Springboks earning millions overseas

Although many Springboks’ overseas salaries are not publicly disclosed, the available data indicates they were among the highest-paid players in world rugby last season.

A change in national team selection policies, a challenging local economic climate, and better incentives have resulted in several South African rugby players going abroad to play their club rugby.

More than a third, 16, of the 45-man Springbok squad played for overseas clubs during the 2024/25 club rugby season, with Japan being a hotspot for the South Africans.

Of these sixteen players, nine play in Japan, where clubs offer some of the highest salaries in the world.

These players include Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende, Faf de Klerk, Franco Mostert, Jesse Kriel, Kwagga Smith, Lood de Jager, Malcolm Marx, and Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Cheslin Kolbe, who plays for Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath, is the highest-paid South African player, earning an impressive R22.2 million annually. 

This makes him the third-highest-earning rugby player in the world behind Owen Farrell and Finn Russell.

Kolbe, who had previously played rugby for Toulouse in France, signed with the League One team in 2023 and joined them after the Rugby World Cup later that year.

The second-highest paid South African rugby player and fourth-highest in the world is Faf de Klerk, who plays for the Yokohama Canon Eagles, earning R21.5 million annually.

De Klerk signed for the Canon Eagles in 2022, departing from the English Premiership club Sale, where he had played for the previous five years.

Damian de Allende, who plays for the Saitama Wild Knights, is the only other Springbok playing in Japan whose salary is publicly available.

De Allende returned to the club in the 2023 season after leaving for Irish side Munster in 2020 and now earns R11 million annually.

However, Springboks playing for British sides have also become some of the top earners globally, with fly-half Handre Pollard leading the pack.

Pollard’s move from Montpellier to the Leicester Tigers made him the world’s tenth-highest-paid player on a salary package of R14.6 million annually.

The flyhalf has since announced that he will be joining the Vodacom Bulls at the beginning of next season.

RG Snyman’s one-year deal, signed for the 2024/25 season, reportedly saw him earn just under R12 million. It is not yet confirmed whether he will extend this contract.

While not signed to an overseas team, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is featured in the top-20 club rugby earners worldwide for his contract with the Hollywoodbets Sharks.

After deciding to continue his Test rugby career, Kolisi left French side Racing 92 and returned to the Sharks, where he reportedly earns R18.6 million per year.

Big bucks from SARU

Playing for the national team can also earn players hefty paydays, with Cash n Sport reporting that match-day squad players earn R118,197 per match.

This is according to the South African Rugby Collective Agreement for 2024 to 2027.

Springboks in the non-playing squad earn just under R60,000 per week or R8,505 daily, the same for the training squad.

Players of National Interest, identified as those key to the Springbok squad, are paid R11,985 per month, while domestic franchise players playing in the URC earn a minimum salary of R39,575 per month.

The South African Rugby Union pays players in the Currie Cup’s Premier Division R3,294, while those in the First Division are paid R2,268 per game.

Several Boks still in SA

Despite the appeal of playing overseas, thirty players from the Springbok squad play for South African clubs. 

The Hollywoodbets Sharks currently employ the most Springboks out of any other South African club, with 11 players.

The Vodacom Bulls come in second, with eight players, followed by the DHL Stormers with seven and the Emirates Lions with three.

All four of these clubs play in the United Rugby Championship, while all except the Lions will play in the Investec Champions Cup next season.