The top 10 Highest paid Rugby Players in the world

[nickdnz]

It's probably even more so for the older players/family workers... you're moving a whole family, away from their support network, partners away fro careers - to a non-native speaking country. If the entire family don't want that experience all the money in the world won't make it worthwhile.

I think you're really underestimating the draw of experiencing living in another country.

Huh? You pretty much just said what I said.

And I don't think I am...I'm moving from New Zealand for two years in 8 months time. It's easy for me...being in my early 20s and not having to worry about relocated my family...

 

[goodNumber10]

Huh? You pretty much just said what I said.

And I don't think I am...I'm moving from New Zealand for two years in 8 months time. It's easy for me...being in my early 20s and not having to worry about relocated my family...

Then i'm completely missing your point, because to me your post said guys who are young will move mainly because of the life experience, families because of the money.

I'm saying the life experience is just as important to the family people because you are moving an entire family - doing it just for the money is dangerous.

good luck with the move, it's always exciting.

 

[nickdnz]

Then i'm completely missing your point, because to me your post said guys who are young will move mainly because of the life experience, families because of the money.

I'm saying the life experience is just as important to the family people because you are moving an entire family - doing it just for the money is dangerous.

good luck with the move, it's always exciting.

Oh, then I did in fact miss the point. I think the fact that it is so much more complicated to move a family overseas than a single person, is why there needs to be much more of a financial incentive. I doubt I'd be checking out Europe for just the lifestyle, if my kids were in school and my wife had a career here. There would have to be much more of a financial consideration, will this set my family up better in the future. New Zealand as an example is a pretty sweet place to raise a kid; good education and extremely safe . Now I'm sure France is the same (recent days slightly withstanding on the latter), but the risk of my family not preferring the lifestyle would mean that there needs to be considerably more financial incentives. It's the reason why you see so many New Zealanders, Australians and Saffa travel around Europe (doing the OE) without a family.

 

[goodNumber10]

to be honest it's going to come down to individuals preference, so i think it's a tough one to define anyway.

 

[TRF_heineken]

@gaston le gaff

I have 2 questions for you, before you start with your tirade again:

1. How many South African born players have made their debut for the Springboks while playing in the NH?
2. How many South African have stayed in the NH after they finished playing in the NH?

While you ponder about those questions, let me point out that Money is the main factor why South Africans move to the NH. You have not once considered the factors in South Africa.

1. We have a much weaker currency.
2. We have less job opportunities for White males, and the matter is increasing on a yearly basis.
3. We have a Quota system which has an effect on the demographic and playing for clubs/franchises.

Now these all have all an impact on monetary decisions.

Players like Bakkies Botha and Bryan Habana has said that they love playing in France and how beautiful it is in France, yes I agree with you. But they are being paid to say that. I know that Bakkies Botha wants to end his rugby career in SA with the Bulls and that he wants to return to South Africa.

Our guys come back after pocketing in the NH. I know there aren't many examples, as it has only been a recent thing (the last 10 years) where our guys go to the NH to play rugby, but if I look at the earliest guys who did this, Thinus Delport, Brent Russel and Victor Matfield, they are all back in South Africa.

Thinus Delport has used his savings to open restaurants with his business partner Werner Swanepoel.

The MAIN reason why our guys goes to the NH, is for MONEY!

 

[gaston le gaff]

is this never ending!!!!!! nobody ever said that money is not involved in their decisions, of course it is BUT as i have said all along other things come into the equation, i know players from SA who have stayed in France and others who have returned but i do not follow the lives of every S African playing in France. Players are not paid to advise the world on what a wonderful place it is to live here, they are paid to play rugby nothing more nothing les please do not invent what does not happen.
You state the players return well of course they would a natural thing to do when you are an expat of which ever country you come from eventuallY you return more often than not, (even my wife did that and she never played rugby nearly 20 yrs in the UK)
As far as your questions go, you are stating the obvious, of course younger rugby players would put their country first before a possible move to a foreign country you are not enlightening us about anything, and as i have said i know players who have stayed on, Drikus Hancke stayed a couple of years longer after he stopped playing, Danny Thiart is still here as is Warren Britz, Jaques Shutte,( Paul Bosch, Johan Wasserman still playing rugby in much lower division, Nevers Fed 1 where money is not enormous) and Lubbe ( forgot his first name), of course they all played for Montpellier at one time or another but that is 7 players from only one team Montpellier that i know of and as i said previouly i do not follow the lives of other S A players from other clubs. If you read all the posts over the years on the rest of the world coming to France they are often quoted as mercenaries and always it is based on money and never anything else , mercenaries is a word that has been used on many occaisons a word that is more associated with war and death by money, you may well understand that this a good enough reason why there is a call to defend France and its rugby by myself.
I hope you are now aware of why this is never always about money but many other reasons, 7 players from only one team that to me is proof enough why players stay in France for other reasons than money.
JE SUIS CHARLIE......................

 

[TRF_heineken]

is this never ending!!!!!! nobody ever said that money is not involved of course it is BUT as i have said all along other things come into the equation, i know players from SA who have stayed in France and others who have returned but i do not folow the lives of every SAfrican playing in France. Players are not paid to advise the world on what a wonderful place it is to live, they are paid to play rugby nothing more nothing les please do not invent what does not happen.
You state the players return well of course they would a natural thing to do when you are an expat of which ever country you come from, 5even my wife did that sand she never played rugby nearly 20 yrs in the UK)
As far as your questions go you are stating the obvious, of course younger rugby players would put their country first before a possible move to a foreign counrty you are not enlighting us about anything, and as i have said i know players who have stayed on, Drikus Hanke stayed over a year longer afer he stopped playing Danny Thiart is still here as is Warren Britz and Jaques Shutte, of course they all played for Montpellier at one time or another butthats is 4 players a

This is not corresponding towards your OP!!

Here we go again this time it's the Saffa theory, what amazes me is that you guys knows absolutely everything about the lives of the highest paid players who are obviously all in the TOP 14. these guys bring their wives /partners and children to a country where they can not speak the language know little about the culture and come purely for the money.

They do go purely for the money, but just like any other country, the other things are part of the journey, but it's not a main contributor as to why they are going.

You have obviously never listened to interviews by these players, (we are not even going to mention why the foreign coaches are here)!!!!! where they give the real reasons why they are here, one of them being the TOP 14 is the toughest Championship in the world and they want to challenge themselves against the best, this is quoted by them not me!!!!!!!!

That might be true, but I've also heard interviews where players have said that the Super 15 and even the Currie Cup are the toughest championship they have played. This is not generalisation though, and is more of a personal opinion by player(s).

No one never said the money was not important, but it is by far out weighed by other critera.the way of life, the medical system, training facilities, schooling for their kids the beaches and sea if you happen to play for a team in the south, the magic of Paris when there are no terrorists about!!!!, the diferent sports available for all the family, sking some of the best in the world,the water sports that are available, some of the best cuisine and wine in the world, the country side which is equal to anywhere else around the globe, hunting of all different types, not a load of people on horseback running after a rag with fox pooh on it!!!!!!

South Africa has some of the widest varieties of sports available for families in the world! This is not unique to France!!

Don't use hunting as a benchmark. The entire WORLD comes to SA to hunt! we have a much bigger variety of game than France!! We have excellent beaches, water sports, fishing, Shark cage diving, and even 2 Skiing resorts!!

This is not a dick-swinging contest, but to use those as examples doesn't prove a point as what you have, we have too!!

If you are going to critise the French system do it intelligently and state with info why they are just coming for the money, state interviews where this has been said, not just, BURRR they are here for the money !!!!!!!! Ask yourself this why are people always moving to France especially the Brits and have been doing this for years, the answer you will probably here is............ THE LIFE STYLE!!!!!! I own a Gite and have had many South Africans coming here for all the above reasons!!!!! I know i will probably be dealt with harshly but i have broad shoulders, i also live in France, and have done for a long time, and know absolotely why these players do what they do, i speak to pro rugby players every week 2/3 times a week, interview said players, organise press interviews for these players, especially in Montpellier, so i do know just a little about this subject, but i do bow to your superior knowledge Sir Heinken, you have obviously lived in France been attached to a Pro French rugby club as if not you would never have made such a ridiculous statement.
JE SUIS CHARLIE.......

The same can be said to you about the South African culture!

Have you actually seen the tweets of Bakkies Botha where he misses South Africa and the Braaivleis??

Come on Gaston, look at it from another perspective, not just the narrowminded "Defend-the-French-Top14" idealism...

 

[gaston le gaff]

so you still do not mention that there are 7 yes 7 players that are still in France and thats just ex Montpelleir not talking about any other teams, doing others things or playing rugby at levels a lot lower with much less money, you pull everything apart bar the one important issue that you asked to reply too. you ignore!! 7 players from only one team the proof is there in the thread, as far as you are concerned Bakies is the only one quoted so the only one present in France for the money, of course everybody misses something from their own country i miss loads but will not return to mine.Just accept i have answered you questions truthfully and you dont like the truthful answers this is not my problem!!!!!!!!

 

[TRF_heineken]

so you still do not mention that there are 7 yes 7 players that are still in France and thats just ex Montpelleir not talking about any other teams, doing others things or playing rugby at levels a lot lower with much less money, you pull everything apart bar the one important issue that you asked to reply too. you ignore!! 7 players from only one team the proof is there in the thread, as far as you are concerned Bakies is the only one quoted so the only one present in France for the money, of course everybody misses something from their own country i miss loads but will not return to mine.Just accept i have answered you questions truthfully and you dont like the truthful answers this is not my problem!!!!!!!!

Hey @gaston le gaff

Did you hear?? http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Botha-packing-up-at-end-of-season-20150127

Yes, Bakkies is coming home at the end of the year...

Oh by the way, could you please list the 7 former SA players who played for Montpellier that is still in France? I can't find it anywhere...

 

[gaston le gaff]

look at my post 13/01/2015 the 7 players are mentioned there as far as i know Drikus Hancke has returned and that was a couple of months back, i,m still in contact with him he has opened a shop / cafe / bar /tea room back home and all is going well

 

[TRF_heineken]

look at my post 13/01/2015 the 7 players are mentioned there as far as i know Drikus Hancke has returned and that was a couple of months back, i,m still in contact with him he has opened a shop / cafe / bar /tea room back home and all is going well

Drikus Hancke! Oh wow! and how many Springbok caps have he behind his name?? And the other 6?? If they don't have Springbok caps then they don't fall under the equation...

 

[gaston le gaff]

Drikus Hancke! Oh wow! and how many Springbok caps have he behind his name?? And the other 6?? If they don't have Springbok caps then they don't fall under the equation...

2. How many South African have stayed in the NH after they finished playing in the NH?

The above is the question you asked on 13/01 2015, the answer i told you was 7 South Africans and that was only playing for Montpellier now you have changed you tune and talk of Springboks why the fu** did you not ask that 2 weeks ago, you got an answer that you did not like, but a very truthful one and then you then proceed to slag off a fellow countryman of yours Drikus and a personal friend of mine !!!!!!!! love to see you say that infront of him!!!!!!
i find your attitide childish and pathetic, you are told a truthful answer and all the toys go out of your pram and please please what is this "they dont fall under the equation BULL****" seems you are just making it up as you go along either find something of reasonable intelligence or just accept the answers truthful given

 

[The Jones Boy]

France Top 14, it's just a retirement home for the best but old Tri-Nations players.
They head up there for a few years of easy rugby played at a slower level than test requirements and they cruise to a good earner they can then take home.
Good luck to them.
They fill their pockets and stuff French rugby at the same time because the talented young French players can't get a run.
It's a win-win for the rest of the world.

 

[goodNumber10]

France Top 14, it's just a retirement home for the best but old Tri-Nations players.
They head up there for a few years of easy rugby played at a slower level than test requirements and they cruise to a good earner they can then take home.
Good luck to them.
They fill their pockets and stuff French rugby at the same time because the talented young French players can't get a run.
It's a win-win for the rest of the world.

Lol, so wide of the mark its unreal.

 

[Tony Manx]

Lol, so wide of the mark its unreal.

+ 1

 

[The Jones Boy]

See it how you want, it doesn't change the fact that a lot of the older ex top tier players retire from international rugby and then go to France to cash in.
You don't have to like it but its the truth.
If the game was so good over there then the old blokes couldn't hack it, but they can, and they do.
I can remember seeing a hefty overweight Caucaunibuca making his french club counterparts look ordinary.
French club rugby just isn't that good.
The standard isn't that high... and when you have clubs with cheque books the size of Toulon and co. you end up with ex top tier southern hemisphere players riding on the pigs back and good luck to them.

 

[gaston le gaff]

If France are so bad by themselves and without the aid of the unbievably good SH players who do all the work in the TOP 14 and take all the money, just remind me who were the 2 finalists in the last World Cup, cant wait for Thurs!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TRF_heineken]

See it how you want, it doesn't change the fact that a lot of the older ex top tier players retire from international rugby and then go to France to cash in.
You don't have to like it but its the truth.
If the game was so good over there then the old blokes couldn't hack it, but they can, and they do.
I can remember seeing a hefty overweight Caucaunibuca making his french club counterparts look ordinary.
French club rugby just isn't that good.
The standard isn't that high... and when you have clubs with cheque books the size of Toulon and co. you end up with ex top tier southern hemisphere players riding on the pigs back and good luck to them.

I wouldn't say that.

I think the quality of rugby is pretty damn good in the French Top 14.

But it is a lot slower paced that the SH game. And that is why the older guys can keep up. And because a club like Toulon has so many top notch players, they management of the players are better. The older guys gets more rest periods, so their bodies doesn't take such a beating than if they were to play Super Rugby for instance.

 

[goodNumber10]

See it how you want, it doesn't change the fact that a lot of the older ex top tier players retire from international rugby and then go to France to cash in.
You don't have to like it but its the truth.

that may indeed be true, and it is, but it's got nothing to do with the misinformed sweeping statment you said above.

If the game was so good over there then the old blokes couldn't hack it, but they can, and they do.

Yep, unlike Super 15 which is exclusively populated with under 21' isn't it? lol!

I can remember seeing a hefty overweight Caucaunibuca making his french club counterparts look ordinary.
French club rugby just isn't that good.
The standard isn't that high... and when you have clubs with cheque books the size of Toulon and co. you end up with ex top tier southern hemisphere players riding on the pigs back and good luck to them.

Is it February already? You can literally set your watch by the NZ posters giving out about every other 'inferior' rugby competition in the world.

 

[gaston le gaff]

sounds like an complicated way of accusing this Jones Boy (maybe the clue is in the Boy) but effective no less !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
who said effective rugby cannot be played by 14!!!!!!!!!!!!!!