Money to be made in this rugby lark.
Dan Carter became world rugby’s first €1m-a-season player, earlier this year, when his switch, from Canterbury to Racing Métro, was confirmed.
Welsh out-half Leigh Halfpenny, on a reported €850k a season with Toulon, is not far behind.
Ronan O’Gara believes that an Irish player could push Carter close on the money list within the next two seasons. That type of money is only to be found in France’s Top 14. Following the IRFU’s declaration, today, that keeping the Six Nations free-to-air may drive its best players to France, O’Gara’s prophecy may soon ring true.
Paul O’Connell is expected to earn €600k a season when his move to Toulon is eventually confirmed. Simon Zebo believes an Irishman will earn €1m-a-year sooner rather than later.
However, the next generation of Irish rugby stars are the most likely to earn the biggest wages.
Peter O’Mahony
Age: 25
Position: Back-row [can cover all three positions]
The Munster captain has come into his own in the past two seasons and delivered numerous big performances in both the Six Nations and Champions Cup. Has the type of abrasive, committed style that would win fans easily in France.
Robbie Henshaw
Age: 21
Position: Centre [can cover both slots and fullback]
Everybody is on-board. Was always seen as promising if a little unpolished but proved, last season, that he can mix it with the best. Excelled at fullback during two seasons of Heineken Cup rugby, with Connacht, and was assured at inside centre in the Six Nations. Leinster and Munster want him when he contract expires, in 2016, but there will be a definite bid, or six, from abroad.
Iain Henderson
Age: 22
Position: Lock [can cover back row]
The Ulster forward has been highly rated ever since he first broke into the province’s academy. Prefers blindside but Joe schmidt has him earmarked as Paul O’Connell’s long-term replacement in Ireland’s second-row. Not likely to leave Ulster but a starring role on the 2017 Lions Tour might take him into a whole, new stratosphere.
Conor Murray
Age: 25
Position: Scrum-half
Undoubtedly bracketed as world-class now – Declan Kidney’s World Cup punt proved right, 10 times over. Munster coach Aidan O’Connell believes Murray could handily add goal-kicking responsibilities to his game – something that would surely add a couple of hundred thousand to his wage.
Paddy Jackson
Age: 23
Position: Out-half
Five of the top 10 earners in world rugby, including Johnny Sexton, are goal-kickers. Jackson was thrown into the mix, at Ulster, as a teenager. His Ireland debut followed a year later. Rough starts for both but he is improving year on year and has added a running threat to his game. Slick passer.
Sean O’Brien
Age: 27
Position: Back-row [can cover all three positions]
Was extremely close to a move to Clermont a couple of seasons back but opted to remain at Leinster. O’Brien is fully aware that, given the physical nature of his game, a lengthy career may not be on the cards. His ball-carrying, two-man-ruck-clearing abilities would be much sought after and he is young enough to demand a decent wage. Only negative is a big one – his injury profile in the past two years.
Jordi Murphy
Age: 23
Position: Back-row [can cover all three positions]
Improving year on year and set to cover Ireland’s back row from the bench during the World Cup. Murphy is a try-scoring, ball-carrying threat who has shown a marked improvement in defensive awareness in the past 12 months.
