Japan, but Kolbe has delivered when it matters most.<\/p>\n A two-time Rugby World Cup winner, he\u2019s scored in finals, dominated Lions tours, and created magic for the Springboks time and again. Whether it\u2019s burning defenders or producing clutch moments under pressure, Kolbe thrives on the big stage. In full flight, he remains one of the most exhilarating sights in world rugby.<\/p>\n 6 Damian Penaud (France)<\/p>\n There are few players who exploded onto the European stage quite like Damian Penaud did this year. He tore through defences in the Champions Cup, breaking records with 14 tries \u2014 including six in a single game. His performances powered Bordeaux to their first European title, and he was rightly named Champions Cup Player of the Year. <\/p>\n But Penaud isn\u2019t just a try machine. He blends power, agility and timing with an eye for the spectacular. At 29, he\u2019s now a proven match-winner who delivers on the biggest occasions.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n